1947-1953 Ballester Molina 1911

Big Shrek · Mar 5, 2016

Found one in the 50K serial range...
eventually will narrow that down as I look at others
who know what their origin date is

Its an almost-1911 made in Argentina by H.A.F.D.A.S.A.

At first it had a mag drop issue, as in,
when you fired a shot, the mag would fall out...
initially thought it to be a bad mag catch,
but, it turned out it actually wasn't worn-out,
it just wasn't screwed in all the way

Resolved with a little Blue Loctite so it wouldn't happen again!

epj · Mar 5, 2016

As noted, it's "almost" a 1911. It is NOT a 1911, other than in general appearance.

Flattop5 · Mar 5, 2016

Ballester Molinas are apparently pretty good guns, regardless of the fact that they are not true 1911s.

-------

jdlii · Mar 6, 2016

An innovative firearm manufactured by an automotive company. I believe that the only parts that will interchange with a 1911 are the barrel and the magazine.

Not a 1911, as others have stated, but, a nice addition to a 1911 collection because of the similarities and uniqueness.

austinjeane · Mar 6, 2016

I purchased one at a gun show. I find that it's a good and reliable pistol. It feeds every type of ammo I've tried and goes bang when I pull the trigger. I keep it as a truck gun.

sureshotbob · Mar 6, 2016

I've owned several Colts,Kimbers and a Systema the only one I have left is my Ballister Molina that I love.p/s I've picked up another slide that I'll be adding modern sights to so I don't have to machine the original slide.

Big Shrek · Mar 8, 2016

sureshotbob said:
I've owned several Colts, Kimbers and a Systema the only one I have left is my Ballister Molina that I love.p/s I've picked up another slide that I'll be adding modern sights to so I don't have to machine the original slide.

Niiice

I have somewhat more evil plans for mine...
mostly due to the speckling on the other side of the slide...
Seems to me the best thing to do is totally strip it,
have a new stamp applied, and then Parkerize it.
Then get new Grips, like these...

Why? You might ask??

Just so I can mess with people's heads at the range!!
"Hey, have you guys seen the new Prototype Glock??"

My cruelty knows no bounds

k22fan · Mar 9, 2016

It does not take 1911 grips.

Mine is accurate, reliable and has a great trigger but truthfully it is almost a Star, not almost a 1911.

Every new Ballester Molina owner should know this absolutely and unquestionably factual history. They were made from armor plate salvaged from the Admiral Graf Spee. Pass it along.

Frank46 · Mar 9, 2016

Big Shrek, you sir have a really cruel streak. Now glock is going to be bombarded with folks clamoring for their new glock 1911. I like it. Frank

sureshotbob · Mar 9, 2016

k22fan said:
It does not take 1911 grips.

Mine is accurate, reliable and has a great trigger but truthfully it is almost a Star, not almost a 1911.

Every new Ballester Molina owner should know this absolutely and unquestionably factual history. They were made from armor plate salvaged from the Admiral Graf Spee. Pass it along.

k22 fan You are correct on almost everything but the story about Ballester Molina's being made from the steel from the Graf Spree had long since been debunked.

Arik · Mar 9, 2016

Frank46 said:
Big Shrek, you sir have a really cruel streak. Now glock is going to be bombarded with folks clamoring for their new glock 1911. I like it. Frank

That picture is like 5 years old and makes its way around the forums in one way or another every year

Big Shrek · Mar 9, 2016

Arik said:
That picture is like 5 years old and makes its way around the forums in one way or another every year

If you can't mess with people's heads,
what is the point of living??

cwo4uscgret · Nov 22, 2016

An older thread but I thought I'd share my newest, a Ballester-Molina I just received. It is the cleanest one (other then I've seen in the Museo des Armas in Buenos Aires)...
Picked this Ballester-Molina up this morning; matched serial number on frame and inside of slide; all matching numbers on frame, slide, barrel, and two magazines. No import marks to be found anywhere... I can't find any evidence that it's been refinished; if that holds up to your discerning eyes - I think winner.

Photos:

OLDSTER · Nov 22, 2016

Some really fine pistols have been manufactured in Argentina over the years; and the Ballester Molina is one. And the only officially licensed copy of the Browning Hi-Power is made by the Argentine firm of Fabricaciones Militares (FM)

oldnfat · Nov 22, 2016

I had one of these back in the 70s. Most inaccurate firearm I ever picked up. Ran good, but you could hit nothing with it. Maybe it was just a bad one.

Big Shrek · Nov 27, 2016

oldnfat said:
I had one of these back in the 70s. Most inaccurate firearm I ever picked up. Ran good, but you could hit nothing with it. Maybe it was just a bad one.

Evidently...
I did swap my OEM bushing for a Wilson Combat Bushing
and it tightened my groups up considerably

Now I'm looking at their swing link...
might step it up a little more, perhaps??

If you ever get one that shoots a little off,
the bushing and a new match barrel wouldn't be out of line.
Still less expensive than a new RIA

k22fan · Nov 27, 2016

cwo4uscgret,

I have not looked at mine in quite a while and it is not where I'm at so this is only based on memory but yours looks all original. Mine also has original bluing just not nearly as much as yours. Also similar to yours mine has the second number on what would be the mainspring housing if it were a 1911 and no import stamp. I forget if the second number is inside the slide.

Apparently my comment last spring about the Admiral Graf Spee needed a wink.

Marshwheeling · Nov 27, 2016

Big Shrek said:
Niiice
I have somewhat more evil plans for mine...
mostly due to the speckling on the other side of the slide...
Seems to me the best thing to do is totally strip it,
have a new stamp applied, and then Parkerize it.
Then get new Grips, like these...

Why? You might ask??

Just so I can mess with people's heads at the range!!
"Hey, have you guys seen the new Prototype Glock??"

My cruelty knows no bounds

I did something similar with my '72 BMW r75. I found some Honda tank badges meant for a CB77. They fit perfectly in the tank recesses on my /5.

I had a lot of fun with it.

"Whoa. I didn't know Honda made one of those."
"It's a pre Gold Wing prototype."

"It's the new Superhawk."

That was mostly from Harley riders. BMW riders just gave me the finger, with a smile, of course.

1947-1953 Ballester Molina 1911

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