Esperanza Y Unceta Model Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm Modelo 1913-16, Blue 6 ½” RARE SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD Ca. 1917 C&R

LSB#: 160404PT31

Make: Esperanza Y Unceta

Model: Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm Modelo 1913-16

Serial Number: 13395 (There were a total of 13,625 of this model produced – http://www.catalogacionarmas.com/public/parte3cap3.pdf)

Year of Manufacture: 1918-1919 Wood grip panels were substituted for the original horn grips starting in Feb. 1918 and production ceased in 1919.

Caliber: 9mm Largo

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine

Markings: The top of the slide behind the port is marked “CAMP-GIRO / PAT. 34798-54214 / 1904-1913”, with a 5 pointed star surrounded by a wreath (Spanish General Staff emblem) and “ESPERANZA / Y / UNCETA / GUERNICA”. The left side of the frame is marked “< Pist.a aut.a mod. 1913-16 > / 13395”. The left rear of the frame at the tang is marked with a 3 pointed star inside a circle that is believed to be a mark indicating issuance to the Spanish Military.

Barrel Length: 6 ½”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a “U” notch fixed to the top rear of the bolt. This is very unique design in that most semi-autos of this type have the rear sight located on the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut that are dark with oil staining. They show moderate to heavy wear with mars on each side. There are no chips or cracks noted. The grips rate in about Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: All Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling shows light wear. There is light erosion sprinkled throughout the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 64% of its metal finish. There is thinning on the edges of the slide and frame and on the frame rails, front strap and backstrap. There are handling marks and tiny dings scattered over the slide and frame with very light pinprick surface erosion scattered over the front strap and backstrap. There are several tool marks on the back of the bolt and on and around the rear sight. There are also tool marks and grind marks in the wedge through the back of the slide and tool marks in the slide around the edges of the wedge slots. The slide serrations show surface loss, light wear, and several tiny dings on their edges. The hammer serrations show light wear. The grip screws are distressed and the markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half cock safety as well as a manual safety on the frame. The trigger is rather stiff, with a small amount of creep. We did not fire this handgun.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one blued 8 round magazine with the serial number “4088” marked on the follower. The magazine has a 5 pointed star inside a wreath on the left side, the Spanish General Staff emblem. There are circular serrations at the bottom of the magazine for gripping it. The magazine shows thinning, spots of surface loss and sanding marks. There is surface loss and tiny dings on the edges of the floorplate and thinning and light handling marks on its bottom surface. Overall, the magazine is in Good condition.

Our Assessment: From Wikipedia: “The Campo-Giro was a blowback operated semi-automatic pistol, chambered for the 9mm Largo cartridge, named for its designer, Colonel Don Venancio López de Ceballos y Aguirre, Count of Campo-Giro. The pistol was adopted for the Spanish army in 1912 as the Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm Modelo 1912, but it is believed the small number manufactured were never issued. An improved version had already been developed, and in January 1914 became the Modelo 1913. The Model 1913 was manufactured by Esperanza y Unceta and the increased orders triggered their move to a new factory in Guernica. During 1914, 1,300 pistols were made before production was halted to include new improvements resulting in a redesigned frame, redesigned mainspring and the magazine release being moved to the bottom of the grip. The improved model was adopted in September 1916 as the Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm, Modelo 1913-16.”. The first models were delivered in 1917 and production ceased in 1919. By 1921, the Campo-Giro was replaced by the Astra Model 400 (Modelo 1921), although many were re-issued during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930’s. A total of 13,625 Modelo 1913-1916 pistols were produced with 13,178 going to the Spanish military (from http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/campo.html). This pistol is in about Very Good condition with about 64% of its original finish remaining. It has marks on the slide indicating it was produced for the Spanish Military – one of 13,178 pistols made. The pistol shows surface loss on the slide serrations and thinning on the front strap, backstrap, frame rails and the edges of the slide and frame. There are handling marks and tiny dings scattered over the slide and frame with very light pinprick surface erosion scattered over the front strap and backstrap. There are also dings and tool mark in and around the wedge at the back of the slide, at the back of the bolt and on the rear sight ears. The grips are checkered walnut as used after Feb. 1918. They show oil staining and moderate to heavy wear in the checkering, with mars in both grips. The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling. There is light erosion sprinkled throughout the bore. Unfortunately, the magazine is not serialized to the pistol. Still, there weren’t all that many made and fewer still to have survived the Spanish Civil War. This should be a hit with collectors of military handguns and collectors of Spanish military hardware in particular.

Esperanza Y Unceta Model Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm Modelo 1913-16, Blue 6 ½” RARE SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD Ca. 1917 C&R
Esperanza Y Unceta Model Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm Modelo 1913-16, Blue 6 ½” RARE SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD Ca. 1917 C&R