ALKAR - Alkartasuna Fab. de Armas, Guernica Spain

This firm was formed by previous employees of Esperanza Y Unceta and produced the guns below as well as a Navy model with an extended barrel .  They were manufactured under license from Gabilondo y Cia.  The brand name was Alkar.  Approx. 80,000 of these guns were produced during the war years for France.  The guns are marked with an oval encircled AK which measures .380 length X.300 width.  As you go through the pictures and study, pay close attention to the codes.  There are variations in size and shape which would not have been done by the Arsenal at Bayonne.  They would all have been the same, so it had to be a requirement of the French government to place them on the guns at some point by the manufacturer.  Magazines are also marked in this fashion with different shapes even on the same gun sometimes.  There are guns that do not bare the marks and these are believed to be guns that were rushed through the arsenal at Bayonne to be delivered to the front, but most likely were guns that were shipped before they discovered the mags of all guns were not interchangeable.  Some say that records for the companies that were in Guernica were destroyed in the bombing of the town by the Condor Legion during the Civil War but that is incorrect.  All of the factories but Astra were moved out of town to the North before the bombing.  Astra and two other buildings along with the large oak tree were the only things not destroyed. The records may have been destroyed by Franco when he captured the factories.  All equipment was moved to a central location where it was kept until after the war when it was returned.  Most to be used to make bicycles post war.

I want to bring to light that credit is given to Alkartasuna by one author, as being the fifth contractor to Gabilondo y Cia.  I cannot comment on this as I have no evidence one way or the other.
 
 

Marked with an encircled oval AK the same size as on the Tang. The stars are believed to have been put there by arsenals that reworked the guns Post WWI or by French acceptance of the guns during the war.  These stars are five points and all stars appear to be the same size on all guns so marked, but there are stars with 10 points indicating possibly two arsenals.  Spain used a star like this with blackpowder guns to indicate it passed proof of 5 shots.  Actually a - put in between each of the 5 points to make another 5 other points. Whether this is a French proof or acceptance or who put it there, there is still the question of why, and why not on revolvers and the 1914 Stars sold to France which went through Manufacture d'Arms de Bayonne as well.  You will also find guns not marked with the stars indicating possibly guns rushed into service or guns purchased directly by the soldier, or a multitude of other reasons.  We may never know the truth about the stars.

A second style of Legend

Caliber:  7.65mm - 32acp
Overall Length: 163mm
Height: 125mm
Barrel: 92mm
Weight: 2lbs 1.1oz
Sights: fixed
Magazine Capacity:  9 rounds
Magazine Release:  bottom of frame
Slide hold open Feature:  none
Grips: checkered walnut
 
 

Alkar made to resemble the Browning 1910

This was still made with internal workings and takedown like the larger Alkar but only has a seven round magazine.  This particular gun has no proof marks.

For a gun that was made as far back as it was this was a very advanced barrel design that I don't think was seen again until the Star model 31.  This cone shape design holds the barrel very tightly, making this a very accurate little gun. Star used a ball shape on theirs but it works the same.  Some of the Colt clones use a long taper on their barrels.
 

Caliber:  7.65mm - 32acp
Overall Length: 6.140
Height: 3.960
Barrel: 3.50
Weight: 1lb 5.3 oz
Sights: fixed
Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds
Magazine Release:  bottom of frame
Slide hold open Feature:  none
Grips: plastic

This Alkar was shipped to Italy and has the Italian RP inspectors mark on the left side of the trigger guard

Caliber:  7.65mm - 32acp
Overall Length: 5.940"
Height: 4.80"
Barrel: 3.280"
Weight: 1lb 7.2 oz
Sights: fixed
Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds
Magazine Release:  bottom of frame
Slide hold open Feature:  none
Grips: checkered wood

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