Ballester Molinas Anyone?

[kenhwind]

Stopped by my normal go to gun shop and in the case was this Ballester Molina. It was priced right IMO, especially after pricing them on the web, so I but a deposit on it. Picked it up Tuesday. Shoots pretty good also.

[feralmerril]

Had one of those many years ago pass through my hands. Dont recall if I ever shot it. Were they a copy, or were they licensed by colt?

[wolfbait]

I had one 50 years ago. Shot 1000s of rounds through it, never a jam or malfunction.

[Nyles]

Nice gun, I have one myself. Shoots pretty well, although I find that in the hand it actually feels pretty different from a 1911. They weren`t a liscensed copy, in fact they`re not really a copy at all. The only interchangable parts are the barrel and magazine, inside it`s actually got more in common with a Star than a Colt.

[Oyeboten]

Good going kenhwind!

Looks like a nice original finish and Stocks, too.


I have the highest regard for these Pistols, and, I own a couple myself.


The earlier version was the 'Ballester Rigaud', identical to the Ballester Molina, but for name.


These were made by the old high-class Automobile Company 'Hispano Suiza', in their multi-purpose Manufactory in Argentina.


The Serial Number on these appears on the left side of the Main Spring Housing, at the rear of the Grip.


Often, additional Numerals were assigned, and stamped on to the Slide and Barrel, or Frame as well, and, these additional numbers were various Military or other Agency issue for their accounting...and are not the Serial Number as such.


As others have mentioned above, Barrels and Magazines interchange with Colt 1911 or Gov't Models.

[kenhwind]

Had one of those many years ago pass through my hands. Dont recall if I ever shot it. Were they a copy, or were they licensed by colt?

Although it seems to be referred to as a modified unlicensed copy of the COLT M1911A1 sometimes it really isn't, and is very much like the Spanish STAR pistols. The lockwork is the same arrangement as the Star, utilizing a pivoting trigger and a trigger bar on the right sight of the pistol, as well as the disconector. But the H.A.F.D.A.S.A. Ballester Molina pistol has a slide similar to the Colt pistol, in that the extractor is internal and the firing pin is retained by a firing pin stop; whereas the Star has an external extractor, the firing pin is held in by a pin beneath the rear sight.

The Ballester Molina has a plunger tube like the Colt but the safety plunger also retains the safety. The magazine release is two piece and threads together with a spring in between. Like the Star the HAFDASA pistol has no grip safety. Because the Argentines were also using the M1927 Sistema Colt which is a licensed copy of the Colt the Ballester Molina use a Colt type magazine as well as barrel and recoil spring assembly.

[kenhwind]

I paid $399.00 plus sales tax and BG check. For $399.00 I kind of jumped on it as they just got it in. The finish appears to be original as I can see no indication of a re-fi. The barrel numbers to the gun and is in good condition, some minor corrosion wear.
The stocks might not be the originals but they are the correct type and I believe they are actual Argentine replacements.

The only downside is the frame has been modified with 1911 type stock screw bushings, and I understand that this is about the best repair for stripped stock screw threads on these pistols. I also need to locate a correct magazine, but I have 3 USGI ones that will suffice for the time being.

Overall a nice HAFDASA Ballester Molina, besides I always wanted one.

[ralph7]

you snagged a nice example.