It was designed and produced by the Comisión de Industrias de Guerra (CIG ) (War Industry Commission in English), by orders of the Generalitat of Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939).

[1] The Isard pistol was designed by the CIG and some exiled Basque gunsmiths.

It was ordered and approved by the Generalidad de Cataluña, and was put into production.

[3] Stylistically, the Isard's design resembled the M1911 pistol.

However, the Colt M1911 incorporated a locked-breech design and used a .45 ACP round, whereas the Isard pistol was a blowback design and used a 9x23mm Largo round.