Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this semi-automatic pistol today for a penny-start auction, this is the Astra 600.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Astra
Model: 600
Serial: 12233
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (According to the "O" date code)
Caliber: 9mm
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 5 1/4"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Blade Front with Integral U-Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Fully Checkered Walnut Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The top of the barrel is marked with the "ASTRA" logo. The top of the top strap is marked "UNCETA Y COMPAÑIA GUERNICA ESPAÑA". The left side of the frame is marked with proof marks and the date code "O". The right side of the slide is marked with the serial number "12233". The right side of the frame is also marked with the serial number "12233".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
When Germany gained a direct land border with Spain following the French capitulation in 1940, the Wehrmacht took the opportunity to purchase Spanish firearms, with deliveries routed across the French border to the town of Hendaye. A German inspection office was established there to handle both Spanish arms and French-made Unique pistols. The first acquisitions included the Astra 300 and Astra 400 pistols. The compact Astra 300, chambered in .32 ACP and .380 ACP, was suitable for secondary use, while the larger Astra 400 offered greater capability as a service sidearm but was chambered in 9×23mm Largo, incompatible with German ammunition stocks. In 1943, a couple of German engineers visited the Astra factory to discuss production of a pistol better suited to Wehrmacht requirements. The result was the Astra 600 (designated by the military as the 600/43), essentially a Model 400 rechambered for 9x19mm Parabellum. The new model featured a Navy-style push-button magazine release instead of the 400’s heel release and was generally more in line with what the German military was seeking. Germany placed an order for 41,500 pistols, and production began shortly thereafter. The first deliveries arrived at Hendaye in May 1944, but only approximately 10,500 were delivered before Allied advances into France made further shipments impossible. While these early pistols were inspected at Hendaye and marked with WaA20 proof stamps, Astra continued production on the remainder of the German contract through 1945 despite the halted deliveries.
Model: 600
Serial: 12233
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (According to the "O" date code)
Caliber: 9mm
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 5 1/4"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Blade Front with Integral U-Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Fully Checkered Walnut Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The top of the barrel is marked with the "ASTRA" logo. The top of the top strap is marked "UNCETA Y COMPAÑIA GUERNICA ESPAÑA". The left side of the frame is marked with proof marks and the date code "O". The right side of the slide is marked with the serial number "12233". The right side of the frame is also marked with the serial number "12233".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
When Germany gained a direct land border with Spain following the French capitulation in 1940, the Wehrmacht took the opportunity to purchase Spanish firearms, with deliveries routed across the French border to the town of Hendaye. A German inspection office was established there to handle both Spanish arms and French-made Unique pistols. The first acquisitions included the Astra 300 and Astra 400 pistols. The compact Astra 300, chambered in .32 ACP and .380 ACP, was suitable for secondary use, while the larger Astra 400 offered greater capability as a service sidearm but was chambered in 9×23mm Largo, incompatible with German ammunition stocks. In 1943, a couple of German engineers visited the Astra factory to discuss production of a pistol better suited to Wehrmacht requirements. The result was the Astra 600 (designated by the military as the 600/43), essentially a Model 400 rechambered for 9x19mm Parabellum. The new model featured a Navy-style push-button magazine release instead of the 400’s heel release and was generally more in line with what the German military was seeking. Germany placed an order for 41,500 pistols, and production began shortly thereafter. The first deliveries arrived at Hendaye in May 1944, but only approximately 10,500 were delivered before Allied advances into France made further shipments impossible. While these early pistols were inspected at Hendaye and marked with WaA20 proof stamps, Astra continued production on the remainder of the German contract through 1945 despite the halted deliveries.
Because these subsequent pistols could no longer cross the border to the Hendaye inspection office, they were never stamped with German military proofs, resulting in nearly 39,000 "plain" units that remained legally owned by Germany but trapped in Spanish storage. After the conflict, a few thousand were sold on the Spanish civilian market or exported to foreign governments such as Portugal and Chile, with the vast majority of these unmarked contract pistols remaining in inventory. In 1951, the West German government finally reclaimed this paid-for asset, purchasing roughly 45,350 total units to arm the West German Police and Federal Border Guard. These unmarked wartime pistols were later incorporated into the Bundeswehr’s inventory in 1956 and gradually replaced by the Walther P1 beginning in 1961.
Contents:
This example will ship with a genuine black leather holster and two 8-round magazine.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3-day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
Our #1 priority is customer satisfaction. We want to build a lasting trust in the relationship with our customers, so that you will always look to us for all your firearms needs. If you have any issues with your transactions please contact us, and we will work with you to resolve any issues you may have. We greatly appreciate your trust in us and we look forward to fulfilling all your future firearm needs.
Bryant Ridge also reserves the right to cancel any sales that may occur while gunbroker.com is experiencing technical issues that affects the entire site or a complete site outage, within an hour of the auction ending.
We have an amazing inventory of classic and collector firearms that we are adding to Gunbroker daily. Stay up to date on all of our latest auction by adding us to your favorite sellers list.
About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection. 
Additional Information
GunbrokerLink: |
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1190503832 |
BidPrice: |
26 |
AuctionEndDate: |
2026-08-02 21:00:00 |
CurrentBid: |
26 |
