Star Model Super B Pistol

Type:  Single Action Self Loading Pistol Caliber:  9x19mm Capacity:  8 round box magazine Sights, front:  Fixed Blade Sights, rear:  Tangent U-notch adjustable for windage Length: 8.46" Barrel length:  4.8" Weight (unloaded):  39 ozs Suggested Retail Price:  $300

Echeverria's pistols enjoyed considerable success during and after the Second World War.  German forces and their allies purchased considerable numbers of the 9x19mm Star Model B, and the Spanish military arming itself with the 9mm Largo (9x23mm) Star Model A.  In 1946 the Spanish military adopted an updated version of the Model A, the Model "Super" in the 9mm Largo.  The  Models B and Super B in 9x19mm were also successful, being adopted by a number of nations and police organizations worldwide, to include West German police agencies and the South African military.  Seeing the writing on the wall, Echeverria ended the Super and Super B production runs in the early 1980's in favor of modern high capacity double action pistols.

The most prolific of the Star pistols, the Models A and B made their initial appearance in the mid 1920's, and set the pattern for all future iterations of the company's single action self loading pistols.   While they appear to be straightforward copies of the Colt-Browning M1911 series pistols, there are are some significant differences.  The Star pistols are much simpler mechanically than the 1911 series.  The key differences are outlined below:

• The Stars dispense with the grip safety, relying solely on a thumb safety and a magazine disconnect
• The Star pistols have an external extractor, similar to that on later High Powers
• The Star pistols use a thumb safety that acts directly on the hammer rather than on the sear
• The Star pistols use a pivoting rather than a sliding trigger
• The Star pistols do not use a separate mainspring housing
• The Star pistols do not use a separate plunger tube for the safety and slide stop
• The Star pistols do not use a trigger "stirrup" to trip the sear, rather there is an actuating bar along the left side of the grip frame that trips the sear.
• The disconnector on the Star pistols is a simple piece of flat steel dovetailed into the right side of the frame.  When the slide is out of battery, it is forced down, and in turn forces the actuating bar out of engagement with the sear.  When the slide is in battery, the disconnector bar moves upward into a recess in the slide, and the actuating bar is free to act on the sear.

• The Super models dispense with the Colt-Browning swinging link design on the barrel in favor of a High Power style cam lug design.
• The Super models have a quick takedown design.  On the right side of the frame, opposite the slide stop is a lever that is held in place by a magazine actuated catch.  When the magazine is removed, the catch retracts into the frame, permitting the lever to be pivoted approximately 160 degrees to the front.  When the lever is so pivoted, the slide may be run straight off the frame.
• The Super models have a loaded chamber indicator.
• The Super models have white dot sights

Because of a general lack of familiarity, as well as a number of misconceptions, Spanish pistols have never achieved the level of popularity on the US consumer market that might be expected for pistols that offer the combination of features and quality seen on Spanish pistols in general and Star pistols in particular.  As a result, they offer some of the best values on the used firearm market for shooters, collectors, and those who might be looking for an inexpensive but reliable firearm for personal protection and self defense.  For example, while a used Colt or Browning 9x19mm pistol might run $350 to $500, Stars can be had for prices ranging between $125 and $300.   PRODUCT REVIEW

External Inspection

Star Super B as sold by CDNN (Note quick takedown lever)

As noted, the advertisements claimed that the Super B's would be in "Excellent to Like New" condition.  They weren't lying.  The gun we received appeared to be brand-spanking-new.  The highly polished blue finish was deep and lustrous, showing few if any imperfections.  Neither the barrel nor the breech face displayed any sign of even a single round having been fired, despite the fact that it had obviously been test fired at the factory.  Not only was the bluing perfect, without a scratch or blemish, but the strawed hammer and extractor were in similar shape, as was the grooved trigger which had been left in the white and highly polished.  The barrel, which was left in the white was in comparable condition.  The bore was bright as a mirror, with sharp, high rifling.  Grips are of checkered plastic.  Minor surface imperfections, however, indicate to us

that the gun was professionally refinished as part of an arsenal overhaul program, as does the lack of a serial number on the barrel.  It matters not, as this is one pretty gun!  While not the prettiest stocks we've ever seen on a service pistol, they were in as new condition.  As an aside, the Super B, with its high polish blue and contrasting small parts (hammer, extractor, trigger) is an excellent candidate for a set of attractive aftermarket grips along the lines of Navidrex Diamondwood.  Of course that presupposes that there's somebody making grips for this pistol, which is unfortunately unlikely.

Extremely pleased with the gun's external appearance, we began to examine it in more detail.  The Spanish are extremely conscientious about marking their firearms, and this Super B was no exception.  Underneath the left grip panel we found the year code marking "P1", indicating that this pistol had been proofed (and most likely had been produced) in 1971.  Additionally, the pistol bore not one, but two sets of numbers.  On the left side of the frame, underneath the slide stop was the number 1192461, while on the right side of the frame, ahead of the take down lever is the number 39565, which is also stamped on the slide directly above the frame numbering.  The barrel is proof marked but not serial numbered.  The frame is marked "SPAIN" on the right side of the trigger, indicating production for export.  Given the pistol's comparatively late production, it is likely that the first number is the actual factory serial number, while the other numbers are assembly or property numbers.  As with all Stars, the pistol's model designation, Super B, is stamped on the heel of the butt.
 

Shooting the Star Super B
Stars are typically a great deal of fun to shoot.  They are traditionally made pistols with sturdy, heavy steel slides and frames that go a long way towards soaking up recoil.  They also tend to be very accurate and reliable pistols.  With these thoughts in mind, and the Spanish national anthem in our hearts, we packed up guns, ammunition, and supplied and headed out to the NRA range in Fairfax, Virginia.

Ammunition
We brought along several types of 9x19mm ammunition with which to test the Super B:

South African PMP 115 grain FMJ
GECO 124 grain FMJ
Winchester USA 115 grain FMJ
Sellier&Bellor 115 grain FMJ
Federal Hydra-Shok 124 grain JHP

Accuracy
We fired the Super B at twenty one, thirty, and forty-five feet.  Target was a three inch black center.  Accuracy was impressive, with the Winchester and PMP ammunition vying for the best results.  Our best groups were:  A ragged hole measuring slightly more than an inch at twenty one feet, an inch and a half cluster thirty feet, and approximately two and inches at forty-five feet.  Results with the other ammunition were not as good, but were close, with the worst group of the day being turned in by the Sellier&Bellot ammunition with a 2.75" group at forty feet.   Sight regulation was very good at all ranges with the mean point of impact and the point of aim coinciding in all cases.  We attribute this pistol's accuracy in part to the "dot on dot" sighting system (centered white dot on rear sight and dot on front sight) which aids greatly in reducing aiming errors due to improperly lined up sights.  Given the combination of a fixed sight service pistol and our less than championship abilities, we were pleased.

Recoil and Ergonomics
Recoil was mild as expected.  In fact, the word that most comes to mind when shooting the Super B is "pleasant."  This gun is the most comfortable 9x19mm we've ever fired; the gun moves in the hand, letting you know you've just fired a service pistol cartridge, but that's it. No slap.  No hard shove.  No torque.  We could have fired this gun all day!  The Super B doesn't have the ergonomics of the High Power, but then, nothing else does, and it doesn't have the price either.  And it certainly has less muzzle flip! Using a two handed hold, we were able to bring the gun back onto the target almost instantaneously for follow up shots.

Ergonomically, the Super B is a comfortable gun to hold.  It does, however, have a very long grip frame, the length betraying the gun's 9mm Largo origins.  Using a single stack magazine, though, the grip is gratifyingly slim, and even shooters with small hands should have no problem manipulating the pistol and all its controls.   Large handed shooters are going to love this gun.  You know who you are - the guys and gals with the small oval scar at the back of your shooting hand just behind the "V" of your thumb and forefinger where you keep getting bitten by semiauto hammers.  The Super B has one of the best designed grip tangs we've ever seen, offering both comfort and protection.  Additionally, at the hammer's rearmost point of travel it is still almost 0.25" above the tang.

Trigger pull is slightly heavier than one would find on something like a Colt Government Model, but not by much, and it is very crisp.  We believe that the pivoting trigger feels significantly more "natural" than the sliding type.  The sights, as mentioned are of the "dot on dot" variety and are very well designed for rapid target acquisition.  The safety is located at the usual position at the rear left of the frame and engages and disengages easily.

Reliability
We fired three hundred rounds of various full metal jacket rounds, and noted no failures to feed, fire, eject or extract.  We didn't note any failures to fire, eject, or extract the JHP ammunition either - but that had more to do with the fact that we couldn't get a single round of JHP to chamber!  The slide ran forward, and each and every time the nose of the bullet ran straight into the front of the frame and stopped there.  This isn't really surprising, as the Super B 's design, like that of the M1911, predates the general availability of jacketed hollowpoint ammunition, and the gun was optimized for the FMJ rounds of the day.  We've no doubt that the pistol could, with a throating and polishing job, feed JHP's quite reliably.
 

Conclusion
It's rare that one finds a well made, reliable, and accurate pistol that is chambered for a popular cartridge, and available inexpensively on the surplus market.  The Star Super B is all of these things.  Additionally, if our sample is any indication, this lot of Super B's is in the nicest condition as any to hit these shores.  Given a polishing and throating job to enable the pistol to reliably feed modern defensive ammunition, we would not consider the Star Super B a bad choice at all for a carry or home defense firearm.  While a large pistol, it is slim, and comparatively easy to conceal compared to modern double stack designs with thicker grips.  The Star Super B is well made, reliable, accurate, and inexpensive.  For what more can the collector or shooter ask?

And now, our Buy-O-Meter rating for the Star Super B:
 
 

HOME