Despite its ungainly looks, the Astra 400 is all Old World quality. It was well made of good materials, and it enjoyed a long service life. (Photo courtesy of Bob Campbell)
January 06, 2026
By Bob Campbell
The Astra 400 pistol is among the most important Spanish service pistols of the 20th century. A replacement for the Campo Giro pistol, it was designed by Pedro Careaga, and it was introduced shortly after World War I. It was in full production by 1921.
The pistol was purchased in great numbers by the Spanish military, and some were exported to Nazi Germany, others to Chile. Total production run was just over 106,000. Production ceased in 1950.
It was chambered to the powerful 9mm Bergmann-Bayard or Largo cartridge, which is midway between the 9mm Luger and .38 Super in power. Most pistols of this power are locked-breech design, but the Astra 400 is a direct-blowback gun.
An especially robust recoil spring is used due to the blowback action. Racking the slide is a challenge. I pull the pistol in close to the chest and use a push/pull motion to rack the slide. The recoil spring is so strong that a slight slip during disassembly might cause the recoil spring and barrel bushing to embed themselves in a wall.
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Hidden Hammer The Astra has a hidden hammer. A strong hammer spring helps control recoil. Locking lugs are located on the bottom of the barrel, sliding into the frame in a fashion similar to the Colt 1903 and Savage 1907 lockup.
The Astra 400 features a backstrap grip safety that must be depressed to unlock the trigger. There is also a magazine safety. The safety is just behind the trigger guard and not the easiest to manipulate quickly.
The slide locks open on the last shot but there is no slide lock. The magazine release is located in the heel, and it helps to slightly retract the slide in order to remove the magazine.
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Close inspection of this example shows a handgun well made of the best material—a product of the times perhaps, when excellent handguns were affordable. Each individual part is nicely finished without tool marks inside or out.
Finishes The safety and hammer are nickel plated, and the finish isn’t inexpensive phosphate but a nice blue. Cocking serrations are machined with a slight abutment at the rear to prevent slippage. Checkered plastic grip panels with the Astra emblem are properly fitted.
I have owned and fired several extensively, and the gun’s U-shaped feed ramp feeds hollowpoint loads reliably. While it’s more accurate than expected, it also features an uncomfortable grip angle, and it kicks more than most handguns chambered in 9mm Largo, although the trigger press and trigger reach are good.
On one occasion I attacked an Astra bore with solvent until chemicals ran red from the breech, a common situation with pistols fired with corrosive ammunition, but most were restored to life and proved good shooters. I am not recommending this pistol as a shooter but simply as a collector gun.
The Astra 400 was a prized pistol on the cheap for many shooters a few generations ago, when it was widely available at surplus prices, seldom more than $100. Today, boxed Astra 400 pistols go for around $1,000, with unusually good examples in original packaging with some type of special interest commanding $1,800 or more. However, two were available in the same condition as the pistol illustrated here for $500. It is a collectible and a must-have for those putting together a collection of European service pistols.
