1276 INCREDIBLE & SIGNIFICANT GERMAN ASTRA MODEL

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 08 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
300 SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAPTURED BY RICHARD "DICK" D. WINTERS, COMPANY COMMANDER & BATTALION EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE LEGENDARY 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE "SCREAMING EAGLES", WITH PROVENANCE. Cal. 9mm Kurz. S# 552734. Bbl. 3 7/8". Few companies are as well-known as that of the legendary 101st Airborne's "Easy Company", and even fewer individuals from the 101st are as well-known as that of Richard "Dick" D. Winters. Largely in part due to the book and even more so, due to Spielberg's miniseries adaptation of the book, "Band of Brothers", Dick Winters and Easy Company's experiences during WWII from D-Day to The Battle of the Bulge, and later occupation of Adolf Hitler's Eagle's Nest are well known amongst the general American public and historians alike. This exact pistol, and its accompanying holster, were captured by Dick Winters toward the end of the war, while near Kaprun, Austria. This high condition pistol is marked with the Astra logo over the top of the slide towards the muzzle, with Astra's mfg. information "UNCETA Y COMPANIA/ GUERNICA ESPANA" marked at the rear. The left side of the frame bears standard Spanish proofs, with the right side exhibiting a sole German Eagle/WaA251 acceptance proof above the S#. Left side of frame is marked "734" ("4" is poorly struck) above "UNCETA Y COMPANIA" beneath the grip panel. Frame, grip safety, and slide exhibit a rust blue finish, with the bbl., trigger, and safety lever being polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Half-moon blade front sight, with U-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, slide, and bbl. MAGS: one 7-rd. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: original brown leather holster. Also accompanying this lot is a variety of paperwork and provenance, including: a Certificate of Historical Origin document listing this pistol by S#, signed by Richard D. Winters. A screenshot of an identical certificate signed by Dick Winters for a Browning Hi-Power pistol, sold through Collector's Firearms / Simpson LTD. A plain sheet of paper listing this pistols S# and also reading "Holster for ASTRA 300/ Captured vic Kaprun, Austria/ Around V-E day by/ Major Dick Winters", signed twice by Dick Winters. A 1996-dated receipt for this pistol from Michael H. Wamsher, with a description, and Weapon Identification Record from the seller. As well as several photos and papers listing the history of Astra's M300 pistol. CONDITION: fine, with metal components retaining bountiful amounts of their original factory rust blue finish overall, exhibiting a few scattered spots of light wear and thinning, some scattered spots of light surface oxidation, as well as some scattered spots of light pitting overall. In-the-white components show some spots of cleaned light surface level pitting, and some age-related discoloration. Brilliant mirror bore, exhibiting sharp and well-defined rifling throughout. Grips are excellent, showing some light to mild smoothing to the diamonds, as well as a few minor marks and nicks from handling and storage. Holster remains malleable, exhibiting wear, creasing, and some spots of age-related cracking and crazing, but otherwise remains sturdy and serviceable. Excellent in just condition alone, this is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the advanced collector to own a significant piece of WWII history, the Astra Model 300 semi-automatic pistol, brought back by the iconic Dick Winters of Easy Company himself. (24-6917/MLW). CURIO. $5,000-8,000.