Astra A75 Inox

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jdmb03

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Went to the local gun shop after work to see what I could find. In the used showcase was a very nice Astra A75 Inox (never heard of the inox model). Anyway, the shop owner told me someone traded it in two days ago. It has the box, manual and six mags(one blue and 5 stainless). It looks like only one mag was shot through it, I couldn't find any wear or scratches. The price is $369, so I put it on layaway. I think I did good. :confused:

If you have an A75, please post some pics. :)
 
Astras in general are well made guns. I've never seen or heard of a stainless Astra myself. This is a new one on me. Are you sure it's not a hard chrome, robar or nickel finish?
 
The slide is stainless and the frame is alloy and it weighs 24 ounces. The left side of the slide is marked Astra A75 Inox. It's 9mm and has an ambi decocker. It's very easy to conceal, I would compare it to a Kahr K9. I've searched the net and haven't seen any info on this particular model. :banghead:
 
You've found a weird one. I've only seen carbon-steel A70s and A75's, and didn't know that they came any other way.

The A75 was a DA/SA version of the A70, which was a SA only. They were really nice pistols - a bit smaller than a CZ75 Compact/PCR, but with very similar ergonomics. Consider them the RAMI of the late 80's/early 90's.

Of course, Astra went out of business about five-six years ago. They re-orged under a new name but you can't call 'em and get spare parts for the older models. EAA in FL has some parts in stock, but that supply is limited.

The only chronic issues that I know of with these pistols is the slide stop spring breaks, and the firing pin on the earlier units was a bit fragile and was increased in diameter in later units.

Locally, the A75 usually sells for between $250-$300 in 90% condition.
 
I think I saw an A-75 a few years ago that had some sort'a electroless
nickel (Starvel ?) type finish. It too was for sale by an individual, but
I can't recall the asking price. I wasn't interested in making a purchase,
but I do remember looking the weapon over carefully. My opinion is that
it is a well made (imported) firearm; and should be priced in the $275-
$300 dollar price range NIB.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
The sticker on the box is marked blue, nickel, inox, 9mm, .40, .45. It has an X next to inox and 9mm. The frame is a dark gray color just like on the A-75L model.

Looks like they also made an A-100 Inox, it's an all stainless version.
http://www.dc.slupsk.pl/guns/pis/astra/a100.htm
The A-100 is also listed in a gun book I have, but no listing for the A-75. Looks like I'm going to have to look through my gun mag collection and see if I can find some info.
 
Cool find. The A-75 is a good little gun. My first real CCW gun was a .40 A-75. Lots of power in a small package but the all steel A-75 is a little brick. I ended up trading it for my trusty P-11. I miss it sometimes though. Marcus
 
Astra did make some stainless guns marked Inox. I have an A-100 in 9mm that is so marked. Unless the Inox mark is there, one can assume that the silver colored Astras have a nickel finish. I don't know about the A-75, but I think the A-100's are fine handguns.

Drakejake
 
I called EAA Corp. today and spoke to the master gunsmith. He said Astra made less than 100 A-75 Inox models. He also said he rarely seems them coming back for service.
 
Remember, Inox is the word many europeans use to describe stainless steel. Consider that Victorinox Swiss Army Knives get their name for their location, Victoria Swizerland, merched with the word for stainless, Inox, making Victorinox.

Ash
 
Doesn't Beretta use the term INOX for their nickel plated pistols too?
I believe Starvel was the name that Star used for their nickel plating.
 
He also said he rarely seems them coming back for service.
As much as I loved my Astra and found it reasonably reliable, I'm compelled to wonder if this statement isn't more due to the fact that most people would be too scared to send their firearms to EAA for any work whatsoever. :what:
 
BLFULLER,

No, Beretta uses the term Inox to refer to their stainless pistols. This is what the word means ("not rusting," i.e., steel that resists rust).

Drakejake
 
I've got a A-70 in 9mm thats a great shooter,paid 125.00 OTD because the finish is faded,I'll be adding a heavy recoil spring and some +10 mag springs.I might have it refinishedin some type of molykote and use it as a carry piece.Over the years i've owned several astra's and never had a bad one.
 
Well, I doubt the not sending it back is because of customer service (they were kinda surley to me on the phone, but the repair work was good and reasonably fast), even if I know the post was more tongue-in-cheek about EAA's stellar reputation about warranty repairs.

A-75's have a simple trigger and have relatively few parts overall. They are heavy and and undoubtably well made. The fact they were made completely in Spain and were sold under their Spanish brand name (instead of EAA's cheesy naming department, which must be farmed out by Century, come on, Bounty Hunter? Witness? ughhh, if I didn't like my Witness so much...or, if only they would have picked a better name in the beginning, or used more tasteful advertisements...but if a bull frog carried a switch blade, the moccasin wouldn't eat him, as my dad used to say...), and quality control in manufacture was probably better than EAA generally provides themselves is a pretty good reason why they might be repaired less often.

Though I suspect the real reason is that most A-75's out there are now secondary purchases that are no longer under warranty (because of original ownership) and thus qualify. Also, with only 100 Inox's imported, one would expect a much lower number of returns based simply on the small number.

Ash
 
The French word for stainless is "Inoxydable" I believe the INOX term came from that originally. Back on topic, the Astra A 75 always reminded me of a downsized SIG
 
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR, ASH--PUN INTENDED!!!

Karl Elsinor, the founder of the VICTORINOX Company said the name for the company came from his daughter, Victoria, and INOX, the abbreviation for stainless.
 
He also said he rarely seems them coming back for service.

Probably because they only made 100! :D

Heck, if I knew that I wouldn't fire it..... safe queen..
 
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