Star Firearms — M-Series Pistols
Star has a pretty ordered system of model naming in the pre-modern era. A letter series means a frame size and caliber. That series has a clear difference between others, so fits neatly into the offerings, and doesn't overlap. When the same gun is made in a different caliber, they start a new letter series for that, or if a small run of them they just add a suffix letter to indicate that.
Except for the M. That is a P-sized large frame, firing medium calber cartridges. And not one, but at least three: 9 mm Largo, 9 mm Luger/Parabellum, and 7.63×25mm Mauser (.30 Mauser Automatic). The caliber changes are done without any model number changes, something unprecedented in this era. It is even more odd when you consider the U series which is the same large frame gun firing 7.65 mm Parabellum (.30 Luger caliber), maybe with a compact version also.
Why does the M (and U) exist? I'm not entirely sure. The best guess is that the factory found that the A and B, while fine guns, were not up to the rigors of being turned into machine pistols s cheated this way. But they also made a number as un-stocked semi-automatic pistols, so it's not clear.
Overall production was very low, with some individual models known to not exceed 2,000 guns produced. The production dates are also not entirely clear, and they may not have emerged until fairly late, as I have as yet seen no first generation variants of the type which exist for A, B, and P models.
Manuals & Disassembly Instructions
I do not have manuals for every pistol shown on this site. However, in many cases there is a related manual. Partly to make the series relationships clearer, and partly to assist with speed and accuracy of updating, all manuals can be found in one place, the manuals page. All manuals available are provided as downloadable PDFs, or you may purchase a printed copy of the entire set of handgun manuals.
All Classic series pistols strip in the same way. Do note the significant differences between older swinging-link and later "Super" variations.
M
Supposedly produced from 1931, presumably supplanted by the 1950s by the MS and Super M but I've never seen one myself, and the one I have seen in photos I do not have details on such as the proof dates so cannot tell for sure.
Additionally, it is unclear if there was a First Model as on other medium and large frame Classic era guns, with the straighter backstrap. It may not have started production until after the second generation of the P and other pistols had already commenced.
MS
As with other "S" suffix guns, a magazine safety was added for customers or regions that demanded that, and produced alongside the M from 1956.
MD, Machine Pistol
An M, without magazine safety presumably, but with the fire selector on the right side of the slide like the other Star machine pistols, and a groove on the lower portion of the backstrap to accept a wooden stock/holster, which will be serialized to the gun, as it is fitted to reduce wobble.
At least some of these were offered in 9 mm Parabellum/Luger . These are marked on the slide "CAL. 9 m/m P" indicating Parabellum. The 9 mm Largo guns should all be labeled "CAL. 9 m/m .38"
MB, Carbine
Superficially like machine pistols with the same stock, but no fire selector mechanism. At least some of these were also offered in 9 mm Parabellum/Luger . Reportedly via a factory letter only 1,757 model MBs were ever built, and all between 1956 and 1975.
**** MB IMAGEMMS
This is also a carbine like the MB but those known to exist are in 7.63×25mm Mauser (.30 Mauser Automatic). The model designation is confusing. An M suffix means nothing normally, and S would be safety, but then there's the caliber change and no B suffix for carbine and we're lost. We know they exist and are clearly marked with this model designation but that's all.
The slide is marked "CAL. 7,63 m/m" in the usual location.
MB/D, Carbine-To-Machine Pistol
There is at least one example of an MD with the full auto components, with a very clear overstamping. It was apparently made as an MB (the semi-auto stocked pistol) and converted at the factory to an MD machine pistol.
Like everything else about the M series, this is very odd. Star doesn't otherwise over-stamp items or rework guns in ways that are detectable like this, but the overstamping appears to be in the proper typeface so seems authentic vs a gunsmith or armorer modification.
Super-M
As with all Super models, this would have the linkless Petter cam lock and the quick takedown lever, but I have never seen one, so have no idea if any other features changed, or how many were made. Purportedly these were only made from 1946 onward.
