I have wondered Belford page 155 for many years... until now

[alvin]

On Belford classical book "Mauser Self-loading Pistol" page 155, he posted a picture of a Spanish 20-shot Azul with detachable magazine. This type is hard to see,,,, I did have a 9mm Largo caliber pistol like the one he printed in the past, but it's 10-shot, I have never seen a magazine like he posted in 1960s. Not only me, a friend collector also wondered this type... we looked at the book pictures under glass magnifier many times, it's obviously not a Schnellfeuer style magazine. no other information has been mentioned anywhere... until we find a sample. Never fired Spanish Azul in the past, won't miss this opportunity this time. Belford was too concise, he did not mention many things.

[DonVoigt]

Alvin,
you should write an updated Broomhandle book.

[alvin]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Alvin,
you should write an updated Broomhandle book.

No need. Any domain needs some unresolved myth. Already many stuffs have been put in books and publications by authors.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by alvin

No need. Any domain needs some unresolved myth. Already many stuffs have been put in books and publications by authors.

Then don't complain that the authors did not do it right.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Then don't complain that the authors did not do it right.

When you reach a certain age, complaining is all you can do.

And it is very satisfying!

[DonVoigt]

I call it "whining", and there is "other" one can do-
like compile a book, it is not rocket science.

[alvin]

No. You misunderstood. It's not complaining.

Personally, I don't think that I need their explanation. No text explanation was OK. 1960's books, including System Mauser and Mauser Self-loading Pistols, although simple structured, they had one style and one advantage -- the authors simply presented what they saw, raw observation, and let readers interpret the details. That's a style. This style works when those things were cheap and environment was much cleaner at that time.

[Douglas Jr.]

Is it 9mm Largo or 7,63 mm ?

[alvin]

Originally Posted by Douglas Jr.

Is it 9mm Largo or 7,63 mm ?

7.63m/m converted from a selective-fire pistol.

Looks being factory converted. The firing-control switch was removed, and hole was welded. Everything else is there, including the receiver positionl safety lever, pin and spring are still there, although those are not really needed in semi-auto.

Unlike Schnell and 902 which have semi-auto version originally made so, I have never seen an Azul originally being made as semi-auto. All samples that I have seen are converted ones. Even the one printed in Antaris' book looks being a converted because its lock frame also has receiver position safety lever. In my imagination, a gun originally made as semi-auto should have a full width semi-auto sear, but I have never seen one.