South American 1911 Types - The Firearms Forum

trenchdog1914 · 11-13-2010, 02:35 PM

I read long ago in a gun magazine that some of the South American manufactured 1911 type pistols were made from the steel salvaged from the German battleship that was scuttled in Montevideo harbor. Supposedly this steel was superior to other alloys. Anyone know if the story is true, and which brand this referred to?

TheGunClinger · 11-13-2010, 03:26 PM

After a brief search, this is what I came up with. Theres more but they all say nay.

Ballester-Molina
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 7+1 or 8+1
Approximate Price: $200-$200+
The Ballester-Molina was developed as a military and police service pistol in Argentina in the late 1930s. The pistols were made between 1938 and 1953. Contrary to the false rumors that they were made using steel salvaged from sunken German warships, these Argentinean weapons are of quite high quality. They are a rough copy of the Colt 1911 - the main changes involved the removal of the grip safety and some changes to the trigger mechanism. As a result, only the barrels and magazines are interchangeable with 1911 pistols.

Bob L. · 11-16-2010, 11:07 AM

Could you be referring to the Argentine 45's?? Colt contracted with the
government of Argentina in 1927 to make Colt 45 auto's for the Argentine military, in Argentina. I bought one as mil surplus and it's a great gun. Since it was made by Colt, to Colt specs, all parts are interchangeable with any U.S. manufactuered 1911. Some say, due to the German enfluence in Argentina, most parts of my Argentine 45 are serialized. It's a beautiful pistol at what was a bargain price over 1911's on the market that were made in the U.S.

P.S. That German battleship that you were referring to was the "Pocket Battleship" Graf Spee that was schuttled in I believe 1940.

oscarmayer · 11-16-2010, 12:45 PM

colt systema modelo 1927 made with colt dies and jigs to colt specs' starting in 1943 or 1948 depending on what book you read. prior to that argentina bought 10,000 from colt and issued them , then began importing parts and assembled them in argentina. then started making them themselves using the colt machineing...

superbc1911 · 11-17-2010, 09:52 PM

This is one South American country I truly would trust in the arms field. The old 1911 Argentinian fabrication stories are all out there. One thing certain is that they had a huge German population pre and post WWII. This did influence their gunsmithing to fabricate above and beyond armament. They needed reliability. If by today's standards of air travel they are "Way-out-there" imagine 70 years ago!
Good guns any way you look at it. Also Colt has alot to do with it.

11-13-2010, 02:35 PM	#1
trenchdog1914 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 48	South American 1911 Types I read long ago in a gun magazine that some of the South American manufactured 1911 type pistols were made from the steel salvaged from the German battleship that was scuttled in Montevideo harbor. Supposedly this steel was superior to other alloys. Anyone know if the story is true, and which brand this referred to? -->

11-13-2010, 03:26 PM	#2
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,383	Re: South American 1911 Types After a brief search, this is what I came up with. Theres more but they all say nay. Ballester-Molina Caliber: .45 ACP Capacity: 7+1 or 8+1 Approximate Price: $200-$200+ The Ballester-Molina was developed as a military and police service pistol in Argentina in the late 1930s. The pistols were made between 1938 and 1953. Contrary to the false rumors that they were made using steel salvaged from sunken German warships, these Argentinean weapons are of quite high quality. They are a rough copy of the Colt 1911 - the main changes involved the removal of the grip safety and some changes to the trigger mechanism. As a result, only the barrels and magazines are interchangeable with 1911 pistols. __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

11-16-2010, 11:07 AM	#3
Bob L. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 4	Re: South American 1911 Types Could you be referring to the Argentine 45's?? Colt contracted with the government of Argentina in 1927 to make Colt 45 auto's for the Argentine military, in Argentina. I bought one as mil surplus and it's a great gun. Since it was made by Colt, to Colt specs, all parts are interchangeable with any U.S. manufactuered 1911. Some say, due to the German enfluence in Argentina, most parts of my Argentine 45 are serialized. It's a beautiful pistol at what was a bargain price over 1911's on the market that were made in the U.S. P.S. That German battleship that you were referring to was the "Pocket Battleship" Graf Spee that was schuttled in I believe 1940. Last edited by Bob L.; 11-16-2010 at 11:09 AM..

11-16-2010, 12:45 PM	#4
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: South American 1911 Types colt systema modelo 1927 made with colt dies and jigs to colt specs' starting in 1943 or 1948 depending on what book you read. prior to that argentina bought 10,000 from colt and issued them , then began importing parts and assembled them in argentina. then started making them themselves using the colt machineing...

11-17-2010, 09:52 PM	#5
superbc1911 Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Burnaby, BC Canada Posts: 9	Re: South American 1911 Types This is one South American country I truly would trust in the arms field. The old 1911 Argentinian fabrication stories are all out there. One thing certain is that they had a huge German population pre and post WWII. This did influence their gunsmithing to fabricate above and beyond armament. They needed reliability. If by today's standards of air travel they are "Way-out-there" imagine 70 years ago! Good guns any way you look at it. Also Colt has alot to do with it.