1942/1943? Ballester-Molina

[alamo308]

Just today received my one and only Ballester-Molina, found on gunbroker.com, with all matching s/n, including the original magazine! Serial number 13xxx indicates a probable year of build of either 1942 or 1943, according to hafdasa.com. I immediately disassembled it for cleaning, but - wow - there is nothing to clean!

I mean, except for a tiny bit of feed marks on the chamber feed ramp, light scuffs on the slide's ejection port sharp edge, and a few miniscule scattered minor scratches (surface only, not gouged into the metal), it's practically mint-clean. Kind of dry throughout, so I will apply a thin film of oil where needed.

Stamped "GENDARMERIA NACIONAL" on the slide, next to the very sharp and strongly stamped Argentine crest. Hard-to-see, what might be a little holster wear on the very front corners of the slide. Overall, it appears to have only been fired a very few times. I suppose 'beautiful' might be too strong a word to describe it, but this really is one clean pistol! Anxious to try it at the range. Fits my M1911A-1 magazines like a glove, too.

And, BTW, I removed the perfect-condition original grip panels for safe-keeping, and replaced them with a very nice, brand-new pair of 1911A1-style wood grips with the double-diamond pattern.

Will try to add some photos later today.

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[alamo308]

Managed a few photos in between thunderstorms:

[browningautorifle]

Very nice. Lots of differences between it and the 1911 and A1s...very nice.

[alamo308]

Yep. I think the barrel, recoil spring, barrel bushing, and magazine are the only common parts.

[Peter Laidler]

I got a Navy one from a burned out Argentinian UNIMOG. The pistol had cooked-off and blown the grips off and bulged the magazine. Got it apart with a bit of 'suitable treatment' (= brute force), put it back together and it worked like a champ.