I just ordered one.
I heard the Russian captured ones were stripped, refinished and put back together as they saw fit. This was from an American website, which is not really the best source of hard information on Iron Curtain guns. The Russians allegedly captured thousands of them as some of the Axis forces used them. I am not sure if the ones available on the Canadian market have anything to do with the USSR captured guns. Again I had heard through this sketchy American site that the USSR captured guns were often given away as military aid to USSR friendly countries. Rhodesia used the Star 9mm in the Bush War, I doubt if those were USSR captured, but I am no expert on them.
This is correct.
Many were used in ww2 by the German army. These were exempt from the German marking requirements, so they often don't display any German army markings.
Those are the "Star model B (.08)" and they were made from 1942-1944. Many were captured by the soviets, who refurbished them.
The soviet captured ones are a bit sketchy as they disassembled them, dip blued them, refurbished them completely then reassembled. Often mismatching them, which lead to some sketchy fitting parts, and loose/way too tight fitting parts.
These were supplied as war aid to many countries, and many also just sat in the crate.
These can be purchased from a few dealers in canada, but imo are of lesser quality than what tradeex is offering.
The tradeex "Super Star model B" pistols are from the post ww2 production for governments, police, etc. I believe these are the ones Rhodesia received as a contract/large order from Spain.
The "super star" was produced from 1946-1983, with many being used all around the world by military forces, and police forces. They have tuned up in countries such as Rhodesia (former, sadly) and even the Dominican Republic.
The one you are buying is basically a brand NOS "Super Bee." Very cool history, and much better than the soviet re-arsenal ones, which are cool if you are into collecting and history, but may not perform as well.
Hope that helps.
Get yours while you can
Rosewood grips? You're kidding, right? Did you get yours from Trade-Ex or eleswhere?
Mine have brown plastic checked grips. Virtually brand new looking, but not rosewood.
On another note, FYI, on that Star website, if anyone's interested, there is an informative page about the markings, where you can determine what the stamps on yours mean,... i.e. it might have the Spanish military acceptance stamp or not, as well as other markings, one that will date it roughly.
I have a suspicion the Trade-Ex ones might be Spanish army or police surplus, but not sure. Mine's in near pristine shape too. Not bad for 300.00 .
There is a set of Star model B wood grips for sale on the EE.
There is also aftermarket wood grips for these pistols.
Hi just ordered mine today, can't wait. Guys in my club highly recommend them!!
Bob
Mmmm - another tradex temptation
Have to stop visiting their part of the forum
The Star Model B guns (not Super B) that are out there are RC for sure. They mostly are captures from Bulgarian axis forces though, not German Wehrmacht, which are much much rarer.
That said, the couple I had were good guns. Only a few small parts were off other guns, it's not like they were re-assembled from parts bins, more like some guns were scrapped as a part source to repair the better ones. The were re-blued, obviously, but not all identically. Some still have strawed parts.
The Super B is a different animal, and is a more modern gun with ambi controls - the regular B is more like a stock 1911.
Keeping it real on the range since before there was a CGN.
Also, another cool thing is that it is purported that the Super Star Model B is the pistol used in the famous "Mozambique drill."
While it is often thought to be a browning, apparently he didn't own one. He had a "Super Star Model B." However, since he is no longer with us, it's all speculation now.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique_Drill