Argentine 1911 .45 - The Firearms Forum

Frankb · 08-30-2009, 02:12 AM

Today I purchased an Argentine 1911 .45. It was made at Ballester Molina.
The blue looks about 90%. It does not have a back grip safety like my Colt 1911. The trigger also pivots instead of pulling straight back like a Colt 1911.
I can try to get you a picture later. Can you tell me anything about my gun? How do they compare in quality to the Colt? How do they usually shoot and function. What price range would it be in? Are these keepers or should I sell it?

Hammerslagger · 08-30-2009, 11:26 AM

Working from 40+ year old memories there are 4 major variants of Argentine 1911 type pistols. {This subject is not my "strong suit".}

In the late 1920's (1927) Argentina purchased US made contract pistols from Colt, followed by Colt Machinery for production in Argentina. Then they copied or modified the Colt machinery and made a close variation. Finally they greatly simplified the 1911 into the model that you have. Its design is more like a Star than a Colt.

I have never owned one; can not remember shooting one. It likely has A DIRECT STRIKE FIRING PIN like a Star circa 1930 -50. It is not as safe to carry with a round in the chamber as a 1911, as it has no grip safety feature. Carrying it with a round in the chamber any way other than "cocked and locked" by the manual safety is just plain stupid.

Values in today's crazy market is hard to determine. Register with several major auctions and see what they are selling for.

Bill DeShivs · 08-30-2009, 01:12 PM

The B/M and Star safeties actually block the hammer from falling, unlike a Colt.
They are as safe as any 1911 type to carry hammer down, and safer cocked. The Ballesters were fine guns and are keepers.

Frankb · 08-30-2009, 06:27 PM

That is good news. I paid $400 for mine from an individual. He told me that Colt made the gun but I found out that it was made in the Ballestera Molina plant. On further inspection it appears that the steel has been re-blued. The grips are perfect and it takes my Colt 1911 clips ok. The one thing I did not like was the rear sight hardly has a slot in it.

arellbee51 · 09-05-2009, 02:52 PM

I owned one for awhile and really liked it. In fact I carried it more than my Colt 1911A1. It always went bang when the trigger was pulled and was as accurate as I needed it to be. $400 sounds about right for a B/M in good condition. RLB

Frankb · 09-06-2009, 09:33 AM

That is good to know. Even though the seller was not honest about the manufacturer at least I didn't get taken.

gdmoody · 09-06-2009, 10:21 PM

I had one many years ago, If I remember right, the only thing that is interchangable with a Colt or any other 1911 is the magazine.

berto64 · 09-06-2009, 11:30 PM

3-400 is about right for price and they are well made. Mine is a good shooter and dependable but I prefer my Randall Raider for carry.

johnlives4christ · 09-07-2009, 03:11 AM

pictures man... i want to see pictures

Frankb · 09-12-2009, 10:22 PM

I recently traded the BM .45 for a 9 mm P1/P38 in excellent condition, so I can't post pictures of the BM. I couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't a Colt like the seller told me it was. I have a real 1911-A1 .45 that fills that slot rather well. I went to a gun show today and had a 1911 armorer do a trigger job on my .45. It pulls smoothly at 3 1/4 lbs now. It was 6 3/8 lbs before the trigger job.

johnlives4christ · 09-13-2009, 03:06 AM

what did the trigger job cost?

Frankb · 09-26-2009, 08:05 PM

It cost me $85 for the trigger job from an armorer who does nothing but 1911s, and $20 for a 1911 A1 hammer. My A1 had a 1911 hammer on it thanks to Uncle Sam which is heavier than an A1 hammer which would have made it hard to get a light trigger pull. Mine cost a total of $105. I shot it today and it is really smooth.

johnlives4christ · 09-26-2009, 08:39 PM

i didnt know there was a differance between the hammer from a 1911 and a 1911 A1. i dont think though that the weight of a hammer would make any differance on a trigger pull. mostly the weight of a trigger pull is determined by 3 things. the angle of the sear/hammer engagement, how smooth said engagement is, and the poundage of the mainspring.

on my smith 4006 i did a trigger job of sorts when i installed the spur hammer and i had the gunsmith put a gauge on it and it's just a tad under 4 pounds. just what i like. i dont like much lighter on a combat pistol. for rifle i like 2 to 3 pounds

Frankb · 09-27-2009, 09:30 PM

The hammer spur on the 1911 is wider that the A1. The army used left over 1911 parts to service many of the 1911 A1s.

08-30-2009, 02:12 AM	#1
Frankb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 179	Argentine 1911 .45 Today I purchased an Argentine 1911 .45. It was made at Ballester Molina. The blue looks about 90%. It does not have a back grip safety like my Colt 1911. The trigger also pivots instead of pulling straight back like a Colt 1911. I can try to get you a picture later. Can you tell me anything about my gun? How do they compare in quality to the Colt? How do they usually shoot and function. What price range would it be in? Are these keepers or should I sell it? -->

08-30-2009, 11:26 AM	#2
Hammerslagger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,099	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 Working from 40+ year old memories there are 4 major variants of Argentine 1911 type pistols. {This subject is not my "strong suit".} In the late 1920's (1927) Argentina purchased US made contract pistols from Colt, followed by Colt Machinery for production in Argentina. Then they copied or modified the Colt machinery and made a close variation. Finally they greatly simplified the 1911 into the model that you have. Its design is more like a Star than a Colt. I have never owned one; can not remember shooting one. It likely has A DIRECT STRIKE FIRING PIN like a Star circa 1930 -50. It is not as safe to carry with a round in the chamber as a 1911, as it has no grip safety feature. Carrying it with a round in the chamber any way other than "cocked and locked" by the manual safety is just plain stupid. Values in today's crazy market is hard to determine. Register with several major auctions and see what they are selling for.

08-30-2009, 01:12 PM	#3
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,467	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 The B/M and Star safeties actually block the hammer from falling, unlike a Colt. They are as safe as any 1911 type to carry hammer down, and safer cocked. The Ballesters were fine guns and are keepers. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

08-30-2009, 06:27 PM	#4
Frankb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 179	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 That is good news. I paid $400 for mine from an individual. He told me that Colt made the gun but I found out that it was made in the Ballestera Molina plant. On further inspection it appears that the steel has been re-blued. The grips are perfect and it takes my Colt 1911 clips ok. The one thing I did not like was the rear sight hardly has a slot in it.

09-05-2009, 02:52 PM	#5
arellbee51 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Silver City, NM Posts: 4	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 I owned one for awhile and really liked it. In fact I carried it more than my Colt 1911A1. It always went bang when the trigger was pulled and was as accurate as I needed it to be. $400 sounds about right for a B/M in good condition. RLB

09-06-2009, 09:33 AM	#6
Frankb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 179	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 That is good to know. Even though the seller was not honest about the manufacturer at least I didn't get taken.

09-06-2009, 10:21 PM	#7
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,306	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 I had one many years ago, If I remember right, the only thing that is interchangable with a Colt or any other 1911 is the magazine. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

09-06-2009, 11:30 PM	#8
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,385	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 3-400 is about right for price and they are well made. Mine is a good shooter and dependable but I prefer my Randall Raider for carry. __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

09-07-2009, 03:11 AM	#9
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 pictures man... i want to see pictures

09-12-2009, 10:22 PM	#10
Frankb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 179	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 I recently traded the BM .45 for a 9 mm P1/P38 in excellent condition, so I can't post pictures of the BM. I couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't a Colt like the seller told me it was. I have a real 1911-A1 .45 that fills that slot rather well. I went to a gun show today and had a 1911 armorer do a trigger job on my .45. It pulls smoothly at 3 1/4 lbs now. It was 6 3/8 lbs before the trigger job.

09-13-2009, 03:06 AM	#11
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 what did the trigger job cost?

09-26-2009, 08:05 PM	#12
Frankb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 179	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 It cost me $85 for the trigger job from an armorer who does nothing but 1911s, and $20 for a 1911 A1 hammer. My A1 had a 1911 hammer on it thanks to Uncle Sam which is heavier than an A1 hammer which would have made it hard to get a light trigger pull. Mine cost a total of $105. I shot it today and it is really smooth. Last edited by Frankb; 09-26-2009 at 08:08 PM..

09-26-2009, 08:39 PM	#13
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 i didnt know there was a differance between the hammer from a 1911 and a 1911 A1. i dont think though that the weight of a hammer would make any differance on a trigger pull. mostly the weight of a trigger pull is determined by 3 things. the angle of the sear/hammer engagement, how smooth said engagement is, and the poundage of the mainspring. on my smith 4006 i did a trigger job of sorts when i installed the spur hammer and i had the gunsmith put a gauge on it and it's just a tad under 4 pounds. just what i like. i dont like much lighter on a combat pistol. for rifle i like 2 to 3 pounds

09-27-2009, 09:30 PM	#14
Frankb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 179	Re: Argentine 1911 .45 The hammer spur on the 1911 is wider that the A1. The army used left over 1911 parts to service many of the 1911 A1s.