Star Z-70b

Spanish Steel: The Rise and Fall of the Star Z70B

The Star Z70B submachine gun was developed by the Spanish small arms manufacturer Star Bonifacio Echeverria SA, located in the historic weapon making city of Eibar, Spain.Introduced in 1971, this firearm was designed as an upgrade to the earlier Z62 and Z63 models to modernize the equipment of the local military and police. The most important update was changing the ammunition type to the standard 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, which ensured compatibility with NATO forces. It also fixed a quirky trigger feature from older models that used a finger placement system to change firing modes, replacing it with a traditional fire selector switch located just above the pistol grip.

The Spanish Army, the Guardia Civil, and elite military units like the Spanish Legion officially adopted the weapon during the 1970s.It gained a reputation for being a highly reliable, compact, open bolt firearm that featured a signature underfolding metal stock. The company produced the weapon for over a decade at their Eibar factory until technology advanced. In the mid 1980s, the Spanish military began phasing out the Z70B in favor of the newer Star Z84, and elite units eventually moved on to the German Heckler and Koch MP5. Today, the weapon is remembered as a classic piece of twentieth century Spanish military history.