1952 ballaster molina

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Historic Firearm of the Month, September 1999

[Aragorn243]

I believe the steel was from the US under lend-lease.

I don't think so, Argentina was the only South American nation that did not receive aid during WWII primarily because of their closeness to Germany. The US even blockaded them and made various threats against them. The US did not recognize their government until the war was nearly over and Argentina finally declared war on Germany.

[Low & Slow]

The US sent the steel to Great Britain under lend-lease. The Brits then sent it in turn to Argentina to assist in the pistol's production.

[jamie5070]

They are a reliable pistol. I picked up a ballister-regaud, about 10 years ago. it's under 6000 with it's original barrel. Unfortunately, someone (me) had the sights upgrade for older eyes.

[Aragorn243]

The US sent the steel to Great Britain under lend-lease. The Brits then sent it in turn to Argentina to assist in the pistol's production.

It's possible that happened but does it make sense? You have all that steel sitting offshore and the same groups of people involved in secretly obtaining it. Plus dealing with the U-boat situation to move it twice across the Atlantic when you're perfectly able to use in in England for your own production.

Argentina remained pro Germany through the entire war and sheltered the Nazis after the war so what any of them say or claim is suspect.

I don't think there's any proof either way. Testing didn't show it came from the Graf Spee but it didn't eliminate it either nor show it came from the US or England.