Llama firearms
Encyclopedia
Éibar
Eibar is a city and municipality within the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country of Spain. The city was chartered by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1346...
in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, but they also had workshops during different times in Elgoibar
Elgoibar
Elgoibar is an industrial town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.It is located in a valley and it is traversed by the Deba river....
and Vitoria
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
. Llama manufactured moderate-priced revolvers and self-loading pistols in a bewildering variety of models. These were popular mainly in the European and Latin American export market, as well as domestically in Spain.
First models
Gabilondo and Urresti was founded in 1904, but did not appear in the industrial census of Eibar until 1907 where it is listed as having four gunsmiths at work. In the period from 1908 to 1914, this doubled to eight. In 1912, the company was not one of the Eibar manufacturers involved in legal action against Fabrique National so it can be assumed that they had not yet begun to sell self-loading pistols based on the BrowningJohn Browning
John Moses Browning , born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world...
patents.
Gabilondo and Urresti initially made copies of Nagant
Nagant M1895
The Nagant M1895 Revolver is a seven-shot, gas-seal revolver designed and produced by Belgian industrialist Léon Nagant for the Russian Empire. The Nagant M1895 was chambered for a proprietary cartridge, 7.62x38R, and featured an unusual "gas-seal" system in which the cylinder moved forward when...
revolvers in 7.62mm Nagant and 8mm Lebel(these lacked the "gas seal" feature of the originals); as well as Colt New Service
Colt New Service
The Colt New Service was a double-action revolver made by Colt from 1898 until c.1940. It was adopted by the U.S. Armed Forces in .45 Colt as the Model 1909 U.S. Army, Marine Corps Model 1909, Model 1909 U.S. Navy and in .45 ACP as the Model 1917 U.S. Army...
, and Vélodog
Velo-dog
The Velo-Dog was a pocket revolver originally created in France by Charles-François Galand in the late 19th century as a defense for cyclists against dog attacks. The name is a portmanteau of "velocipede" and "dog"....
-style revolvers under their own brand. The firm also produced parts for other companies.
The Vélodog revolvers were small pocket pistols intended for the protection of cyclists and hikers against savage dogs, typically firing five or six shots, and fitted with a short barrel and folding trigger. They were initially chambered in 5.5mm Vélodog or .22 long rifle
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
, but later examples are found in 6.35mm Browning/.25 ACP and 7.65mm Browning/.32 ACP calibre.
In 1913, the company manufactured the Radium, a small 6-shot self-loading pistol in 6.35mm/.25 ACP with a unique magazine design patented by Guillermo Echeverria and Valentin Vallejo. The magazine was fixed, and was reloaded by sliding one of the grip panels down to expose the mechanism. Rounds could then be inserted one by one until the magazine was fully loaded and the panel closed again. However ingenious, the pistol was difficult to make and not revived after the conclusion of the First World War.
The Ruby
In 1914, just before the start of the First World War, Gabilondo created a sturdy self-loading pistol based on the Browning Model 1903 and chambered for the 7.65mm Browning/.32 ACP cartridge. Unusually for the time, the magazine capacity was nine shots instead of the usual six or seven. The pistol was intended for export to the Americas, and despite the small calibre was designed with military and police sales in mind. Other Spanish manufacturers had copied the Browning since around 1905. These copies were less sophisticated than the original, but one was very similar to the eventual Ruby design, the "Victoria" made by Esperanza y UncetaAstra-Unceta y Cia SA
Astra Unceta y Cía. was a Spanish weapons manufacturer founded on July 17, 1908 under the name of Esperanza y Unceta by Juan Esperanza and Pedro Unceta...
. This was a seven-shot model incorporating improvements patented by Pedro Careaga in 1911, and Esperanza y Unceta in 1912. These are believed to have covered the frame-mounted safety (instead of a grip safety on the original Browning), and the substitution of an internal striker for a hammer.
In 1915 Gabilondo sent examples of the pistols to the French government, who were hard-pressed for all sorts of small-arms, even in this early stage of the war. After testing was completed in May 1915, the French decided to accept the Ruby as the Pistolet Automatique, Type Ruby and contracted Gabilondo to produce 10,000 pistols a month. By August the target had been raised to 30,000 and later still an incredible 50,000 a month. Despite its size, the company could barely cope with the initial contract and arranged for four partners to manufacture the Ruby for them:
- Armeria Elgoibaressa y Cia (under the brand name LusitaniaLusitaniaLusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
) - Echealaza y Vincinai y Cia
- Hijos de Angel Echeverria y Cia
- Iraola Salaverria y Cia
The contract stipulated that each company would produce a minimum of 5,000 pistols per month. Gabilondo would produce 10,000 guns, carry out overall quality control
Quality control
Quality control, or QC for short, is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. This approach places an emphasis on three aspects:...
and arrange delivery to the French authorities. As the number of pistols required increased the company agreed to purchase any pistols in excess of the agreed number at the same contracted price.
As the French became more desperate, the procurement process spiraled out of control. Eventually Gabilondo contracted with another three companies and at least 45 other companies contracted with the French directly to produce Ruby-type pistols in a variety of calibres, barrel lengths and magazine capacities.
Estimates of Gabilondo Ruby production are between 250,000 and 300,000 pistols in total. While most Gabilondo produced pistols were of good quality, others were less well made. French officials quickly became aware that few of the Spanish Ruby-types had interchangeable magazines, and insisted the manufacturers mark the base of all magazines. This was to prevent the possibly fatal consequence at the front line of either not being able to insert a new magazine, or having a loaded magazine detach from the gun in action. Many Ruby-types were plagued by poor finish and incorrectly hardened steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
parts which after a short period of use wore so badly that pistols fired on full-auto. On other pistols, the safety mechanism wore out. The good quality Rubies were reliable and accurate, although some users were disconcerted by the lack of a visible hammer. About 710,000 Ruby types were accepted by the French from all sources and by 1920, about 580,000 were still serviceable and in French army stores. Many other allied nations, and some of the new nations created after the War such as Finland and Yugoslavia also used Ruby-type pistols. Gabilondo ceased production in 1919 and switched to more advanced models, but other firms continued to produce the Ruby-type until the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
wiped out many arms producers.
Bufalo and Danton
In 1919, Gabilondo introduced the Bufalo, a pistol inspired by the Browning designed FN model 1910FN Model 1910
The FN Model 1910 was a blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium.-Development:...
. While resembling the 1910 closely externally, the mechanism had some features carried over from the Browning model 1903. The striker was replaced with a concealed hammer, and in those models fitted with a grip safety, the Browning design was replaced with a native design patented in Spain. The Bufalo was manufactured in 7.65mm/.32 ACP, and 9mm corto/.380 ACP with seven, nine, and twelve round removable magazines.
For the first time a Spanish product appears to have inspired copies by foreign makers, in the form of the FN Model 1910/22
FN Model 1910
The FN Model 1910 was a blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium.-Development:...
supplied to the Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
n military, to replace worn out, nine shot Ruby-types supplied during the war.
The Danton, introduced in 1925 to replace the Bufalo, was very similar but also available in 6.35mm/.25 ACP calibre. Despite being marked "War Model" and being fitted with a lanyard ring, these pistols attracted no official military sales, but were popular private-purchase and police weapons. Both guns were a great success, with one exporter alone shipping 100 pistols a day to the US. Production of the Danton was stopped in 1933.
Ruby Plus Ultra
The Ruby Plus Ultra was made between 1928 and 1933. It was an improved version of the earlier Ruby but had a 20-round single-stack magazine. Models with an extended 140mm barrel, but standard length slide were available, as were models with selective fire capability. These features were most popular in the Asian market, and sales to both Chinese warlords and Japanese pilots are recorded. These were not purchased officially by the Japanese forces, but as private purchase weapons through the Japanese equivalent of the Army and Navy Stores. During the Spanish Civil War volunteers in the International Brigade also favoured these early high-capacity weapons.Ruby "Colt" transitional models
Around 1931 Gabilondo began to make copies of the Colt 1905 in .45 ACP and 9 mm Largo9 mm Largo
The 9×23mm Largo centerfire pistol cartridge was developed in 1901 for the Bergmann Mars pistol. The round was considered powerful for the day, producing a muzzle energy of between 330 and 430 foot-pounds depending on the loading...
without a grip safety and with a nine-shot magazine. These were simply marked with the Ruby trademark and the calibre. Some Gabilondo 1905's were reportedly marked with the trademark "Iñaki" as well.
Llama
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
, 9mm Largo and 7.63mm Mauser. The Llama IV was the first numbered model to appear, and unusually, was advertised as having a "tolerant chamber" capable of firing .38 ACP and 9mm largo rounds interchangeably. The Llama V was chambered for .38 ACP
.38 ACP
The .38 ACP also known as the .38 Auto was introduced at the turn of the 20th century for the Browning designed Colt M1900. The cartridge headspaces on the rim. It had first been used in his Model 1897 prototype, which Colt did not produce...
, and had English language markings for sale in the US. The Llama VII was chambered for .38 ACP, but had Spanish markings for the Spanish and South American markets. During WWII, the British SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
purchased a large number of Llama Vs.
Tauler and Mugica brands
In the 1930s, Gabilondo manufactured its pistols under the brand names "Tauler" and "Mujica" for worldwide export, mainly to the Americas and Asia.Tauler was a famous Spanish target shooter and Olympic medalist who became a gunsmith, opening a shop in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and he eventually began exporting weapons. He had the full range of Llama pistols manufactured bearing his trademark and name, with a variety of minor improvements of his own design. Markings on the pistols were in English, suggesting he had the British Commonwealth and North American markets in mind, although in the past other firms had also used these in an attempt to mislead semi-literate customers that they were buying American made weapons. He was also an agent of the Spanish secret service
Secret service
A secret service describes a government agency, or the activities of a government agency, concerned with the gathering of intelligence data. The tasks and powers of a secret service can vary greatly from one country to another. For instance, a country may establish a secret service which has some...
, and used his connections to encourage sales to his fellow agents, government departments and police authorities. Tauler pistols were only manufactured between 1933 and 1936.
- Tauler versus Llama pistols
Tauler Model Llama Equivalent Description I I 7.65mm/.32 ACP compact pistol without grip safety II II 9mm corto/.380 ACP, compact pistol without grip safety III III 9mm corto/.380 ACP, compact pistol without grip safety IV IV 9mm Largo large service pistol without grip safety V VII .38 Super .38 SuperThe .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
large service pistol without grip safetyP VIII 9mm Largo large service pistol with grip safety
Jose Cruz Mugica was the owner of a large shotgun factory located in Eibar. In the 1930s he contracted to export pistols to the Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
government, but after the occupation of that country by Japan he was forced to concentrate on other markets, mainly in China. Most of his products were Llama models marked with his own brand name. Mugica pistols were made between 1931 and 1954, with some interruptions due to the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and its aftermath.
- Mugica Versus Llama
| Mugica Model | Llama Equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 101-G | X-A | 7.65mm/.32 ACP compact pistol with grip safety |
| 101 | X | 7.65mm/.32 ACP compact pistol without grip safety |
| 105-G | III-A | 9mm corto/.380 ACP compact pistol with grip safety |
| 105 | III | 9mm corto/.380 ACP compact pistol without grip safety |
| 110-G | VIII | 9mm largo large service pistol with grip safety |
| 110 | VII | 9mm largo large service pistol without grip safety |
| 120 | XI "Especial" | 9mm Parabellum medium service pistol without grip safety |
| Mugica | Perfect | Ruby-type pistol in 6.35mm/.25 ACP and 7.65mm/.32 ACP |
Omni and Spanish Military competition
In the late 1970s, the Spanish military began modernizing their handguns. The extensive trials continued into the 1980s and Llama-Gabilondo proposed first, the Omni series, and then later a new model, the M-82. Both entries were radical departures from their normal products and used the latest technology.The first Omni dispensed with the Browning 1911-style swinging link in favour of the Browning 1935-type fixed cam to lock the breech. Apart from the method of locking the breech, other features of the pistol were highly innovative. Three new magazine designs were tried. Omni I was a .45 ACP pistol with a single stack 7-round magazine. Omni II was a 9mm parabellum pistol with a single stack 9-round magazine. Omni III was a 9mm parabellum pistol with a double stack 13-round magazine, however the first five rounds fed into the action in a single column to reduce the likelihood of jamming. Another feature was the two-piece ball-jointed firing pin, which was designed to never break. Additionally the Omni had dual sear bars for improved trigger pull; a trigger safety; finger-contoured trigger guard and a decocking manual safety lever. The wealth of features meant the Omni was an expensive pistol to make compared to previous models, and together with its radical appearance, this discouraged commercial sales. Production of the Omni therefore ceased in 1986.
Despite the Omni's lack of success, it was used as the point of departure for the military M-82 design. While the appearance of the pistol remained the same, the mechanism was completely changed and numerous features copied from the Beretta M-92
Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
including the locking mechanism, the trigger mechanism and the number of rounds (15) in the magazine. However the open topped slide of the Beretta was rejected in favour of a traditional closed slide with ejection port. An extractor-mounted loaded chamber indicator, reversible magazine release and ambidextrous safety levers were also included. Military models had a magazine safety, but this could be removed on request for commercial customers. The M-82 began production in 1986 and was adopted by the Spanish forces in 1987 as Modelo M-82 Doble Accion. Commercial models experience difficulties feeding some brands of hollowpoint ammunition, and unsurprisingly, best reliability is achieved with NATO specification ball ammunition.
The Llama M-87 was introduced in 1986. This was a high-grade competition pistol based on M-82 with extended barrel, compensator, muzzle weight, target sights, target trigger, additional manual safety, extended magazine release, extended safety levers, beveled magazine well, and two-tone finish (chrome with blued slide). Despite the high price, (Retail $US1,450) the M-87 was greeted with excellent reviews on release. However the glowing reviews were unable to overcome distrust of so many innovations on such an expensive gun.
Llama in the 1990s
The great success of the Para-OrdnancePara-Ordnance
Para-Ordnance, is a Canadian firearms manufacturer founded in Toronto in 1985 by two childhood friends, Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos. Szabo was born in Hungary and his family fled the country when the Russians invaded during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Polyzos was born in Greece and later...
high-capacity 1911-type pistols lead to design changes to some models starting in 1994.
The Llama IX-C was manufactured from 1994 to 1997. It was similar to the Llama IX-A except for the 12-round double column magazine. This large-framed pistol had a 5⅛ inch barrel and was 8½ inches long overall with a height of 5 9/16 inches. It was fitted with a special Swartz safety, first used by Colt in the 1930s, to prevent accidental discharge when the pistol is dropped on a hard surface. Because of the thickness of the magazine well, the arched mainspring housing was reduced in size to allow a better grip for normal sized hands. Following the passage of the US Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, , , was an act of Congress dealing with crime and law enforcement that became law in 1994. It is the largest crime bill in the history of the US at 356 pages and will provide for 100,000 new police officers, $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and...
late in 1994, magazine capacity was dropped to 10 rounds in and several minor changes made to the shape of hammer and safety.
The next model to be released, in 1995, was the MAX-1 pistol. This was Llamas equivalent to the Colt Government model. This conformed more closely to the Colt 1911-A1 than any previous Llama, and removed some of the traditional Llama features such as the ventilated rib. However the slimmer mainspring housing from the IX-C was retained, a move considered by smaller-handed shooters to give this model superior handling qualities. The ban on the import of Chinese weapons contributed to this models success in the low-cost "1911 clone" market, although there were problems fitting many aftermarket 1911 accessories.
A smaller model, the MAX-1 C/F (MAX-1 Compact) was introduced not long afterwards. This is shorter and lighter than the MAX-1 but retains the same magazine capacity (7-round in .45 ACP; 9-round in 9mm Parabellum).
In 1997, the Mini-Max II was launched. The Mini-Max II is similar to the original Mini-Max, but with a double column magazine with a 10-round capacity in 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. Higher capacities were available for US law enforcement and international sales.
At the same time the Llama III-A was replaced by the Micro-Max. This was similar in style to the Minimax, with a matte black or satin-chrome finish and 4-inch barrel. Models imported into the US were chambered for 9mm corto/.380 ACP (7-round capacity) and 7.65mm/.32 ACP (8-round capacity).
Bankruptcy and rescue efforts
While an inability to rapidly modernize its manufacturing capability might have eventually doomed the company, it was the Asian Economic Crisis of the early 1990s that directly brought about the crisis that engulfed Llama. Spanish banks that had extended bad loans in East Asia tried to cover their losses by restricting credit domestically, including to Llama.Llama filed for bankruptcy in 1992, and in 1993 sixty of its gunsmiths and employees formed a co-operative to buy the Llama name and all of the equipment. These Gabilondo employees negotiated over a protracted period of time and finalized the transfer around 2000.
The cooperative that took over was named Fabrinor Arma Corta y Microfusion, S.A. They moved the factory to Legutiano, and attempted to sell off Llama’s old property holdings. The company began to diversify offering not just handguns but precision parts made by investment casting.
The main problem with the new group was sales were not rising fast enough to cover the old debt they inherited from Llama. Fabrinor was able to reschedule the debts in 2002 and again in 2003, but even public listing on the stock market didn't help generate the funds required.
Thanks to regulatory intervention, Fabrinor was compelled to call a special shareholder meeting on January 12, 2005, to reveal fully to shareholders the company's financial situation, its plans to restructure into a limited partnership, and the latest plans to reschedule its inherited debts. The plans were rejected and the plant in Legutiano was closed.
Star (Bonifacio Echevarria S.A.) had gone under in 1993, its assets sold to rival Astra (Esperanza y Unceta, later Societa Unceta y Cia, then Astra-Unceta y Cia, finally Astar S.A.), which in turn collapsed completely in 1997. With the long lingering collapse of Fabrinor, the ruling post-depression triumvirate of Spanish pistol makers came to an end.
Model Listing - Self Loading Pistols
Radium: Manufactured from 1910 to 1915. Self-loading pistol, hammerless, frame mounted safety, manufactured in 6.35mm/.25 ACP, six-round fixed magazine with sliding cover.Ruby: Manufactured from 1914 to 1919. Self-loading pistol, copy of the FN Model 1903, hammerless, frame mounted safety, manufactured in 7.65mm/.32 ACP, nine-round removable magazine.
Bufalo: Manufactured from 1919 to 1925. Self-loading pistol, copy of the FN Model 1910, internal hammer, manufactured in 7.65mm/.32 ACP, and 9mm corto/.380 ACP with seven, nine, and twelve-round removable magazines.
Danton: Manufactured from 1925 to 1933. Self-loading pistol, copy of the FN Model 1910, internal hammer, manufactured in 6.35mm/.25 ACP, 7.65mm/.32 ACP, and 9mm corto/.380 ACP with seven-round, nine-round (85 mm barrel), and twelve-round (100mm barrel) removable magazines.
Ruby Plus Ultra: Manufactured from 1925 to 1933. Self-loading pistol, copy of the FN Model 1903, hammerless, frame mounted safety, manufactured in 7.65mm/.32 ACP with 22-round double-column removable magazine. Some with 140mm extended barrel, weight 1,000 grams. Some models were selective fire.
Llama I: Manufactured from 1933 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911 in 7.65mm/.32 ACP with nine-round magazine and without grip safety.
Llama II: Manufactured from 1933 to 1936. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911 in 9mm corto/.380 ACP with eight-round magazine and without grip safety. Withdrawn due to design issues.
Llama III: Manufactured from 1936 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911A1 in 9mm corto/.380 ACP with eight-round magazine and without grip safety.
Llama III-A: Manufactured from 1954 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation (earlier models up to about 1975: locked breech), miniature copy of Colt 1911 in 9mm corto/.380 ACP with eight-round magazine and with grip safety. Also fitted with longer manual safety lever. Early models fitted with lanyard ring; later models replaced this with a ventilated rib and plastic target grips. Luxury finishes (including gold plating) and various engraving options were available. One of the most successful models in the Llama range.
Llama IV: Manufactured from 1936 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, copy of Colt 1911A1 in 9mm Largo with eight-round magazine, lanyard ring and without grip safety.
Llama V: Manufactured from 1936 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, copy of Colt 1911A1 in .38 ACP without grip safety. English markings for US export market.
Llama VI: Manufactured from 1936 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, miniature copy of Colt 1911A1 in 9mm corto/.380 ACP with grip safety. Identical to III-A except for locked breach. Spanish markings for domestic and Latin American export market.
Llama VII: Manufactured from 1936 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, copy of Colt 1911A1 in .38 ACP with eight-round magazine, without grip safety. Available as Llama Extra model fitted with checkered walnut grips and extended barrel. Spanish markings for domestic and Latin American export market.
Llama VIII: Manufactured from 1955 to 1985. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, copy of Colt 1911A1 in .38 Super with eight-round magazine, grip safety, ventilated rib (in later models), single stack 8 round magazine and lanyard ring. Available as Llama Extra model fitted with checkered walnut grips and extended barrel. A large capacity model, the Llama VIII-C, with a twin column 18-round magazine, rounded hammer spur and neoprene grips was made in the 1980s.
Llama IX: Manufactured from 1936 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, copy of Colt 1911A1 in .45 ACP, with single column 7 round magazine and lanyard ring.
Llama IX-A: Manufactured from 1955 to 1985. Identical to the Llama IX except for the addition of a grip safety. Later models had a ventilated rib. This model was the mainstay of Llama's American export market.
Llama IX-B : Manufactured from 1955 to 1985. Compact version of Llama IX-A.
Llama IX-C: Manufactured from 1994 to 1997. Similar to the Llama IX-A except for the 12-round double column magazine, inspired by the Para-Ordnance
Para-Ordnance
Para-Ordnance, is a Canadian firearms manufacturer founded in Toronto in 1985 by two childhood friends, Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos. Szabo was born in Hungary and his family fled the country when the Russians invaded during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Polyzos was born in Greece and later...
.45 calibre pistols. Fitted with special Swartz Safety to prevent accidental discharge when the pistol is dropped. Magazine capacity was later dropped to 10 rounds in late 1994 and several minor changes made to the hammer and safety.
Llama IX-D: Very similar to the IX-C model but featuring a shorter length barrel. 4.25 in (108 mm) as opposed to the IX-C's 5 in (127 mm) barrel. Probably inspired by the commander version of the Colt 1911.
Llama X-A: Manufactured from 1954 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, blow-back operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911 in 7.65mm/.32 ACP with grip safety and loaded chamber indicator. Identical to III-A except for calibre.
Llama XI Especial: Manufactured from 1933 to 1954. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, based on Colt 1911A1 but with more ergonomic frame, in 9mm Parabellum with lanyard ring and without grip safety. Ribbed wooden grips, rounded hammer, eight round magazine. Well regarded, widely exported to Asia and popular during Spanish Civil War.
Llama XI-A and Llama XI-B: Manufactured from 1978 to 1995. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, based on Colt 1911A1, in 9mm Parabellum with grip safety. Checkered wooden or plastic grips, spurred hammer, eight round magazine. Apart from name and calibre, not directly based on Llama XI Especial. The Llama XI-B was a compact model. Subject to recalls in 1984 (Llama XI-A) and 1992 (Llama XI-B) due to risk of accidental discharge.
Llama XII-B : Manufactured from 1990 to 1995. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, based on Colt 1911A1, in .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...
calibre.
Llama XV "Especial": Manufactured from 1954 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911 in .22 LR with grip safety. Identical to Llama III-A except for calibre.
Llama XVI: Manufactured from 1954 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911 in .22 LR with grip safety. Identical to Llama XV except for luxury finish (including gold plating) and various engraving options.
Llama XVII : Manufactured from 1963 to 1969. Self-loading pistol, blow-back operation in .22 RF, with single-column six-round magazine. Smaller version of Llama XV. One of the smallest Spanish pistols ever made, it was discontinued due to the US Gun Control Act of 1968
Gun Control Act of 1968
The Gun Control Act of 1968 , by president Lyndon Johnson, is a federal law in the United States that broadly regulates the firearms industry and firearms owners...
.
Llama XVIII: Manufactured 1963–1969. Self-loading pistol, blow-back operation in 6.35mm/.25 ACP, with single-column six-round magazine. Smaller version of Llama XV. One of the smallest Spanish pistols ever made, it was discontinued due to the US Gun Control Act of 1968
Gun Control Act of 1968
The Gun Control Act of 1968 , by president Lyndon Johnson, is a federal law in the United States that broadly regulates the firearms industry and firearms owners...
.
Llama XIX: Manufactured from 1954 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, blowback operation, miniature copy of Colt 1911 in 9mm corto/.380 ACP with grip safety. Also had a longer manual safety lever. Identical to Llama III-A except for lighter weight aluminium alloy frame.
Omni I : Manufactured from approximately 1980–1986. Self-loading pistol, original design with Browning 1935-type locked breech, in 45 ACP with single column seven-round magazine. Numerous modern features such as de-cocker safety lever.
Omni II : Manufactured from approximately 1980–1986. Self-loading pistol, original design with Browning 1935-type locked breech, in 9mm Parabellum with single column nine-round magazine. Numerous modern features such as de-cocker safety lever.
Omni III: Manufactured approximately 1980–1986. Self-loading pistol, original design with Browning 1935-type locked breech, in 9mm Parabellum with double column 13-round magazine. Numerous modern features such as de-cocker safety lever.
Llama M-82: Manufactured from 1986 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, original design with Beretta falling-block type
Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
locked breech, in 9mm Parabellum with double-stack 15-round magazine. Numerous modern features such as ambidextrous de-cocker safety lever, magazine safety, reversible magazine release. Best reliability with NATO specification ball ammunition. Adopted by Spanish Military in 1987.
Llama M-87: Manufactured from 1986 to 1997. Self-loading pistol, original design with Beretta falling-block type locked breech, in 9mm parabellum with double-stack 15-round magazine. Numerous modern features such as ambidextrous de-cocker safety lever, magazine safety, reversible magazine release. High-grade competition pistol based on M-82 with extended barrel, compensator, muzzle weight, target sights, target trigger, additional manual safety, extended magazine release, extended safety levers, and two-tone finish (chrome with blued slide). Despite the high price, the M-87 was greeted with excellent reviews on release
Llama MAX-1: Also called MAX-I Government. Manufactured from 1995 to 2005. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, Colt 1911-A1 "clone", in .45 ACP (7-round magazine) .40 S&W (8-round magazine) and in 9mm Parabellum (9-round magazine) but with reduced size mainspring housing. 5⅛ inch barrel. High polish blue or satin-chrome finish.
Llama MAX-2: Manufactured from 1995-????. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, Colt 1911-A1 "clone", in .38 super with double column 18-round magazine and reduced size mainspring housing. Also manufactured a 10 round .45 ACP model with a double stack magazine and a 4¼" barrel. For IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) competition. Limited manufacture.
Llama MAX-I C/F: Also called Max-I Compact. Manufactured 1995-????. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, Colt 1911-A1 "clone", in .45 ACP (7-round magazine), .40 S&W (8-round magazine) and in 9mm Parabellum (9-round magazine) but with reduced size mainspring housing. High polish blue or satin-chrome finish. Shorter (4.25 inch barrel) and lighter model of the MAX-I.
Llama Mini-Max: Manufactured from 1995–2005. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, miniature version of Colt 1911-A1 in 9mm Parabellum and 38 Super (8-round capacity), .40 S&W (7-round capacity) and .45 ACP (6-round capacity) with a 3.7 inch barrel. Extended safety lever, rounded hammer, Swartz safety, 3-dot sight, checkered neoprene grips and contoured trigger-guard. Standard 1911-type magazines could be used in the .45 ACP model to give 7 or 8-round capacity. Finishes include matte blue, satin chrome, two-tone and stainless steel.
Llama Mini-Max II: Manufactured from 1997 to 2005. Self-loading pistol, locked breech, miniature version of Colt 1911-A1 in 9mm Parabellum (10-round capacity), .40 S&W (10-round capacity) and .45 ACP (10-round capacity) with a 3.7 inch barrel. Extended safety lever, rounded hammer, Swartz safety, 3-dot sight, checkered neoprene grips. International model available with higher capacity magazine.
Llama Micro-Max: Manufactured from 1997 to 2005. Self-loading pistol, blow-back operation, miniature version of Colt 1911-A1 in 9mm corto/.380 ACP (7-round capacity) and 7.65mm/.32 ACP (8-round capacity). Extended safety lever, rounded hammer. Matt black finish only. Replacement for Llama III-A. Also available in high polished chrome.
Model Listing - Revolvers
Early Production revolvers from 1904 to 1914Nagant
Nagant M1895
The Nagant M1895 Revolver is a seven-shot, gas-seal revolver designed and produced by Belgian industrialist Léon Nagant for the Russian Empire. The Nagant M1895 was chambered for a proprietary cartridge, 7.62x38R, and featured an unusual "gas-seal" system in which the cylinder moved forward when...
revolvers in 7.62mm Nagant and 8mm Lebel
Colt New Service
Colt New Service
The Colt New Service was a double-action revolver made by Colt from 1898 until c.1940. It was adopted by the U.S. Armed Forces in .45 Colt as the Model 1909 U.S. Army, Marine Corps Model 1909, Model 1909 U.S. Navy and in .45 ACP as the Model 1917 U.S. Army...
copies in .32 S&W long and 7.62 Nagant
Vélodog
Velo-dog
The Velo-Dog was a pocket revolver originally created in France by Charles-François Galand in the late 19th century as a defense for cyclists against dog attacks. The name is a portmanteau of "velocipede" and "dog"....
-style revolvers in 5.5mm Vélodog, .22LR, 6.35mm/.25 ACP, and 7.65mm/.32 ACP
Ruby Extra revolvers represented Gabilondo's economy range of revolvers. Manufactured from 1955 to 1970 they are copies of the Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
Military and Police models, but fitted with coiled mainspring. They were very popular in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and South America.
Model 12 (XII): .38 Special calibre revolver with 5-inch barrel and service grips.
Model 13 (XIII): .38 Special calibre revolver with 4 or 6-inch barrel and ventilated rib. Rounded grips on 4-inch model. Adjustable sights and target grips on 6-inch model. First Llama model with eccentric-cam firing pin safety. Llama was the first manufacturer to use this system on their revolvers.
Model 14 (XIV): .22 LR and .32 S&W long revolver with 2, 4 or 6-inch barrel and various sights.
Llama revolvers had a better standard of manufacture and higher price. Manufactured from 1969 to 1978 and based on the Smith and Wesson Military and Police model but fitted with coiled mainspring.
Martial: .38 Special calibre revolver with 2, 4 or 6-inch barrel, ventilated rib and adjustable rear sights. A similar revolver, also chambered in .38 Special, was sold marked "Martial Police"
Model 22 (XXII): .38 special calibre double action steel-framed target revolver. Adjustable sights and target grips. Deluxe "Olimpico" model available.
Model 26 (XXVI): .22 LR calibre double action steel-framed revolver.
Model 27 (XXVII): .32 S&W long revolver calibre double action steel-framed revolver.
Model 28 (XVIII): .22 LR calibre double action alloy-framed revolver.
Model 29 (XIX): .22 LR double action steel-framed target revolver. Adjustable sights and target grips. Deluxe "Olimpico" model available.
Model 30 (XXX): .22 magnum calibre double action steel-framed revolver.
Model 32 (XXXII): .32 S&W long revolver calibre double action steel-framed target revolver. Adjustable sights and target grips. Deluxe "Olimpico" model available.
Comanche revolvers were the flagship of Gabilondo's revolver range produced from 1975 to 1997. They were copies of large framed Smith & Wesson revolvers. Although of a very high standard, they were unable to compete successfully in the US market.
Comanche: In .357 magnum calibre with 6-inch barrel. Renamed Comanche III in 1977.
Comanche I: .22 LR calibre with 6-inch barrel, ventilated rib, adjustable rear sight, wide spur hammer. Chrome finish and engraving options available.
Comanche II: .38 special calibre with 4 or 6-inch barrel, ventilated rib, adjustable rear sight, wide spur hammer. Chrome finish and various engraving options available.
Comanche III: Renamed Comanche .357 with 4 or 6-inch barrel, ventilated rib, adjustable rear sight, wide spur hammer. Chrome finish and various engraving options available.
Comanche IV/ .44 Magnum Super Comanche: 44 magnum with 6 or 8.5-inch barrel, ventilated rib, adjustable rear sight, wide spur hammer, extra wide trigger. Over-size walnut target grips and blued finish only. Discontinued 1994.
Comanche V/ .357 Magnum Super Comanche: .357 magnum with 4, 6, or 8.5-inch barrel, ventilated rib, adjustable rear sight, wide spur hammer, extra wide trigger. Over-size walnut target grips and blued finish only. Discontinued 1994.
Scorpio and Picolo were Gabilondo's first entry into the compact pocket revolver range since their early revolvers of 1904–1914.
Scorpio: .22LR and 32 S&W long calibre with 2-inch unribbed barrel, low profile sights, rounded grips, steel frame.
Picolo: .22LR and 32 S&W long calibre with 2-inch unribbed barrel, low profile sights, rounded grips, alloy frame.
See also
- Astra-Unceta y Cia SAAstra-Unceta y Cia SAAstra Unceta y Cía. was a Spanish weapons manufacturer founded on July 17, 1908 under the name of Esperanza y Unceta by Juan Esperanza and Pedro Unceta...
, another former Spanish handgun manufacturer - ASTARASTAR (company)Agrupacion Social Trabajadores Armeros, S.A.L., abbreviated as ASTAR, was a Spanish firearms company.STAR Firearms' remaining company assets were merged with Astra Firearms...
- Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A.Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A. was a manufacturer of small arms in the Basque region of Spain from about 1905 until 1997.-Bonifacio Echeverria and the ancestry of Star:...