Star35: The Spanish Submachine Gun That Armed A Nation (And Why It's Forgotten)

What is the Star35? If you type that term into a search engine today, you'll be met with a confusing jumble of results—from fashion centers and cameras to celebrity news. But for military historians and firearms enthusiasts, the Star35 represents something far more significant: a pivotal, yet often overlooked, chapter in the history of 20th-century infantry weapons. It was the backbone of Spanish military might for decades, a testament to Basque gunsmithing prowess, and a victim of the very tactical shifts it helped define. This is the comprehensive story of the Star SI35 submachine gun, the weapon that was more than just a tool of war—it was a symbol of national industry.

The Basque Roots: Star Bonifacio Echeverria and Spanish Gunmaking

To understand the Star SI35, one must first understand its creator. It was produced by the Spanish company Star Bonifacio Echeverria of the Basque region, Spain. Founded in 1908 by Bonifacio Echeverria, the Star company (often styled as STAR) became the premier firearms manufacturer in Spain. While globally they are perhaps best known in the commercial market for handguns like the Star B and Star 28 series, their primary business has been, in many ways, their military submachine guns. For much of the 20th century, if the Spanish Army needed a standard-issue SMG, it came from the workshops of Eibar.

The Basque Country has a deep, centuries-old tradition of metalworking and gunsmithing. Star harnessed this heritage, combining skilled artisanal craftsmanship with increasingly modern manufacturing techniques. By the time they developed their first successful submachine gun in the 1930s, they were producing weapons that could compete on the global stage. The Star SI35 is a direct descendant of this lineage, born from the crucible of the Spanish Civil War and refined through decades of service.

Birth of a Legend: Development of the SI35 Series

The story of the Star SI35 begins not with its official designation, but with its predecessor and the immediate needs of a nation at war. From just before the Civil War, until the 1990s, one Star SMG model has replaced another in Spanish Army service, as well as numerous. The first major model was the Star RU35, adopted in 1935—hence the "35" in all subsequent variant names. It was a simple, robust, open-bolt, blowback-operated weapon chambered in 9mm Parabellum, designed to be cheap, easy to produce, and utterly reliable in the harsh conditions of the Spanish Civil War.

The SI35 was a direct evolution of this platform. The SI35 is one variant in a series of submachine guns produced by Spanish firm Star. The nomenclature can be confusing: the SI35, RU35, and TN35 are standard blowback-operated submachine guns. They share a common core design philosophy and, crucially, all three weapons are visually identical and mechanically very similar, with the same layout and control setups. So what separates them? The only discernible differences between the SI35, RU35, and TN35 being the rates of fire of all three weapons. This modular approach to fire control was a clever way for Star to offer different tactical options without the cost of developing entirely new receivers.

Decoding the Variants: RU35, SI35, and TN35

This is where the details matter. The three are more or less visually identical, and differ in their rate of fire and fire modes. Here’s a breakdown:

• Star RU35 (Modelo 1935): The original. It featured a semi-auto or 300 rpm full auto fire mode. It was the workhorse of the Civil War and early Francoist era.
• Star SI35: The most famous variant. It introduced a semi-auto or 700 rpm full auto fire mode. The higher rate of fire made it more suitable for the assault tactics that emerged post-WWII.
• Star TN35: This is the "universal" or final iteration. It could fire in semi-auto, 300 rpm, or 700 rpm full auto. It achieved this with a clever, user-selectable bolt weight system—a heavier bolt for the slower 300 rpm setting and a lighter one for 700 rpm. This gave commanders flexibility in a single weapon platform.

Practical Implication: A soldier could carry the TN35 and, depending on the mission (patrol vs. urban assault), select the slower, more ammo-conserving 300 rpm setting or the devastating suppressive 700 rpm setting. This was a sophisticated feature for its time and cost.

Design and Features: A Tool for Its Time

Beyond the fire control group, the Star SI35 series had distinct characteristics. The weapon features a bayonet lug to allow the mounting of a Mauser rifle-type bayonet. This might seem anachronistic for a submachine gun, but it reflected Spanish military doctrine of the era, which still valued the fixed bayonet for trench clearing, guard duty, and as a psychological weapon. The lug accepted the standard Mauser 1893/1916 bayonet, tying the SMG to the legacy of Spanish Mauser rifles.

The design was purely utilitarian:

• Operation: Simple blowback. No locked breech, making it easy to manufacture and maintain.
• Construction: Mostly stamped and welded steel, with a wooden stock and fore-end.
• Magazine: 30-round detachable box magazine, inserted vertically into the pistol grip—a common European layout (like the MP40).
• Sights: Fixed iron sights, set for 50 and 150 meters. This reflected its intended role as a close-quarters weapon.
• A unique feature of the [series]: The aforementioned user-selectable rate of fire on the TN35 via interchangeable bolt weights. This was not common in contemporary Western SMGs (like the M3 Grease Gun or Sten) and gave the Star a versatility edge.

Operational History: The Quiet Workhorse

Page details technical specifications, development, and operational history of the Star Model SI35 submachine gun (SMG) including pictures. While such a page would show a weapon that looks unassuming—essentially a chunk of metal with a stick attached—its service record is impressive. From just before the civil war, until the 1990s, one Star SMG model has replaced another in Spanish Army service.

• Spanish Civil War (1936-1939): The RU35 was used by both Nationalist and Republican forces (captured examples). It proved hardy in the brutal conflict.
• Franco Era & WWII: Spain was officially neutral but leaned Axis. The RU35 and later SI35 armed the army, navy, and police forces. It saw service in Spanish Morocco and during the post-war guerrilla period.
• Post-WWII to the 1980s: The SI35 and then the TN35 became the absolute standard. They were issued to second-line troops, military police, vehicle crews, and officers. They were ubiquitous. Their simple design meant they could be kept in service for decades with minimal upgrades.
• Export & Other Users: Star sold these SMGs to several countries, particularly in Latin America and the Middle East, where their reliability and low cost were prized.

The Decline: Why the Star SMG Faded Away

The story of the Star SI35's longevity is also the story of its eventual obsolescence. The fall of the SMG in the 1980s to the 5.56 mm carbine may even have been a contributing cause of their eventual demise. The global military trend shifted from the high-volume, short-range fire of the 9mm SMG to the longer-range, flatter-shooting, and more powerful 5.56x45mm NATO carbine (like the M16, CAR-15, and later the HK G36 or FAMAS).

The Star SI35, with its 9mm Parabellum round, was outclassed. Its effective range was under 150 meters, while a carbine could reliably engage targets at 300+ meters. The 9mm round also lacked the terminal ballistics and barrier penetration of the 5.56mm. As NATO standardized and newer Spanish forces sought interoperability, the old 9mm Star SMGs, no matter how reliable, were simply outdated. Star attempted to adapt with newer designs like the Star Z-62 and Z-70 (also 9mm), but the writing was on the wall. The company ultimately ceased firearms production in the late 1990s, a victim of a shrinking market and the end of the SMG's dominance.

Legacy and Collectibility Today

Today, the Star SI35 and its siblings are prized collector's items. They are tangible pieces of Spanish history, representing a specific era of national industry and military doctrine. Their value is relatively modest compared to German or American WWII SMGs, making them accessible entry points into collecting. Key points for collectors:

• Look for matching numbers on the bolt, frame, and magazine.
• Original finish is rare; most are refinished or well-worn.
• Bayonet lugs are a key identifying feature for Spanish military models.
• The TN35's select-fire bolt system is the most desirable variant for its versatility.

He fills an immediate need and should elevate what already projects (with enough positive...) This fragment, though unclear, perhaps speaks to the SI35's original design intent: it filled an immediate need for a cheap, mass-producible SMG during the Civil War and "elevated" Spain's ability to arm its forces independently. It was a pragmatic solution that projected national self-sufficiency.

Conclusion: More Than Just a "Star35"

So, when you search for "Star35" and sift past the fashion blogs and celebrity obituaries, you find a story of industrial resilience. The Star SI35 submachine gun was not a glamorous weapon. It was not the sleek MP40 or the iconic Thompson. It was, in the best sense, a utilitarian masterpiece—a weapon born of necessity, refined through decades of quiet service, and ultimately laid low by the relentless march of technology. It stands as a monument to the Star Bonifacio Echeverria company and the Basque gunsmiths who built it. Its legacy is in the countless Spanish soldiers who carried it, in the conflicts it saw, and in the simple, brutal efficiency of its design. The Star35 series reminds us that history is often written not by the most famous, but by the most persistent.