The Astra Model A-80 pistol was designed and produced in Spain by Astra Company. It has been manufacturing automatic pistols since 1908. It has been providing Spanish military and police pistols since 1913 and has thus gained valuable knowledge of practical requirements as opposed to theoretical desires, and this shows in their Astra A-80 pistol.
Astra A-80 Pistol
The Astra A-80 pistol is very much in the modern idiom – a double-action weapon with a large magazine. It is compact, simply built and easy to disassemble, yet it is also of a respectable weight so that it points well and balances nicely in the hand. The breech is locked by the normal Browning swinging link, though, as, in most of today’s model, the link is actually a shaped cam that withdraws the barrel downwards from engagement with the slide.
Design
Safety is attended to by having the firing pin positively locked by a sprung plunger except for the actual moment that the hammer is released by trigger action, at which time a portion of the trigger linkage lifts the plunger out of engagement and frees the firing pin.
There is a de-cocking lever on the left side of the frame, its thumb catch just behind the trigger guard. Depressing this drops the hammer to be caught on the rebound notch, after which pulling the trigger will double-action the hammer to full cock and then drop it. An interesting point is that this de-cocking lever can be moved across to the right side for left-handed shooters.
The foresight on Astra Model A-80 is a blade with a whitened rear face, and the backsight has a white line below the ample notch so that they can easily be picked up and aligned in poor light. But the rear sight is fixed, except that it could possibly be drifted sideways for zeroing. Even so, the sights appear to be well aligned from the factory and the range performance with a stock model was satisfactory.
The Astra A-80 pistol is also manufactured in .38 Super and .45 ACP chambering; in the latter case, the magazine holds 9 rounds.
Technical specifications
| Manufacturer: | Astra, Unceta y Cia, Guernica, Spain |
| Type: | locked-breech double-action semi-automatic |
| Caliber: | 9 mm Parabellum |
| Barrel: | 3.75 in (95 mm) |
| Weight: | 34,02 oz (970 g) |
| Magazine capacity: | 15 rounds |
How much are they worth ?
Looks almost identical to a Smith & Wesson model 59
In a Galco Miami shoulder rig with dual mag pouches, a heavy but comforting friend to have in those urban high-crime areas…Reliable 100% of the time with any ammo…
Just had mine at the range and it is far more accurate than I remember. While the double action trigger pull is heavy, in single action mode it is extremely light. For a mid 1980’s semi auto, the 15+1 capacity is exceptional.
I got one in almost new condition from a friend who after doing an estate sale of his mom’s home found it, not having any prior knowledge of it. This Astra 80 A is in 38 Super which makes it all the more attractive to me as that is an unusual caliber. It’s a beautiful handgun and acquired very cheap, just what my friend ask as he didn’t want to sell it to just anyone. No paperwork, just a check and it’s mine. I value it!
John Weise, they are worth whatever they’re are to you personally. Mine is a A-80 in 38 Super and I value it because it is so rare and discontinued. You may have other interests which is fine.