ASTAR — The new company

After Star went out of business, a reorganization of some sort occured. Eventually, a company began making guns again under the ASTAR name. The name (Astra/Star = ASTAR?) implies this is the combined company. Astra went out of business in a similar timeframe. Also, there is this [transalted] line from an ad on the launch of the MAX 8800:

The disappearance of Astra and Star has generated a new company called ASTAR in which are fused experiences, concepts and designs. One of its accomplishments is the ASTAR MAX 8800, suitable as service pistol and general use.

The company name and contact information, as far as I know, is:

Agrupacion Social Trabajadores Armeros, S.A.L. (ASTAR)
Barrio Boroa, 19
Boroa
48340 - AMOREBIETA-ETXANO
Vizcaya
SPAIN

Tel: 946 731 147
Tel: 344 673 1147
Fax: 344 673 1147

I have also seen the address written in this manner:
Kortederra, 19/245, Amorebieta, 48340

If anyone has any info at all on this new company or their products, please email it to me. Much of the information on this page, as well as the translation, was provided by Alberto Cooper in Spain. Thanks again, Alberto!

Pistols

I only have direct information on the two handguns listed below, but the brochure claims they also make a .25 (6.35 mm) pistol of some sort. I presume they have a relatively full line of firearms.

MAX 8800

This pistol looks very, very Star-like. Specifically, it looks like a compact Megastar. A number of specific features, such as the removable backstrap/trigger assembly, were Star exclusives. The magazine is exactly the same, with the step at the front of the floorplate, and the distinctive cutouts in the cast follower, among other details. So, if Stars always were your cup of tea, pray for an importer.

Caliber: 9 x 19 mm Parabellum

Magazine capacity: 13 + 1 cartridges, double row magazine

Dimensions: 175 x 125 x 32 mm (6.89 x 4.92 x 1.26")

Barrel Length: 88 mm (3.46")

Rifling: 6 grooves RH, 1:251 millimeters (9.88")

Sight radius: 136 mm (5.35")

Weight: 750 g (26.45 oz)

Trigger system: Conventional double/single action with rounded hammer

Trigger pull: 5 Kg (50N) double action, 2 Kg (20N) single action

Trigger travel: 12.5 mm (0.49") double action, 5.9 mm (0.23") single action

Locking: Browning-style short recoil, closed cam path, locked by rings in top of barrel

Sights: Rear sight adjustable for windage, fixed front; three white dots

Safety: Slide-mounted safety lever, with decocking and automatic return to safe; automatic firing pin drop safety

Material and finish: Slide and barrel in steel, light alloy frame, electrolytic-nickel finish, textured polymer grips

Special features: Reversible magazine release; modular, removable trigger assembly set; trigger overtravel stop; grips retained by backstrap, without screws

Retail price in Spain: 135.000 pesetas

1911PL

This seems to be a straight-up clone of the Colt 1911, with grip-safety and all, so not at all like the former B/P-series pistols. They seem to only be in .45 ACP, and have a plastic frame with a 12-shot capacity. I presume the frame is the BUL or another existing product they are simply using to assemble a gun as their own.

These guns are available in the Czech Republic, and presumably in Spain and other places as well, but not the US.

Long Arms

ASTAR is also listed in a Spanish corporate directory as a maker of shotguns, and the brochure Alberto translated includes references to a .45-70 rifle as well. I have no more information about these, however.