Make: Bonifacio Echeveria STAR

Model: Jo. Lo. Ar.

Serial Number: 20924

Year of Manufacture: ca. 1924-1927

Caliber: .380 ACP (9mm Short)

Action Type: Single Action Semi Automatic Pistol with Slide Lever and Tip-Up Barrel.

Barrel Length: 4 1/4"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch integral to the slide.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered and grooved horn panels, both of which feature the Jo. Lo. Ar logo. Both panels have light-moderate handling wear with some scattered nicks and scuffs. There are tool marks at the screw heads with minor cracking at the top screw on the left. There are some spots of smoothed checkering with most well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original to the parts. The slide lever is force-matched to the frame

Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright and the rifling is well-defined. There is scattered light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 20% of its metal finish. Strongest finish is on portions of the barrel that are protected when the action is closed. There is some other finish in protected areas and around raised features. Most surfaces are worn or polished to white. There are scattered nicks and scratches. There is infrequent light surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete, the slide lever serial marking is struck over a previous marking. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly, though the safety lever is a little loose and falls down freely. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: A single 9-round magazine is included.

Our Assessment: This is a fairly unique Spanish pistol that is a combination of a blowback operated pistol called the Sharpshooter and a lever design by J. Lopez de Arnaiz (Jo. Lo. Ar.). Neither the pistol nor the lever were successful on their own, but the quirky combination somehow made it over the hump and brought the makers out of obscurity, for a little while anyway! This pistol was utilized primarily by the Peruvian mounted police and the lever allowed officers to keep their left hand on the reins of their horse and cycle the action of the pistol with their right. Seldom does unusual result in practical, but the pistol worked! There is a tip-up barrel for extracting the final round as well. The pistols were chambered for .25, .32 and .380 ACP, 9mm Largo, and for the Peruvian mounted police, they were actually chambered for .45 ACP!

This example is chambered for .380 ACP and shows wear consistent with a 100 year old pistol that has made its way across the pond. Despite its age, the horn grips are in fairly good condition and the action functions properly. The bore is in decent shape and there is some remaining original finish with a force-matched slide lever. There are simply very few of these left out of the original 30,000 that were made, and this example is in better shape than some we have seen. This may serve as a very interesting display piece and conversation starter, but may also prove to be a fun shooter for the lucky winner. Please see our photos and good luck!