Now you can date your Browning firearm. The serial number found on your gun has the answer. This area will help you read that serial number.

To find your serial number, you will need to refer to your owner's manual. We have most owner's manuals online.

9MM LUGER CALIBER, PISTOL RECALL: INTERARMS has learned of occasional firing pin breakage in the Star M43 FIRESTAR 9MM pistols within the limited serial number range 1,953,001 to 1,958,000 ONLY. Such breakage does not pose any direct hazard to the shooter; however, the pistol is rendered inoperable. Bonifacio Echeverria Star 9MM Largo caliber pistol. This is the model A produced around 1922. It was adopted by the Spanish Guardia Civil. It has been arsenal refurbished at some point. Matching serial numbers except for the magazine. The left grip shows a repaired crack. Star Models and Manufacture Dates This list is not presented as the definitive list, there is much speculation on Star pistol models due to a lack of official records from the manufacturer.22 Long Rifle.25 ACP (6.35 mm) 7.63 mm Mauser 7.65 Parabellum (.30 Luger) 7.65 mm (.32 French Long).32 ACP (7.65 mm) 9mm Corto (.380 ACP) 9mm Parabellum.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided on serial numbers and dates of manufacture are accurate, records on early production models such as the Auto-5 and Superposed shotguns were not included due to the complexity of numbers, models and grades offered. Also, there have been unique limited edition models that did not follow our regular serial number configurations and they are not included in this listing.

To find out about your gun's serial number simply click on your firearm.

Historical Letters Available
Click here to learn more about how you can add a piece of history to your Browning firearm.

A brief history of the Star Modelo 1922 pistol.

First a brief note on Star model designations for the Modelo 1920, 1921, 1922, 1931, 1940, and 'A' family of pistols. The 1920 was produced solely for the Guardia Civil. After making changes to the 1920 recommended by the Guardia Civil the pistol was redesignated the 1921. Once Star caught up with the Guardia Civil orders they began offering the pistol on the civilian market as the 'A', these were numbered in a separate serial number range from the 1921. Star next removed the grip safety from the 1921 and redesignated it as the 1922. The grip safety was also removed from the civilian 'A', but the model designation was not changed. Sometime between 1928 and 1931 the pistol underwent continued improvements (most noticeably an arched and checkered backstrap) and redesignated the 1931, the civilian version was not redesignated. In 1934 the rear sight and method of retaining the firing pin were changed, model designation remained the 1931 and 'A'. After a production hiatus for the Spanish Civil War, production was continued. At this time the government pistol became known as the 1940, the civilian version was still the 'A'. Both the government and civilian versions underwent several design changes, but only the government version was redesignated. Therefore serial numbers and proof marks must be used to correctly determine the model designation of the 1921, 1922, 1931, 1940, and 'A' pistols. To further confuse the issue, as pistols were returned to Star by the Spanish Government as surplus they would be refurbished and if necessary a new serial number applied. It was at this time that the mystery 9mm/.38 markings were applied to the pistols if they were reworked to handle the semi-rimmed .38ACP cartridge.

The Star Modelo Militar 1922 was produced by the arms maker Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A. from 1922 until 1931.

The design of the Modelo Militar 1922 has its history intertwined with earlier Star pistols, the Modelo Militar 1920 and 1921. In 1920 the Guardia Civil was looking for a new standard sidearm. Engineers at Bonifacio Echeverria looked to the Sam Browning designed M1911 pistol as a starting point a developed the Modelo Militar 1920 chambered in 9mm Largo. This design was selected by the Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) as their new standard sidearm and production commenced. After using the Modelo Militar 1920, the Guardia Civil wanted a change made to the pistol. They were unhappy with the slide mounted safety and requested that it be moved to the traditional place on the frame. In 1921 Echeverria made this change to the pistol; and added a grip safety while they were at it. This became the Modelo Militar 1921. The Guardia Civil quickly decided that the grip safety wasn't a feature they wanted on a combat arm. The engineers responded by removing the grip safety and changing the model designation to Modelo Militar 1922.

Outwardly the Modelo Militar 1922 looks almost identical to early M1911 pistols except for the lack of a grip safety and method of attaching the rear sight. Disassembly is much like an M1911 style pistol. The Star Modelo 1922 has been out of production for some time now and there are no known remaining stocks of new parts. Used parts may be available from a variety of sources.

Many people mistake the 'S.A.' in the Star name and stamped on the slide of Star pistols to be a model designation. I constantly see Star pistols listed on online auction sites as 'Star Model S.A. 9mm pistol.' These normally turn out to be Star Modelo A, B, and Super pistols. The 'S.A.' is actually a Spanish abbreviation for 'Sociedad Anónima', the English equivalent would be 'corporation' or 'incorporated' Determining the correct model of Star pistols is normally achieved by looking at the bottom of the butt. The model designation and serial number are stamped there. However, on the early Stars there is no information on the butt of the pistol. The collector must determine the model designation based on features present.

When 9mm Largo ammunition was hard to find in quantity shooters regularly fired other cartridges such as the 9mm Luger, 9mm Steyr, 9mm Browning Long, etc in their 9mm Largo firearms. Many dealers and distributors also claimed the firearms would fire all of these and more. This however is not a prudent practice to engage in. The Star Modelo A, like all pistols firing straight walled cartridges, headspaces on the mouth of the cartridge. When a cartridge shorter than the 23mm of the 9mm Largo is used, the cartridge case cannot headspace against the end of the chamber. This leaves only the extractor to hold the cartridge case against the breechface allowing the firing pin to impact the primer. This causes excessive wear and stress on the extractor, too much freebore (the distance from the bullet to the beginning of the rifling), and scoring of the chamber walls. The result of these abnormalities can result in broken/misshapen extractors, poor accuracy, and the inability to chamber and extract correct size cases.

The use of cartridges that produce too much chamber pressure is also discouraged. Yes, the .38 Super and 9x23mm Winchester will chamber in most 9mm Largo firearms, and if they will chamber they will fire. The metallurgy and design of the Modelo 1921 were not developed to handle the pressure of these rounds. Use of these type cartridges in the Modelo 1921 risks damage to the pistol and possibly yourself through a ruptured chamber, fractured slide, or fractured frame.

Ammunition in 9mm Largo is now available from a number of sources. Surplus ammunition is now coming into the country in shootable quantities and is available at some gunshops, many gunshows, and via mailorder. Factory new 9mm Largo ammunition is being made by CCI in their Blazer line (product number 3513) with a 124g Gold Dot Hollow Point bullet. If you reload RCBS makes dies in 9mm Largo (product number 56665), these are not a normally stocked item and require special order. You can also utilize 9x23mm Winchester dies to reload 9mm Largo, the exterior case dimensions are almost identical. Starline also produces virgin 9mm Largo brass for reloading. Gone are the days of manufacturing cases out of .223 Remington (done that, not fun), 9mm Winchester Magnum (done that, much easier) or other cases.

Star 9mm Pistol Serial Number

Serial Numbers On Guns

Return to the 9mm Largo Homepage.
Text, images, and HTML coding Copyright © 2001 Colin D. Castelli, All Rights Reserved.