GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE AND HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE ASTRA MODEL 902 SELECT FIRE MACHINE GUN (PISTOL) (C & R). ASTRA MODEL 902 12928 7.63 MM MODERN; NFA; C&R Cal. 7.63mm. 7-1/8" bbl. Incredibly scarce and in high condition, Amnesty registered Astra Model 902 fixed mag, broom handle machine pistol with non-matching wooden stock (SN 29741). Gun marked on lefts side of frame "ASTRA AUTOMATIC PISTOL CAL 7.63" with patent date, right hand side has selector lever with Spanish proof marks present. Receiver SN is the only visible SN. Orig Amnesty registration form is included as provenance, as well as orig documentation where this gun was ordered from Astra in 1960, unaltered with the fire control lever shipped separately. This orig selector lever and sear in its orig packaging are present and included with this lot. The orig manual for the Astra Model F in its orig envelope dated November, 1960 is also included. Also included is the applicants copy for the license to import this very gun. Apparently the orig registrant requested a leather carrier, however a postcard from the Astra representative indicated they were out of stock. The original registrant was apparently a very discerning collector and alert to implementation of the Amnesty in 1968, which has provided this gun to be available to collectors. This is a National Firearms Act item and requires BATF approval for transfer. This item is fully transferable on an ATF form 3 or 4 as Curio & Relic eligible. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is extremely fine orig finish with some tiny pin prick oxidation on the fixed mag housing and some slight scratches on the bbl with a touch of muzzle wear. Wood is very fine with some slight handling marks. Nitra blue still present on stock latch which exhibits SN 47. Traces of color case hardening visible on trigger and rear sight elevator. Mechanics are crisp and although not test fired is likely in semi-auto as the orig selector lever and sear are not currently installed, and included. Bore is very fine, bright, and shows very little use. Orig documentation is extremely fine on very thin paper with orig postage stamps and address. The Astra 900 series was designed as competitor to the Mauser market in late 1927. These pistols are very high quality, machined from top quality materials and finished and fitted to compete with their Mauser counterparts. The Model 902 utilized the same frame as the earlier 900 and 901 with an additional mag piece attached below the frame, making it look like the Mauser 20 shot. This gun was only produced from 1928 until 1933, with a total of only just over 7000 guns ever produced encompassing both semi-auto only and select fire models. When the competition started marketing detachable box mag fed select fire guns it spelled the end of the 902 with its fixed mag. This specimen with its stock and especially its provenance is one of the very few and probably one of the most desirable of its kind registered for private ownership in the United States. This cataloger had never seen anything that comes anywhere close to comparison in terms of condition combined with provenance. 52690-1 JWK119 (10,000-20,000) W/STOCK, SELECTOR LEVER, SEAR