Basically, this is all the stuff that doesn't fit in another section. Most of all, while the rest of the site is more of a reference work, this is about actually owning and using a Star firearm. Not entirely, but mostly. Because of this vague definition, expect things to move in and out of this section.
Star has been out of business for over 20 years now. Spares for old and out of production firearms have always been difficult to find. Especially with many Stars being less than totally popular in the US, this is a particular difficulty. We're now moving into an era when simply no one may have the part you need.
If I know of where to find parts, I will put it up here, so you are free to email me but all I'll do is commiserate with you. Of course please do email me if you find a good parts source I do not have listed.
Many of the suppliers listed below do not have as comprehensive as selection of products as when they first were posted, but I've generally left the original description for now. Do tell me if any of these are really out of the business or so reduced in inventory I should change the description also.
Don't forget alternative ways to purchase parts as well. With most guns sold decades ago, many parts are sold by small gunsmiths, or even individuals, on places like eBay.
We're just an information resources. Don't email me to try to buy things.
Jack First, Inc. used to be a very useful and reliable maker and distributor of parts for (among other guns) the Star PD, B, F, and Firestars, especially wear parts to include pretty much all springs. They do not exist, but seem to have handed off their buffer making business to The Gun Garage, or they are just the dealer for whoever is currently making them.
These buffers are quite stiff, so do not try to snap them over the guide rod; the gap is there for other design reasons, but (unless instructions have changed and say otherwise now) disassemble the guide rod and slide the buffer into place.
8446 Hwy 16 East
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
1-479-524-2038
During the period between Jack First stopping production and The Gun Garage starting up, I had need of a PD buffer and found you seemingly can just get by with any old 1911 buffer. The Star classic series is not a 1911, but the large frames like the P are pretty close so the buffers will fit onto the mainspring.
The space inside the frame is a bit smaller on Star large frames, so some buffers will need a tiny bit of trimming. Wilson Shok Buff 2B seems to fit nicely and are a proper thickness. Regardless, try them, and if they are tight, go ahead and slice off a tiny bit of the sides with an X-Acto or similar. Be careful to make single straight cuts as carving many of them might result in it getting snagged and torn.
Install as normal: unscrew the guide rod, place the buffer over the metal plate at the back (be sure to remove any residue or fragments of the old one), and re-assemble with the spring on top of the buffer.
Everyone should replace any potentially bad springs with new springs from W.C. Wolff Company. They also have optional over or under factory power springs for some applications, but they are carrying fewer and fewer Star specific springs anymore. They do have such variety sometimes you can find something else the right size.
P.O. Box I
Newton Square, PA 19073-0458
Orders: 1-800-545-0077 (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30 EST)
Information: 1-610-359-9496
I and many others I know have ordered from W.C. Wolff and received excellent service. They invariably have excellent products.
The (Numrich) Gun Parts Corporation is almost always the best place to start for any gun parts. Calling is still a good idea, but they finally got a decent online catalog.
Has a large inventory of fairly random parts mostly of classics era guns. My guess is some government purging their stocks as it has included original military holsters and entire frame assemblies.
Also carries some new made US accessories, like stocks, and has had a few parts you can't get anymore actually made new in the US, and those I have seen appear to be very nicely done.
PO Box 365
117 Front Street
Henderson, TN 38340
Apex has parts, parts kits, magazines, and accessories for a wide variety of firearms.
They have always carried a handful of Star parts, but seem to have gotten a few more lately.
Some are new, but many – and this seems to be Apex's stock in trade – are used, take offs from demilled guns or something.
3105 North Stone Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
service@apexgunparts.com
You are often going to be referred to Sarco as they bought most or all of Interarms' stock of parts the Star line was discontinued. But that's been almost 20 years, so that's dried up also. Still worth a look. They do sometimes have items not cataloged, so if you call and ask (or email) they will look for the item for you. Sarco is a generally nice place, and everyone gets good service from them.
Sarco also carries complete firearms, in quantity from imports and so on. They change their stock regularly, so to find out what they have you can search for 'Star' and get a reasonable list of things. I would also call if you are interested in other guns or need more details.
Note that the showroom is no longer contiguous with their warehouse so stopping by to find obscure parts won't work, though they are happy to bring stuff over to peruse if you call ahead.
50 Hilton Street
Easton, PA 18042
610-250-3961 (8 am-4:15 pm EST)
Lots and lots of stuff, by mail order only. Suppoedly he also bought a lot of the Interarms stock when Star went out of business, so items tend to be new, and in Interarms packaging, which is nice. Since the site is a bit badly organized, here's your direct links to items of interest to Star owners:
Big parts place, supplies parts to others. Makes 1,500 parts for various guns. Didn't have what I wanted, but may have what you want. Don't let the website get your hopes up, they have no online catalog, and not even email! Only can be contacted by phone, only certain times, and only has one number. So, you will be calling many, many times and getting a busy signal before you get through.
If you still cannot find parts for your older Star pistol, try sending a message to this place: histpart@vvm.com. They mostly carry WWII German parts, but also have parts for most Spanish rifles and the Star model A pistols. Inventory changes frequently, so be sure to ask if they have the parts you are looking for.
Joe Lowe carries a wide selection of magazines, including a whole section for Star pistols. The day I put this up he had mags for the Firestar and Firestar Plus (13-round!), 45 Megastar, 9 Ultrstar and PD among others. Also interesting was a selection of the +1 mags for Firestars. I think they are all used, but in good shape.
JLoweClips@aol.comMarstar stocks a variety of parts for Models A, B, and P.
Orders: 1-888-744-0066
Information: 1-613-678-3173
Fax: 1-613-678-2359
He has, at least in the recent past, stocked parts for B-Supers.
John Colomb
9803 Plum Ridge Drive
Houston, TX 77064
Phone: 713-937-7187
Email: colombjb@aol.com
They actually almost entirely do gun "parts kits." Meaning all but the frame, for just everything. So, at least when I posted this, had over a dozen Star kits. Slides, small frame parts, barrels, everything but the frame. So if desperate for parts or you broke a major piece or want a spare slide to cut on, this is your place.
Help: help@everygunpart.com
Try asking the local gunsmith. Don't know one? Ask a local gun shop, as they just might. They are very resourceful, and either know all the tricks, or sometimes can just make you the part you need. If something critical cracks in half, don't loose it. The gunsmith might be able to weld it back together or make a new one based on looking at the broken part.
Brace yourself as many gunsmiths are the worst of the worst as far as petty allegiances and rumor. It may be hard to get your S&W revolver serviced without an earful because he's a Colt guy, so you can imagine the "bah, throw away that Spanish junk" you may get bringing a Star in. Be prepared, don't back down, or have some other addresses to try next when he's too awful.
A number of gunsmiths used to buy the remainder of guns demilled by local police departments, I think because they did the work. This is increasingly not allowed, but may be in some locales or for obscure things like some of our Stars, there may be one in a drawer he acquired 20 years ago still. I once got a complete M30M slide for $35 (I don't have it anymore, don't ask). They might not even know what they have, especially with model numbers on the (destroyed) gripframe for Classic series guns, so if they have a pile of parts, drive on over and see if they will let you look at it. And tell me if you find a Super A/B slide stop. I'll take it!
And I want to reiterate again, the gun industry is really very friendly. Call up the local places. Call up the big parts suppliers. They have lots more than will ever be in any catalog, and if they don't have it they might just know who does if you talk to them long enough.
Many Spanish gun shops and gunsmiths bought Star parts or partly completed guns when they went out of business, either as lots direct from the factory auction, or through larger dealers who bought most of this stuff. One of our readers knows this shop, if still there, did this and had a large stock of such parts a few years ago
Armeria Alonso Ezcurdia
97 Bajo Interio
33203 Gijon Asturias
Spain
Tel. +34 985-130505
One of our readers suggests Josef Dlask for those hard to find parts. He made a Firestar extractor just by looking at the slide. Munch pricierr than typical spares, but cheaper than a new gun so if that's your only option... Expect some turnaround time as well.
Dlask Arms Corp.
202B - 1546 Derwent Way
Delta, BC V3M6M4
Canada
Phone: 604-527-9942
Fax: 604-527-9982
Email: dlask@telus.net
They also have offices in the US and Europe, so this applies to more than just the Canadian readers.
Many of the above parts suppliers also carry stocks (grips), especially JG Sales and Robertson Trading Post. Classic era Stars take flat stocks, so are easy to make from scratch or when already making 1911 stocks, so there are many, many custom stock makers who carry these now.
Large manufacturer of stocks, grips, and handles to OEMs in firearms, archery, and knifemaking mostly. By large I mean, they have several factories, and supply to manufacturers on several continents.
They also sell gunstocks and grips directly through their website, including rather nice Star BM grip panels in a couple shapes and several materials.
116 Neal DriveEtsy store with CNC machined and laser engraved stocks for 1911s and Star BMs. I suspect he only has a BM< and these will fit other B series guns as well. Being custom, maybe chat him um and send your stocks for him to copy, then he'll offer more styles.
4S Makes a variety of custom stocks for a lot of guns, including Star models A, B, C, P, AS, BS, PS, Super A, Super B, Super P, BM, BKM, BKS and S. Readers report good luck with the products every time. If you want something, go to the website and use the order form. Unlike most places, calling is apparently no good for ordering, though I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you.
4S Brand
425 Wichita St.
Lockhart, Texas 78644
512 398-2106
customerservice@tulskii.com
Carries a selection of apparently all white (ivory plastic) stock panels for a very wide assortment of pistols. Includes original, reproduction and custom (new design) grips for a number of Star models.
Tombstone Grips
PO Box 2171
White City, Oregon
97503
Dave@TombstoneGrips.com
As parts dry up, I suspect this section will get bigger.
This is a brief list of friendly holster makers, most with websites. I haven't checked most lately, but when posted they all either have holsters for Star pistols in stock or will make custom holsters. Most who do not do custom work only make holsters for some more common models, such as the PD and Firestars. Remember that less-used models will not be listed on the website, but most makers won't sell their patterns or blanks, so call and see if they will still make what I listed.
The more generic/cheap the holster or maker, the more likely an incorrect gun will fit. Firestars and most decent-sized B & P series Stars will fit in 1911 or High-Power holsters. And lots of places make very generic belt slides. In general, the more generic the less secure or comfortable to carry, though I have a rather nice custom 1911 kydex IWB that works very well for my B-Super. You may simply need to try some out.
The top quality custom places are well worth the money and the wait. You very much get what you pay for in holsters, so $20 is absolutely 1/5th as good as $100 for holsters. If you do decide to get a custom holster, a note about the wait: Most of them are small shops, and many have only one guy making them so please don't panic when they say they will ship in 12-14 weeks, or give the wait in months. That's just how it goes. Plan ahead.
If you hear about a good place, but cannot find them or get them to pick up the phone, maybe they died. Here are a few I know of.