Ballister Molina questions?

B7908 Was this pistol made early enough to be British proofed from WW2?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../1349501-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../1349511-1.jpg
Original SN moved

I think so. IIRC there were a number purchased by GB during WWII and were "B" prefix pistols. However, I'd have to check Clawson's commercial Govn't models book to be sure.

This is SN 21937, why do some books show the British contract only up to 21000? One source says 22000

I was under the impression that only the british contract pistols had the "B" prefix.
john

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

I was under the impression that only the british contract pistols had the "B" prefix.
john

The B.7908 is the British number. (located on the R/H side above the trigger.)
The actual serial number of the pistol is 21937 which was located by HAFDASA on the L/H side lower rear of the grip - look at the "mainspring housing" bump. the last three digits are also on the bottom of the slide (I think) and on the barrel- either the whole S/N or the last three digits.

There seem to have been either 8000 or 10000 pistols done for the British, so "B.7908" fits nicely! Probably 1940 or 1941, but check sources for dating, that's a SWAG.

---------- Post added at 12:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 AM ----------

Been looking for one of those, BTW. Fits both my British and Argentine pistol interests simultaneously.

Hi I have this identical pistol, B35XX and 161xx on the back strap, but not as pretty as yours.Of interest, much later after I had purchased this pistol, I found associated paperwork on how a WWll american soldier and taken it off a dead german soldier, signed by that soldier in front of his lawyer, and how that soldier had wounded him earlier. Its interesting since i read somewhere how these pistols were dropped to the resistance behind enemy lines, and how the german came up with it, who knows. I tend to put some stock in the paperwork/story, since it was not a part of the purchase, but who knows. Nice gun, in any case.

Official records list 8000 of the Ballester-Rigaud pistols were purchased from Argentina. The pistols were shipped from Argentina to Canada where they were inspected and then sent to the UK. No mention of proof, just inspection. Along with the pistols were 5,000 Mauser rifles purchased from Bolivia. I don't have the spec's on the rifles but can probably assume they were in 7.65 cal. as a large quantity of 7.65 ammo was also purchased.