Make: Astra

Model: 600/43

Serial Number: 54156

Year of Manufacture: 1945

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with Grip Safety

Barrel Length: 5 1/4”

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade, and the rear sight is a u-notch. Both are integral to the slide.

Stock Configuration, and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber Astra panels. The grips have light handling wear, some tool marks around the screw heads, and a few other scattered light marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts are matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is light handling wear in the grip areas and some wear at the leading edges of the dust cover. There is handling wear on the knurling of the barrel bushing, the serrations and controls. There is scattered minor surface oxidation. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches, most notable on the rear of the slide. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine.

Our Assessment: The Astra 600 came to be by way of the German government requesting a pistol that fired 9mm Parabellum rounds—the precursor to this pistol, the 400, fired 9mm Largo, but the arms-starved Germans were searching for anything they could get their hands on chambered for their standard cartridges. By mid-1944 more than 52,000 had been delivered to Germany. When Germany lost control of supply lines to Spain, remaining stock of the 600 were stored and later sold to various governments or on the commercial market. This example is in Very Good condition, with most of its original finish remaining, a bright bore, and strong mechanics. Please see our photos and good luck!