Spanish Anarchist Pistols: the RE and Ascaso

Published on June 7, 2015
Duration: 8:03

This video explores the RE and Ascaso pistols, Spanish Civil War-era firearms produced by Republican and Anarchist groups as copies of the Astra 400. It details their historical context, manufacturing locations in Valencia and Tarrasa, and production challenges. The RE pistol, made by former Astra workers, showed higher quality despite some reliability issues, while the Ascaso, produced by anarchist organizations, suffered from lower quality due to inexperience. Post-war consolidation under Franco's regime is also discussed.

Quick Summary

The RE and Ascaso pistols were Spanish Civil War firearms produced as copies of the Astra 400 by Republican and Anarchist groups. Manufactured in Valencia (RE) and Tarrasa (Ascaso), the RE pistols generally featured higher quality due to experienced workers, while Ascaso pistols often had lower quality due to maker inexperience.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Spanish Civil War Astra Copies (RE & Ascaso)
  2. 00:38Historical Context: Spanish Civil War
  3. 01:40Republican Arms Production: Astra 400 Copies
  4. 02:41The RE (Republica Española) Pistol
  5. 04:08The Ascaso Pistol & Francisco Ascaso
  6. 06:44Post-War Industry Consolidation

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the RE and Ascaso pistols during the Spanish Civil War?

The RE (Republica Española) and Ascaso pistols were firearms produced during the Spanish Civil War by Republican and Anarchist groups. They were essentially copies of the standard Spanish army pistol, the Astra 400, adapted for production by these factions.

Where were the RE and Ascaso pistols manufactured?

The RE pistols were manufactured in Valencia, Spain, in a converted fruit distribution warehouse. The Ascaso pistols were produced in Tarrasa, Catalonia, by anarchist organizations like the CNT/FAI.

What was the quality difference between the RE and Ascaso pistols?

The RE pistols generally had higher quality due to many former Astra workers being employed in their production. The Ascaso pistols, made by individuals with less firearm manufacturing experience, typically exhibited lower quality.

Why did the Republicans produce copies of the Astra 400?

After losing control of major arms manufacturing centers like Guernica and Eibar to Nationalist forces, the Republican faction needed to produce firearms. They chose to copy the Astra 400 because it was the established standard military pistol.

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