Interarms and Garcia Corp
I am buying a Star PD 45 auto, do not have the serial number yet. It is marked Garcia Corp. Is this newer or older than one marked Interarms ? Thanks for any info
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Older. Garcia took over from Firearms International, in the early 60's. I don't know the specific date, that Interarms took over from Garcia? Likely, mid to late 60's?
You getting a PD marked Garcia, has to be over 40 years old. Make sure it functions OK, as Star has been out of business since the 90's. No new replacement parts available, at this late date.
Had one years ago, and got rid of it. Needless to say it was ugly to shoot. Weighting something like 25 ozs. The frame was dead soft aluminum. One of my semi-wadcutter reloads, put a divot in the ramp, that bummed me out. As the ramp wasn't even anodized.
Because of it's light weight, makes it a unpleasant shooter. Not likely it has been shot a lot, even being 40+ years old. Being single action for the first shot, is a drawback though. When it was made, there weren't any double action 45's on the market. Now a days there are way better DA .45's available, and the PD is obsolete.0 -
Thank you for the good info. Greatly appreciated. I bought it off GunBroker and talked with seller,very nice man. He had it listed mint with a box, so I do not think it has been fired a lot. Will check the recoil bushing when I get it. I had one in the late 70's when I had an FFL. As you said, due to weight, it would bite your hand a bit. Thanks again 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bvshooter
Thank you for the good info. Greatly appreciated. I bought it off GunBroker and talked with seller,very nice man. He had it listed mint with a box, so I do not think it has been fired a lot. Will check the recoil bushing when I get it. I had one in the late 70's when I had an FFL. As you said, due to weight, it would bite your hand a bit. Thanks again
Just had a thought. One of the Spanish Proof Marks, will be a coded date. During the mid 60's time frame, it was in the alphanumeric format, i.e. I1, J1, K1, L1 etc.0 -
On the other side of opinion a bit, I owned, carried, and shot one as a hideaway and backup for about thirty years. I carried it cocked and locked, as one might carry a 1911, in a holster that had a thumbstrap that secured the pistol in the holster, and also served to stop the hammer from hitting the firing pin IF somehow the safety were to be knocked off. I prefer the "no-change" single action trigger pull over any "first shot double, next ones single action" or continuous double action or trigger-cocking. It would feed reliably only with hardball, so that it what was used almost exclusively. I did replace the recoil buffer twice if I remember correctly. It was relatively light to carry, for a 45. It did recoil a bit, but never hurt my hand. I sold it when I no longer had a need to carry it, and couldn't keep all the guns. 0 -
I remember buying one in the 1970's after reading one of Col. Cooper's columns praising the gun. Mine ran fine as I recall. I carried it with 185 gr.semi wads and it made me happy. Back then I actually lived on a private gun club and shot a lot. 0 -
The PD is far from obsolete!
The only parts you will likely ever need is the nylon recoil spring bushing (available on the Internet) or a firing pin (I make those.)
Recoil is about like the Colt Commander.
Single action is far from a drawback- just ask the millions of 1911 shooters.
Like many Star models, the PD was ahead of it's time.
The Star safety is quite strong and very safe-safer than a GI .45.
The reason Star went out of business is that they stopped making guns like the PD & BKM, instead concentrating on clunky guns like the Firestars and model 28/30.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bill DeShivs
The PD is far from obsolete!
The only parts you will likely ever need is the nylon recoil spring bushing (available on the Internet) or a firing pin (I make those.)
Recoil is about like the Colt Commander.
Single action is far from a drawback- just ask the millions of 1911 shooters.
Like many Star modlels, the PD was ahead of it's time.
If the PD is the greatest thing, since sliced bread, it still would be in production. Star quit selling them in the U.S., in the early 90's. Years before they went out of business.
As a aside, anybody that packs a Star PD. For CC, without a hammer blocking holster. Needs their head examined. Almost as bad as these guys, who brag on carrying one of H & K P7 series pistols. As their EDC. Both require extensive training and practice, to avoid ND's in high stress, blink of the eye, confrontations.0 -
I just actually got the PD. It appears to hardly have been shot. Recoil buffer is in prefect shape.Serial # is 14111XX , so I am trying to figure out the date of manufacture. It is a Garcia import. Thank for the replies and help 0 -
AS I have found the A1 proof mark with good help from this forum it is a 1977 manufacture 0 -
Owned a PD in the 80's & it was a great carry rig. Digested copper-plated 185gr WC perfectly on a mildly polished ramp. In fact, wasn't picky about any loads, but do keep +Ps far away from this due to the lightweight alum frame. 0
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