Saw that Academy Sports is now carrying a Llama 38 Super.
Eagle Imports is exporting from (it seems) the Philippines.
Used to be a decent pistol at a low price point when made in Spain. Not so cheap any more.
WARNING: Their site is not safe. My anti-virus picked up problems before they became problems.

The older Llama pistols seemed a notch below Star and Astra, their main competition, to me. I have no idea what the attraction of the name is today. Maybe the brand is well regarded in South America.

The one-l lama,
He's a priest.
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.
~Ogden Nash

Excepting, of course, the dreaded three-l lllama fire.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fenris,

I still have a perfect, quarter-inch scar on the web of my right hand thanks to ridiculous hammer bite from a friend's Llama .380 1911-ish pistol. Never again.

They were a step below Smith or Colt in both quality and price. If price was your most important criteria, then you might have bought a Llama.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
The older Llama pistols seemed a notch below Star and Astra, their main competition, to me. I have no idea what the attraction of the name is today. Maybe the brand is well regarded in South America.

I agree. Star were good. Astra ok. Llama were junk.

I had a commander size Llama once, I think I owned it less than a week. It was terribly un reliable and because it wasn't compatable with standard 1911 parts, it didn't make sense to try and get it running right. My question would be... Why would you by a Llama when you have so many options out there?

I have two of the old original Llama 380 auto. I have owned them since the early 1970s. They both run 100%, even with lower powdered handloads. I know nothing of the "new" Llamas.

I think I'd buy a Bersa before I bought a Llama.

Not much wrong with the Bersa Thunder 380s. We sold a pantload of them at the hardware store, and never had anybody mention a problem with them.

I've yet to have any issue with my Thunder 380, other than accelerated wear on its cheapy finish, a surprising feat considering that it never gets carried and is only an less-than-occasional range toy. However my Thunder 22 has been a less-than-reliable piece of work. I've never owned a Llama or even shot one, but I suspect that my Thunder 22 would probably give it a run for its money on being the low rung on the ladder.

I had a Llama 1911 .45 once, it was a great single shot pistol.

quote:

Saw that Academy Sports is now carrying a Llama 38 Super.
Eagle Imports is exporting from (it seems) the Philippines.

Sounds like new production, Philippine-made with the Llama name on it. Other names include better-known ones like Rock Island Armory and American Tactical. I have no experience with them, but would expect about the same level of price/quality. The old Spanish Llamas haven't been made in over 30 years.

There is no connection between Llama (flame) on the Phillipines and Llama in Spain except for the name. Llama in Spain is out of business for 20years.
Interesting are observations about quality between the US and EU. Llama is considered here on par with Astra and Star in remains of quality and advanced in design.

I've never owned a Llama but I own Star pistols and they are head and shoulders above the cheesy Astra A-80 I purchased. I was intrigued with the idea of a 15 shot DA .38 Super.

After buying the Astra from Gunbroker, I was no longer intrigued. So very, very far from intrigued. Cheesy, cheap-feeling, shoddy pistol.

I'll admit that I carry old prejudices on some brands.....Llama is one of them. Junk.

These new Llama pistols are being made by Metro Arms in the Philippines. Says so on the back of the owners manual. Metro Arms makes the American Classic brand of 1911s also imported by Eagle.

Just the name alone - Llama - makes me not want to try one.

The first semi-auto handgun I owned was a Llama .380 back in 1976..from what I remember it was well built and a nice looking little handgun with no issues at all

Had a .22lr 1911 look alike, jammed all the time, hammer bite. Got rid of it quick.