SOLD EXCEPTIONAL & RARE NAZI ISSUE ASTRA 400 PISTOL……..OCT 18, 1941 SHIPMENT……FULL RIG WITH RARE HOLSTER!!!

In 97+% condition, we have a rare and seldom seen Nazi purchased Astra Model 400 Pistol.  A total of 6,000 of these pistols were delivered to the German Army in two shipments in Oct-Nov, 1941, this example is from the first shipment delivered on October 18, 1941. This is made even more desirable by the fact that it is still with the original ersatz leather holster and spare mag.  Many folks think that the ersatz leather holsters were made late in the war, but actually they date from 1941 when there was an extreme shortage of leather in Germany.  This was alleviated in late 1941 when the Soviet Union was invaded.  Finding an actual Ersatz leather holster for this pistol is a real find because so few have survived.  The Astra 400 Pistols were well liked by the Germans but were a little on the large size which led to the development of the Astra 600 in 1943, which was a better fit for the 9mm Luger cartridge.  The Model 400 pistols were chambered for the 9m/m Largo round but since they had a floating chamber you actually can fire 9m/m Luger or even .38 Super in them with some degree of functionality.  They are manufactured to the highest quality and they are almost legendary as to their toughness.  This is a beautiful example with nice fire blue on the extractor .  As you might imagine with only 6,000 ever shipped to the Germans this is a very hard to find and avidly sought after pistol.  This is probably the finest example that we have had in the office.