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A history lesson: Astra M400 / 1921 9mm Largo

05/07/2021

This Astra M400 /1921 9mm Largo pistol came to us because it wasn't firing. @likenew_gunsmithing disassembled it and found it called for a serious clean and lube due to a layer of debris and rust that had obstructed several internal parts. Once he gave her a good scrub-a-dub, all functions checked out and it test fired a full magazine successfully with strong primer strikes. 👍

I looked up the technical aspects of the 9mm Largo cartridge and how it compared to the 9x19mm Luger because I'm pretty unfamiliar with the Largo round. The 9mm Largo cartridge (9×23mm Largo *technically* 🤓) was developed in 1901 for the Bergmann Mars pistol in Germany. Compared to the 9x19mm Luger, the Largo is a less powerful cartridge. And, in case it's not obvious, the cartridges are not interchangeable! ☢️🚫☠️

Evidently, the caliber became popular in Spain and found its way to the Ezperanza y Unceta factory in Guernica, Spain where this M400/1921 was manufactured. The M400/1921 was standard issue for the Spanish Army during the Spanish Civil War. The model was later used among different countries & groups, including those smuggled to the French resistance during WWII.

I recommend a deep Wikipedia dive on this gun & the manufacturer (where I pulled most of my info from). They both hold such an interesting place in firearms & world history! 🌎