Star Firestar M43
Encyclopedia
The Star M-43 Firestar is a single-action semi-automatic pistol that fires the 9 mm Para
pistol cartridge. It was produced by the now defunct Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.
in Eibar, Spain
. The Firestar was imported into the United States by Interarms, Alexandria, Virginia.
Although its external appearance resembles a compact M1911
, its design is different in several respects. For example, the Star does not have the 1911's grip safety. Variants chambered for .40 S&W
and .45 ACP
were also produced. The Firestar has operating procedures analogous to those of the Colt 1911: it's single action, and meant to be carried in Condition One (cocked and locked), with a cartridge in the chamber, cocked hammer and locked manual safety. The Firestar lacks both a grip safety and an automatic safety at the firing pin (many current 1911 models have both).
The Firestar was a very compact and light gun in its times, reliable and ideal for backup or concealed carry. Today more modern and effective guns exist for the same role, like the Glock
subcompact models, that with analogous size and weight have superior magazine capacity with simpler operative procedures (no need to operate the manual safety).
9 mm Luger Parabellum
The 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge was designed by Georg Luger and introduced in 1902 by the German weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken for their Luger semi-automatic pistol...
pistol cartridge. It was produced by the now defunct Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.
Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.
Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A. was a manufacturer of small arms in the Basque region of Spain from about 1905 until 1997.-Bonifacio Echeverria and the ancestry of Star:...
in Eibar, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The Firestar was imported into the United States by Interarms, Alexandria, Virginia.
Although its external appearance resembles a compact M1911
M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
, its design is different in several respects. For example, the Star does not have the 1911's grip safety. Variants chambered for .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...
and .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
were also produced. The Firestar has operating procedures analogous to those of the Colt 1911: it's single action, and meant to be carried in Condition One (cocked and locked), with a cartridge in the chamber, cocked hammer and locked manual safety. The Firestar lacks both a grip safety and an automatic safety at the firing pin (many current 1911 models have both).
The Firestar was a very compact and light gun in its times, reliable and ideal for backup or concealed carry. Today more modern and effective guns exist for the same role, like the Glock
Glock
Glock Ges.m.b.H. is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock...
subcompact models, that with analogous size and weight have superior magazine capacity with simpler operative procedures (no need to operate the manual safety).