Llama 380. cal.

[packin-heat]

Any one know about a 380. cal Llama. I just purchase my first one used which has a double position trigger. The gun will fire in the full extended position and the handle must be depressed from the rear, but it also has a latch located beside the right of the trigger with the gun pointed, which I was told is also a saftey, but does not move up or down. Is that an additional safety or just a thumb rest.
Dont have a manual to guide me.
Ed.

 

[packin-heat]

Any one know about a 380. cal Llama. I just purchase my first one used which has a double position trigger. The gun will fire in the full extended position and the handle must be depressed from the rear, but it also has a latch located beside the right of the trigger with the gun pointed, which I was told is also a saftey, but does not move up or down. Is that an additional safety or just a thumb rest.
Dont have a manual to guide me.
Ed.

 

[RonJ]

I can't answer your question but it may help to describe your gun a little better. There is a 380 that looks like a baby Colt 1911 and another that looks closer to a CZ or Makarov.

 

[packin-heat]

Hello Ron,
It looks like the colt 1911. It is stainless with engraving, and pearl grips. If you look at the gun from the side view, its to the right of the grip towards the top next to the trigger. The colt has the same set up, so it must be a safety switch although it doesnt move up or down. Just woundering what the problem could be. Almost looks like the grip is in the way to move the switch down, but Im sure the grips are factory. Do the safety switches ever freeze up?
Ed.

 

[diamonback68]

Are you sure it's not the lockback lever? It will only move when the slide is back to the takedown notch.

 

[2152hq]

That's a safety, commonly called the 'thumb safety' for it's means of operation. Same as on a Colt 1911/.
It can only be engaged into the 'safe' mode (UP position) with the hammer at full cock.

The other lever is the slide stop/lock that diamonback68 refers to. Again,,same set up as the Colt. I think you're refering to the thumb safety here,,and not the slide lock in your question.

Both the Llama and Star Spanish pistols have an often seen problem with the thumb safety in that when trying to engage it (push UP with the hammer at full cock), the hammer also needs to be slightly pulled back to allow it to engage. This makes the operation a two handed affair.

It should be able to be engaged with out that extra step and in doing so you'll see the hammer ever so slightly cammed back off of the sear by it's action.

Don't recall that they made the small frame Llama's in stainless, perhaps they did. It's most likely a chrome plate finish if it is factory engraved. Faux pearl grips were normally supplied on the plated and engraved Llama pistols.

Neat little guns. I've had several in 22LR and recently one in 32acp. Early ones are marked 'Especial' on the side of the slide for the model designation. Later went to a Roman Numeral model designation.

 

[packin-heat]

Thank you for the information. I did lock the trigger all the way back and the safety will only move slightly. It will not lock into the up position. I quess a gunsmith will be my next step. Anyone know a good gunsmith in the Florida, Crystal river area, or Homosassa?
I appreciate all your feedback.
Ed.

 

[packin-heat]

P.S. Sounds like you know what your talking about. Second look does appear to be chrome finish and you sound accurate on the grips too.
Thanks again,
Ed.

 

[2152hq]

Originally posted by packin-heat:
Thank you for the information. I did lock the trigger all the way back and the safety will only move slightly. It will not lock into the up position.Ed.

Pull the hammer all the way back (full cock),,,,not the trigger,,,and then engage the thumb safety.

Thumb safety has nothing to do with the trigger.

The 'grip safety' at the rear of the grip that you depress while shooting is what blocks the trigger when it is in the 'out' position.

As I said, some need a little help to engage the safety by pulling the hammer just a bit further than full cock or you can't push the safety up.

 

[Frank237]

Several years ago I was gifted a 32 acp Llama with chrome finish, faux impressed engraving and pearl like grips. Had belonged to a lady we knew, a gift from her husband years prior. She was afraid of it, knew I was a cop, so gave it to me.

When we qualified w/off duty guns you should have seen the guys HOOT when I pulled that little sweetheart out.

They called it my Pimp gun.

They are decent little guns though.

FN in MT

 

[cincinnatijim]

I bought one of the blued ones in 1959 (.380). I liked it a lot, but later traded it in on a .357 Magnum. I've often wished I had it back.

 

[2152hq]

I always seem to trade/sell the .22cal ones I've had though telling myself I never would do so. The last 22 I had was in the box w/papers,cleaning rod and extra mag. Nice shooter.
The 32 Especial was a nice early one too. Some were made and shipped to Germany during WW2 but mine wasn't one of those unfortunately.

Frank237....That flashy chrome engraved Off Duty gun must have really brought out the sun glasses on the range

They probably never let you forget that did they!

 

[mkk41]

At best , Llama quality was OK.
The later ones seemed their best efforts.

BTW , it's not stainless. Either hard chrome or nickel plated.

 

[reerc]

Seems like Erich had a Llama.

Paging Erich ...