HAFDASA ~ BALLESTER-MOLINA 45 ACP

[capt14k]

Steel did not come from warship. That rumor has been debunked.

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[Aragorn243]

Steel did not come from warship. That rumor has been debunked.

It actually hasn't. No one knows where it came from. The results of the testing were inconclusive and show it was scrap steel from somewhere and a big pile of scrap sitting just a short distance away with a British salvage company steeling secrets above all. Also interviews with the people around the wreck and familiar with the salvage stated HAFDASA’s engineer Carlos Ballester Molina was present during part of the salvage.

Only thing that has been debunked is that it was the Graf Spee's armor plate. It is definitely not that. Lots of other steel in a ship however.

---------- Post added at 11:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------

Nice looking old pistol except...the grip scales. I don't like them but they're what's supposed to be on it so...there. Odd looking holster but efficient.

I like the scales and the holster, it holds two magazines which is a plus. It is a bit large however. It can be worn from a shoulder strap which is on it or a belt.

The scales are plastic not wood, they were switched about 1942. They went with the vertical grooves as it was cheaper than checkering. I have been unable to get them off. Very narrow screwdriver blade needed. A lot were exported to the US in the 1960's which explains the lack of an import mark.

Sarco actually has some for sale for $750 and $850 now, from Peron's personal guard.

It is a nice pistol. I like how it feels in the hand. It is slightly heavier than a 1911.

[capt14k]

It actually hasn't. No one knows where it came from. The results of the testing were inconclusive and show it was scrap steel from somewhere and a big pile of scrap sitting just a short distance away with a British salvage company steeling secrets above all. Also interviews with the people around the wreck and familiar with the salvage stated HAFDASA’s engineer Carlos Ballester Molina was present during part of the salvage.

Only thing that has been debunked is that it was the Graf Spee's armor plate. It is definitely not that. Lots of other steel in a ship however.

Legends about the “Ballester Molina”:

* The guns were manufactured using “German steel” taken from the sunken ship " Admiral Graff Spee" ... This is wrong, the German battleship sunk, still continuing in the Rio de la Plata (between the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay) and remains an important and dangerous obstacle to shipping ...

.45 ACP Pistol: Facts and Legends | Gun and Game Forum

That is one of the most informative posts I have found on Ballester Molina pistols. I believe the author of Argentine Pistols states the same.

[Aragorn243]

That's all well and good but the sources I've quoted state otherwise and they actually did a metallurgy test on one of the British contract guns and determined the steel did not come from England or the Graf Spee armor plate. They also interviewed people in both Argentina and Uraguay. While as I earlier stated, there is no definitive proof it is from the Graf Spee, that it did not come from there has not been ruled out. They know the composition of German armor plate which it is not. They do not know the composition of the Spee's deck plates which witnesses say were what was removed. It is a very odd composition for firearms. The two top contenders for the steel are the United States and the Graf Spee. Witness interviews lend credence to the Graf Spee.

I really don't care one way or the other. I think it would be cool to be from the Graf Spee but it's one of those buy the gun not the story type deals.