I ended up with a Star BM through a trade for a .38 special and the gun showed the obvious signs of a lot of holster wear (top gun: FN Hi-Power, middle gun: Star BM, bottom gun: an American Arms .22).
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But disassembling the gun, inspecting the barrel, and a trip to the shooting range confirmed that this was a gun that was carried a lot, but shot very little. On checking the back ground, I discovered that these were service pistols for the Spanish Home Guard... they will have mandatory military service for every young man.
The Star is an all steel pistol which makes it a bit heavy compared to the popular 9mm of today, and it follows most conventions of the 1911, so it shoots a single stack 8 round magazine. The barrel and slide mate just like the 1911, however it has some divergence. The trigger uses a single firing lever which works against the sear. One of the most consistant things you will hear about this gun is the quality of the trigger... it is crisp and clean at about 3 1/2 lbs.
The sights remind you of the 1911 GI... rear dovetail and a staked front... so there is little you can do without having a gunsmith restake the front sight. But I put a layer of white car touch up paint to help me pick out the front sight and it is pretty accurate just as it is.
One of the most attractive features on the gun is that it can be cleaned up very well...
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A finish of Duracoat and a new set of wood grips really dresses the gun up.
It is just a bit smaller than the Commander series of 1911, but a very nice match to the 9mm cartridge. Parts can be a problem, but the three most likely items to be replaced... firing pin, extractor and recoil spring can all be ordered from Nimrich Arms. Because all of the "B" series pistol have very similiar mechanisms, you can pretty well locate what you might need with parts from another pistol.
The Star would make a great "tackle box" pistol, but with a little "spit and polish" it would make a very nice carry gun if you prefer the weight of steel over polymer. I've watched a picture of a Glock firing and it is obvious that the frame flexes... a steel gun won't.
One of the most attractive features on these guns is the price. Depending on where you shop, you can pick one up for less than $150 and a boxed set with an extra magazine for under $200. Magazines can be ordered very regularly on Ebay. My preference is for the rounded follower type... the flat follower seems more prone to nose dive without working of them.
A good, solid gun shouldn't cost you a fortune. This is one that you can carry with confidence... and your 1911 shooting buddies will rave over the trigger pull!
But disassembling the gun, inspecting the barrel, and a trip to the shooting range confirmed that this was a gun that was carried a lot, but shot very little. On checking the back ground, I discovered that these were service pistols for the Spanish Home Guard... they will have mandatory military service for every young man.
The Star is an all steel pistol which makes it a bit heavy compared to the popular 9mm of today, and it follows most conventions of the 1911, so it shoots a single stack 8 round magazine. The barrel and slide mate just like the 1911, however it has some divergence. The trigger uses a single firing lever which works against the sear. One of the most consistant things you will hear about this gun is the quality of the trigger... it is crisp and clean at about 3 1/2 lbs.
The sights remind you of the 1911 GI... rear dovetail and a staked front... so there is little you can do without having a gunsmith restake the front sight. But I put a layer of white car touch up paint to help me pick out the front sight and it is pretty accurate just as it is.
One of the most attractive features on the gun is that it can be cleaned up very well...
A finish of Duracoat and a new set of wood grips really dresses the gun up.
It is just a bit smaller than the Commander series of 1911, but a very nice match to the 9mm cartridge. Parts can be a problem, but the three most likely items to be replaced... firing pin, extractor and recoil spring can all be ordered from Nimrich Arms. Because all of the "B" series pistol have very similiar mechanisms, you can pretty well locate what you might need with parts from another pistol.
The Star would make a great "tackle box" pistol, but with a little "spit and polish" it would make a very nice carry gun if you prefer the weight of steel over polymer. I've watched a picture of a Glock firing and it is obvious that the frame flexes... a steel gun won't.
One of the most attractive features on these guns is the price. Depending on where you shop, you can pick one up for less than $150 and a boxed set with an extra magazine for under $200. Magazines can be ordered very regularly on Ebay. My preference is for the rounded follower type... the flat follower seems more prone to nose dive without working of them.
A good, solid gun shouldn't cost you a fortune. This is one that you can carry with confidence... and your 1911 shooting buddies will rave over the trigger pull!
