Very casual Range Report - Ballester-Rigaud .45 Automatic

[Oyeboten]

When I went to the Range the other day, I also tried this one for the first time ( seeing as I just got it only a couple weeks ago ) -






Did three Magazines worth, Ten yards, semi-rapid Fire, one handed.

Ammunition was just some got-at-K-Mart Standard .45 Auto Hard-Ball I got some years ago which has sat around since.


Really nice!!


If memory serve, the Ballester-Rigaud was produced only from 1938 till 1940, and, was the first .45 Automatic produced by the 'HAFDASA' organization in Argentina.

It was succeeded by the Ballester-Molina, ( which stayed in production untill 1953 ) which, as far as I can tell, was an identical pistol, but for the Texts of the Slide roll.





Anyway, I have to say that this is one very finely made, comfortable, nice looking, and just all round likeable old .45 Automatic.

Apparently all the Wooden Stocks used on the 'HAFDASA' .45 Automatics were of this kind, which seem a little boring to me, personally, compared to how nice the various Walnut Stocks of the Colt .45 Autos were, but, aside from that, anyway, I like the Pistol very much.


While very Colt m1911-A1 or Government Model-like in form, the internals in various ways are different, and, I gather, were based on or inspired by the Spanish 'STAR' Pistol.


However, Magazines and Barrels, Main spring and it's end-Cap, and, Barrel Bushings interchange with Colt, or, with the Argentine Sistema or Pistola Colt Modelo 1927 which was made under License from Colt.



I would not hesitate to carry it, or to rely on it.

[ShootingMaster]

Congratulations on your Ballester Rigaud.
The Ballester Molina and DGFM "Sistema Colt" were excellent pistols built with the best steels and as reliable as any Colt.

There is an old history around here (I don´t know if its true or not) that says the Brits where supplied with a certain quantity of Ballester pistols during WWII.
The history says they preferred the BM pistol over the Colt product since the lack of grip safety made the BM pistol more reliable in certain war scenes (less prone to pickup dirt).

Back to your pistol: it seems to be in very nice condition. Even here in Argentina (where they were produced) Ballester Molina and Ballester Rigaud pistols are getting hard to find in original good condition.

Since most of them were provided as sidearm for several military and police forces, the original finish tends to be pretty damaged in most of the cases.
I guess that´s the reason why most of the owners around here had refinished their pistols once they purchased them from police or military sources
(they were sold as surplus once they were replaced by wondernines such as the Browning HP35 or argentinean copies made under Browning´s license).

I don´t like the original stocks design neither. That same design was provided either in walnut or some plastic material (similar to hard rubber).
BTW, you want to be careful with the grip screws: they were made of very soft steel and its very common to damage their slots if you don´t use a proper screwdriver or if you apply too much torque on them.

Regards.-

[Oyeboten]

Hi ShootingMaster,


You are correct, or at any rate, I have read ( and seen a few exaamples also ) that there was a British Contract for 8,000 to 10,000 Ballester Molina Pistols, arranged for in 1940 but not produced till 1942, where production of the British Contract Pistols then supposedly ran from 1942 till 1944.

These British Contract Pistols would have a second Serial-like-Number stamped onto them in a location about where the Colt m1911 or Government Model would have it's Serial Number, and, have a "B" Prefix.

I do not know if this second Number was stamped there by HAFDASA, or, by the British.

There is often some confusion about where the actual "Serial Number" proper is located on these 'HAFDASA' Pistols, and, as you likely know, but many others do not, it is located on the left side of the Main Spring Housing, on the rear of the Handle portion of the Frame.

The Numbers ( usually matching ) we usually see stamped on to the Slide-top, Frame-side and Barrel ( as seen through the ejection port ) were Numbers assigned and I suppose applied by whichever branch of the Argentine Military or other Agencies for their own accounting of the Arms. But not all "HAFDASA' .45 Automatic Pistols have these secondary 'serial-like' or Inventory/Accounting Numbers, or, some ( such as my Range Report one ) have it only on the Frame.


I believe that the Serial Numbering as such, began with 1, with the Ballester-Rigauds in 1938, and, continued on with the advent of the Ballester-Molina in 1940, and ran continuously then till the end of the production, which I think was in 1953.



So, all in all, from what I have read, somewhere between 80,000 and 90,000 'HAFDASA' .45 Automatic Pistls were made all tolled.


Curiously, the Slide Text of the Ballester-Rigaud, and the earlier Ballester-Molina, designates the Calibre as being "Cal .45"

At some point this was changed to be "C. 11.25 m/m", and I assume that stayed till the end.






Thanks for the Heads-Up with the Grip Screws!


I will be especially careful if removing or installing any on these.

[bmcgilvray]

Thanks for the shooting report. It 's just the kind of thing that's fun to read here. Back in the olden days I didn't take the Argentine produced pistols seriously so lost out.

[ShootingMaster]

There is often some confusion about where the actual "Serial Number" proper is located on these 'HAFDASA' Pistols, and, as you likely know, but many others do not, it is located on the left side of the Main Spring Housing, on the rear of the Handle portion of the Frame.

The Numbers ( usually matching ) we usually see stamped on to the Slide-top, Frame-side and Barrel ( as seen through the ejection port ) were Numbers assigned and I suppose applied by whichever branch of the Argentine Military or other Agencies for their own accounting of the Arms. But not all "HAFDASA' .45 Automatic Pistols have these secondary 'serial-like' or Inventory/Accounting Numbers, or, some ( such as my Range Report one ) have it only on the Frame.

Indeed. In fact there is some confusion here too about what is the real serial number that must be considered when registering these military models. Is it common to find pistols that were registered with the number assigned by police/military forces rather than the manufacturing number.

i.e.: this one came up for sale on a local forum recently:

IMG_7212.jpg


As you can see, no military nor police markings/numbers were applied on this particular pistol.
I believe that´s the way these pistols left the factory when manufactured for the civilian market.
BTW, it is not common anymore to see BMs in this condition here in Argentina. Original examples in very good condition like this are getting difficult to find. Owner is asking about $780 for it.

Regards.-

[Oyeboten]

Hi ShootingMaster,


Yeahhh...Given that the total production of the 'HAFDASA' .45 Automatics is thought to have been around 80-90,000 or if memory serve, secondary Numbers assigned to them by various Military or Departmental Agencies could indeed end up having having surviving Pistols being 'Registered' with what would seem to be the same Serial Number.

I do not know if all of the secondary Number assignments were overseen to prevent any duplicate Numbers occuring among the various Agencies, but if the various Agencies all started at some point with "1" ( albeit, long before the 'HAFDASA' Pistols were involved ) and went up from there, then that could end up with quite a few 'HAFDASA' .45 Automatic Pistols having the same secondary number, and, with Pistols with a Number as it's proper actual Serial Number as such, ending up the same as other's secondary number.

Could get messy..! Lol...


$780.00 seems higher to me than what is still possible to get quite nice condition ones for here in the U.S.


None the less, if I had no Pistol, and the only one near by or available, was a nice condition 'HAFDASA', and it was $780.00...

If I could possibly afford to do it, I'd spring for it and never look back.


Whatever the cost - it is always so much nicer to own and or use and rely on something one may truely like, enjoy, admire, and care for, than to settle for less.


As far as I am concerned, the Colt m1911 or Government Model during it's first fifty or so years anyway, rates a "10" - meaning, they were as 'good' as 'good' is ever going to get.

And, I rate the 'HAFDASA' Pistols as a "ten" also.

Some people I have spoken with over the years, rate the 'HAFDASA' .45 Automatics higher than the best of the Colts, citing stronger Steels, better Heat Treatment, ability to handle a steady diet of higher or more poswerful Loadings, more durable, etc.

Possibly they are correct...I do not know.


Both have their own mood, their own look, their own aesthetic.


But in my own opinion, they are as good as good was ( or is ) ever going to get...so, whatever the price, if one wishes to own one, and, can spring for it, then the deed is done, and who cares!

A Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush...especially if opportunities are few and far between.