Star B - Last of the German Shipments

[pdawg1911]

Picked up this nice conditioned Star B, serial number 260137. The latest one reported in Axis Pistol is two later, 260137. It is a late 4th Variant specimen from the final lot 20 shipped on June 7, 1944. No waffen stamp, fully matched, LPB marked front strap. One matching mag, one non-matching mag, and nice holster that has non-matching serial number on the back. I cleaned it and took these photos using a desk lamp, so will shoot some more on the next sunny day. The little white dots on it are remants from the cleaning rag. Also have a new Canon T3 camera to try out on it. Let me know what you think of it.

Thanks
Pat

[pdawg1911]

Some more.

[pdawg1911]

Two more.

[pdawg1911]

Some using the Cannon Rebel T3 with full sunlight.

[pdawg1911]

This one reveals some of the case hardening colors.

[sneakerd]

I like those pistols- looks like you have a nice one! They are on my list for purchase one day!

[Alan Smith]

Nice looking pistol.

What are the markings on the gripstrap? Are these some sort of German police unit markings?

My recollection is that these very last shipments never made it from Spain into wartime Germany and were only delivered to West Germany in the 1950's, when they were used by various West German police units. Later, the West Germans surplused the pistols and Sam Cummings (Interarms) grabbed them up and sold them in the U.S.

[pdawg1911]

Nice looking pistol.

What are the markings on the gripstrap? Are these some sort of German police unit markings?

My recollection is that these very last shipments never made it from Spain into wartime Germany and were only delivered to West Germany in the 1950's, when they were used by various West German police units. Later, the West Germans surplused the pistols and Sam Cummings (Interarms) grabbed them up and sold them in the U.S.

I think that they stand for LandesPolizei Niedersachsen (State Police Lower Saxony). Post war police use.

Regards,
Pat

[JoeW]

I agree Alan. And that's a post war Geco holster made for them. Lower Saxony also used some of the undelivered Astra 600/43s marking them LBPN (Landes Bereitschafts Polizei Niedersachsen).