Catalonia's Attempt at a Pistol: the Blowback Isard 

When he said "wait till you see the recoil spring" or sth along those lines in the beginning, I expected it to be massive. When he pulled the slide back with what looked like very little effort, I thought "oh please no." And when I actually saw the spring, I thought "oh God you have to be kidding. Madmen."

"And theres a 1911 for comparison" *Nonchalantly lays a original M1911 on the table*

Turns out that pistol design and manufacturing Izard-er than you think.

If I had to have a hi-point I would want it to look like a 1911 too.

Hi Ian! I'm from Barcelona and loved to find that you covered this. Really surprised to discover this little piece of our history in one of my favourite channels. And a quick note about "Tarradellas": during the Civil War was a member of the government of the Generalitat and president of the War Industries Committe. Was exiled during the dictatorship, appointed president of the Generalitat in the exile, and lived long enough to return in 1977 when Franco died, becoming the first Catalan president of the democracy.

Looks at recoil spring ... Ian I didn't know you reviewed airsoft guns.

I´m from Barcelona, and I was absolutely impressed! I didn´t know these existed; a very interesting history piece indeed. I would never have thought I would hear Ian pronouncing the words "Generalitat de Catalunya" :D

It's interesting how much effort and skill they used to make a gun that looks actually pretty damn nice, but they skimped SO hard on perhaps the one piece that is most vitally important, thus rendering all the other effort basically worthless. It seems like even just cramming two of those same shitty recoil springs in there would have been better.

yeah, 380 chambering may have made more sense

So the second pattern changed practically everything with the exception of an adequate main spring, which would make the gun actually usable? Interesting strategy...

This is the second video in a row that Ian has featured a firearm with mechanics of those worthy of a Mekboy. Gork and Mork would be proud.

Catalonia also quite successfully made Astra 400 copies, in a factory in Terrassa. With the Isard, I have to wonder what was even the impetus for the design. Just because they had former employees of both Astra and Star on hand doesn't mean that mashing up the Astra 400 and Star A was a good idea.

I had no idea that Catalonia (where I live) made this pistol, now I know that it manufactured the isard and the labora-fontbernat submachine gun

The reduced sights on the 2nd model reflects the likelihood that these pistols were used by the Catalan commissars for VERY close range back-of-the-head shots...

On the field of bizarre weapons produced in Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War it stands out the rare sub-machine gun Labora-Fontbernat. Its estimated production rounds 2,000 of these quite heavy artifacts. I long for the moment when Ian could get his hands on one and make the corresponding clip!

I love this gun! They used to make these pistols in the town I live. A friend of mine owns one in factory-new condition and it's a beauty!

The Isard spring has 28 twists, the 1911 32, the Astra 27. The thickness of the wire is about the same. In all likelyhood they had about the same stiffness when new. The stiffness of the mainspring has practically no importance in keeping the action of a blowback handgun closed for enough time to safely eject the case. It's the mass of the slide that does all the work. The only real function of a stiffer mainspring is to mitigate the felt recoil and the force with which the slide slams into the receiver at the end of it's travel, so a stiffer spring prolongs the life of the frame/slide. However, the force that has to be absorbed is the same for blowback and short recoil pistols. Infact, IE, the Hi-Point mainspring has the same stiffnes of the Glock. More than pointing to the dimension of the spring, Ian should have measured the stiffness of the spring. A smaller spring can have the same stiffness of a bigger one, it wears out quickier, and so has to be replaced more often, but the durability of the spring was probably not the main concern of the designers of this handgun.

i havea reference spanish magazine called "Armas de fuego" that shows a presentation ISARD pistol gold plated with mother of pearl grips that was made special for the president of the "junta de cataluña " a beautifull example of the second patern isard with the extended barrel bushing an no grip safety , there was also a third patern of isard with a wraped coil spring like the astra 400 and tubular slide if y dont recall badly .

Another interesting piece of firearms history, thank you for these Ian

My grandfather used to make the woodstock of the "naranjeros" in Valencia, a copy of the Erma submachinegun.

If I might pose a theory on the extra long barrel bushings. Being a blowback maybe they are needed to add extra mass to slow down the slide and make up for the lack of recoil spring strength.

I just subscribed recently. I make it a point to watch at least two of your videos a day. Great work. Keep it up.

Spanish Pistols seem to be either really good or really bad.

Would the wear and tear on the palm side of that one pistol mean, that despite being less-than-good, it still saw heavy use?

It would be interesting to see a top ten list of guns that you find to scary to shoot.

There is a notch cut into the grips like you would expect for a lanyard loop, which makes me think the very early ones may very well had a lanyard loop!

Outstanding video, my friend! I love discovering, learning about and collecting odd pistols, to a point.😉 I definitely see the 1911 influence right away. It also appears to share the slide removal setup virtually identical to the Soviet TT 33. I do like the palm swell included in the grip’s back strap. I have an Astra 400 and it has its challenges. Not the least of which is finding supplies of the 9x23 Largo ammunition. But I do enjoy the pistol. It is a shame that the manufacturers were not permitted to go just a little further in the development of the pistol to actually produce a safe and solid pistol. Thus the difficulties that are brought on during war. Thanks again for another interesting video and have a great weekend, my friend. 👍🏻🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸

It's that fireplace again!

Always so stoked when I see a video posted a few minutes ago I’m like “hi Ian I waited right here for you”

I think the point of the knurled section on the barrel bushing is to help you pinch and rotate it for disassembly

Your one of the reasons I'm becoming a gunsmith. I love 99% of your videos. Not big on the fireside chat stuff but hey. Thank you and hope to be able to meet you one day. 777

Thank you GunJesus, very cool!

So, I’m going to guess we won’t be seeing Ian shoot one of these.

It'd kind of odd that this isn't too great because when Revolutionary Catalonia was established, production at these factories improved dramatically in both quantity and quality. Guess it was the rush for weaponry at that point so they tried to make the simplest, easiest thing to produce as fast as possible. That would naturally have a lot of oversights...

Another cool interesting video.

In “Homage to Catalonia” I remember Orwell talking about everyone in the Workers Militias being scared of the grenades because ‘they were all built by anarchists’ and infamously faulty. Seems that may have extended to the pistols too.

Those guns remind me so much of the Melcher ME1911 or Umarex 1911 blank firing guns. They function quite similarly, isassemble quite similarly and they have a similarly tiny recoil spring. And even though they only fire comparably weak 9mm PAK cartrigdes, they beat themselves to death too.

Ian, next time you're in the UK, come to the Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson on the south coast. Amazing collection. You'll love it.

14:28 "I might consider trying to give them to my opponents." I know a particular "nefarious arms dealer" who might be able to help... Great video, sketchy gun!

This reminds me a lot of the crude Vietnamese 1911 styled pistol you showed off years ago.

Personally, i appreciate that they dropped the grip safety, i find that system is annoying in a pinch. Tape does wonders. Love these videos, i watch everyday

The extended bushing was maybe an attempt to increase the mass of the slide and make the gun more usuable.

Mother Anarchy sure does love her sons

The story of the little recoil spring that could - for a short while at least, until you realize what it’s up against

...O used to have an Astra 400...hard to believe any spring could be worse that that spring...

Find information about "Labora Fontbernat". It was a submachine gun of Catalan origin. Very interesting.

Cool - thanks Ian :)

The overly optimistic serial numbers made me wonder about whether any weapon is known to have been produced with a nonsequencel serial range to inflate production numbers. We had misleading unit names as an attempt to disrupt enemy intelligence operations, but did anyone attempt the same with something as simple as what got stamped on weapons?

you can make a video about "Labora Fontbernat"? Is also a catalan machinegun with little information known. Thanks

The knurled extended barrel bushing is actually kinda nice for improving ease of takedown... 9 largo in direct blowback I’d imagine when they reach a few thousand rounds the slide or frame begins to crack somewhere haha

damn this high cost hand grenade is even nicer than that vietcong 1911-style hand grenade u reviewed a while back

That tiny little recoil spring is enough to convince me to never fire one of those things lol

Catalonia has attempted lots of things... :|

Wow, they're rought, I've got bb guns with tidier manufacturing!

In fact, this guns were not made by any factory... After the Spanish Republican war production services absorved almost all the factories of the Catalan goverment by the late 1937, they had a very few resources. There was a very small workshop to repair the trucks used by the catalan government in Barcelona, you know, a mill and a lathe and hand tools. Was called "Parc mòbil de la Generalitat" in catalan language. Was there were this guns were made... Or at least the main parts, of course the springs and heat tratements were made in other places.

The Spanish civil war saw a lot of pistols with extended mags and shoulder stocks. Can these mags across the generations compatible with each other and are there extended mags ever made for these?

The knurled and extended barrel bushing would make it easier to remove since I'm sure it was not made to close tolerances.

I think the 7 digit serial number shows how hopeful they were that they would win the war and establish a standing army

Oh dear, he called catalan a dialect. He will never hear the end of it...

I think the extra cut on the ejection port is referred to as a "relieved" ejection port

Many of the Spanish pistols are quite looked down upon, however they did produce some nice guns as well. I have owned several Star 9mm BK and BKM pistols, as well as some Llama in 32 and 380, and a sweet little Star PD in .45 ACP, Wish I still had the BK and the PD, and those little Llama's while not the best built were just so damn cute in their being a copy of the M1911 scaled down to match the caliber. I once dreamed of having a full collection of Llama's from .22LR to .45 ACP, but never got around to putting it together, and eventually sold all but my very sweet Astra A100 in .45 ACP, once known as the "Poor Man's SIG" I still take her out to the rang for exercise a few times a year along with my Citadel cut down M1911A1

My friend showing me how a high capa works

My best guess for that barrel bushing is it is supposed to be easier to remove or they wanted to make them look like Astras.

Maybe one day you can do a review of the bolt action "Manresa rifle" and the "Labora" submachine gun, both cool catalan Spanish Civil War stuff.

When I saw the thumbnail I instantly thought of the Podbyrin 9.2 mm for some reason.

I'm from Catalonia and I found this quite interesting. Nice video!

Nice video, also very well historically detailed. I know it has already been pointed out in another message, but I want to insist, catalan is not a dialect. This diagram can help: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/IndoEuropeanTree.svg

I could see maybe chamber it for 30 mauser 762x25 tokarev and add as second spring around the barrel like the astra. Even a shallow locking barrel at the ejection port only wouldn't add alot of machining

OMG one gun with the emblem if Barcelona

Reminds me of the mystery homemade Vietnamese 1911

That recoil spring makes a guy wonder which end of the muzzle is more dangerous to be on.

Interesting. Never heard of these. I assume they went with blowback to simplify production- no need to locate and machine the locking lug recesses, and no link and pin, just a solid bottom shoulder lug on the barrel. The frame might also be a little simpler, since u don't have to account for the barrel tilting. I wonder if it would be feasible to make slightly reduced handloads in Largo or perhaps US 9x23 brass. Say 9x19 level or even slightly less (Glisenti?). Starting level loads in the 9x19 should have a little less pressure due to the greater volume. Might need a fluffy powder due to the space in the case. Trail Boss comes to mind, maybe Autocomp or certain others. The metallurgy on the gun would have to be checked to make sure the slide, barrel and frame are within the right range. It would be some work, but it might be an interesting project. I don't have my COTW book available right now, but i think Largo ballistics are close to 38 Super, so u would have to tone it down a bit for safety (if the gun checks out in the first place. The lack of a disconnector is concerning, but shooting slowly and carefully should mitigate that (i.e. make sure it is in battery before each shot). Just thinking out loud. Great video as always. Thank you

"can you put 9mm Largo in a 1911 pistol" i feel the question is bound to come

I'd really love to see what firing one of those was like... I see many an ice pack being necessary...

I would assume the barrel bushings were made out of something existing and that's why they changed for no reason as they ran out of certain "materials"

Probably to aid in bushing removal for disassembly

That must be ejecting at a VERY high pressure and slamming the slide to the rear with some extreme force. I wonder why they did not at least try to put a stronger spring in.

According to most theories, they were made by basque gunsmiths that fled the nort after it fell to the "National's" side. There is also, at least, one known presentation 2nd type Isard (nickel plated, I think), with velvet-lined box, made for the Generalitat. The making of these pistols was most surely politically (and economically) motivated. Given the situation, and strongly suggested by the specific conditions and budget allocations in the several different "Boletin Oficial" (oficial publication of political and government decissions), plus other anecdotical evidences, tend to support this theory by some military analysts right after the war (plus some embezzling charges). Nowadays, they are used here just as "political symbols", with the R.E., ASCASO, and Labora smg's.

¡No pasarán!

Straight blowback. In 9x23 mmm Largo. WERE THEY FUCKING INSANE?!

Y have to correct and extend the information y have gave abuot the ISARD pistol referenced in the "Armas cortas de el siglo xx" magazine y have. it was chrome plated not gold ,was from the second patern it was presented to the last president of the "generalitat de cataluña " in a presentation case marked 22 january 1938 and the serial number of the gun was n°00000003 . the president of the generalitat of cataluña was Mr Companys who would later died fusilated after being turn down by the german gestapo after being captured in france

You should do some test for any of these see how dangerous they are

11:26 my guess would be No bushing tool and varying tolerances .

If it's a 9mm cal. Then the recoil spring does not need to be very long as the 1911 for a smaller grain bullet compared to heavier and higher grain needed bullet

Our guy

so cooool !!

Every engineer was waiting for a heavy stranded recoil spring. In the back of our minds. We where thinking finally someone did blowback right. Nope done worse than ever!

Wait, I didn't realize the Spanish made Kyber Pass guns. 😉😉😉 The size of that recoil spring is seriously scary!

The barrel looks very similar to the QS Armi, an italian made blowback 1911 which it was claimed to have some magical dalayed blowback system but no one has showed proofs about that.

Hahahaha that spring tho hahahaha

It would be great if you did more episodes on republican arms

I have a Llama Micromax chambered in .380 that is basically the exact same as this isard

Wow. I'd love to own one ^-^

Thank you for every information you give to us.but can you do a video about the VMG_1927 German LMG

Would the extended barrel bushing effect accuracy? Obviously it makes it easier to remove

the comment section is going to be a dumpster fire

It looks like to me the barrel bushing knurling would help you get the bushing off the gun!

The backstrap checkering looks perfectly functional

Wonder how many are currently being cleaned up?

The should have named these guns HAZARD instead of ISARD.