Argemtine M1911s - Literature?

[Promo]

Is there any recommendable literature on the Argentine 1911s, from the Colt Commercial to the DGFM/FMAP and Ballester Molina, showing which types and which markings can be found?

[Johnny Peppers]

Clawson's Colt .45 Government Models has some brief information on the Argentine pistols, and it does cover serial numbers and markings.

[jmoore]

Clawson's book is what I use as well. Otherwise, what little info is out there is fairly scattered.

Our MKL has this entry:

1942-44 Ballester-Molina (HAFDASA)
“British Contract” .45 Automatic


Link below:
http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?...olina-(HAFDASA)

I've a few Colts with Argentine markings and some Argentine pistols as well. But I'm no expert on the subject!






A Sistema 1927 with Air Force markings. It's the worst one I have (condition and originality wise- it's a great shooter!) but the only one that's been photographed.

ETA:Oops, not quite! One photo of a Ballister Molina...Naval marked, not that shows here very well...:



Interesting line of pistols. Don't turn up much any more now that they're not currently being imported in quantity.

[Aguila Blanca]

The Ballester-Molina and Ballester-Rigaud pistols were NOT 1911s. They didn't have a grip safety and they didn't have a removable, self-contained mainspring housing. IIRC they could use M1911 magazines and barrels, but that was about as far as it went for parts interchange.

[Johnny Peppers]

They are in the 1911 family, and they are in Clawson's book, and that was the question.

[Aguila Blanca]

They are in the 1911 family, and they are in Clawson's book, and that was the question.

Not everyone considers them to be in the 1911 family.

[Johnny Peppers]

Not everyone considers them to be in the 1911 family.

What would you say they were developed from?

[jmoore]

They could be considered part of the Spanish "Star" design family as well, but if it was good enough for Clawson, it's good enough for me.

It's really kind of what plastic scale modellers call a "kit bash" where two different things are combined to make something a bit different.

If J. Browning had still been around he likely would have called it his, regardless...

[Johnny Peppers]

Look at the Star Models A and B and see which pistol inspired their design. It wasn't the German Luger.

[jmoore]

Look at the Star Models A and B and see which pistol inspired their design. It wasn't the German Luger.

Well, maybe Georg Luger not so much, but the P'08 cartridge had some influence!

But saying the Ballister-Rigaud isn't in the 1911 family is the same as saying it's not in the Star family either! It's a happy (for the Argentinians, at least) relative of both.

BTW, why haven't I done some new photos?