My Star B has the serial # 255598 (from the fourth variation), which was delivered on June 6, 1944 to Handave France, a town near the Franco Spanish boarder. It included 8000 pistols; serial numbers 200 and 250.

Been doing some research on these. Thought I might add an older model to my collection.

Looking for some expertise on these pistols. Here's some information on one I've been researching: I'm looking at a Model B, proof mark is the Flaming Circle with a P inside of it. This proof mark is on the flat of the left side of the trigger guard and on the left side of the slide above the safety. The proof mark year is 1945 designated by the P. Moving onto serial numbers.

The serial number under the butt is '237865' with a B above it indicating the Model Number. There is another 'serial number' on the front of the grip using the dotted type engraving. Wap obmenniki vse.

It is engraved as such 'SER: B2237865' Note the extra 2 that is different from the single 2 on the butt. Is there supposed to be a serial number on the slide? I've seen them on some models but not on others.

I don't see any import marks unless the dotted serial number on the front of the grip was done by an importer. Also, there is no engravings on the right side of the frame. Is this correct for this year and model? Any help would be appreciated. I used the references found on 1911 Forum.

Any additional references? The 'flameing bomb w/a P inside of it' is the Spanish auto pistol proof mark. The P in this marking meaning Proof.

It always stays the same The year of proof would be a separate letter code stamp to the right of the above. A 'P' would be correct for a pistol proofed in 1945. I show by ser# the pistol being mfg in 1943. A Model B mfg in 1945 would be in the 266xx ser# range. Not that it can't and probably did happen,,but look for a Proof Code marking. 1941.M 1942.N 1943.N w/the accent mark over the letter 1944.O 1945.P (sometimes letters will have an '*' over them, it doesn't change the meaning or year.) The Eibar/Spain Proof House exceptance mark is to the left of the flaming bomb mark and is a Knights helmet over a shield w/an X inside the shield. Together these 3 markings form whats called the triad of pistol proofs on Spanish auto pistols.

The ser# you give from the bottom of the butt of the pistol, 237856, shows in the references I have as a Model B manf in 1943. 230826 to 240990 mfg in one particular batch 1943 (not the total output for 1943). I also show the ser# 237856 to be within the final delivery of 5000 STAR Model B pistol to the Bulgarian Gov't Ministry of Defense in 1944 from Star.

Total Bulgarian Govt contract was for 15,000 pistols The final delivery of 5000 was made on 3/23/44. Ser #'s 200 were the final delivery bunch. Should be a standard commercial pistol with NO German WW2 Military markings. Many of these pistols were surplused and imported into the USA in the 90's after the Communist regime had fallen in Bulgaria. Heavily refinished and some obtained faked German Waffenampt mark (WaA251) to boost sales.