Welcome to immediately’s Photo of the Day! Right here we’ve an Argentine Hafdasa Ballester-Molina semi-automatic pistol manufactured 1938-1953. That is Argentina’s licensed copy of the Colt 1911 design chambered in .45 ACP (marked as 11.25mm).
Hafdasa (Hispano-Argentina Fábrica de Automóviles S.A.) produced the Ballester-Molina as Argentina’s normal navy sidearm. The design carefully follows Browning’s 1911 however with variations – the set off mechanism and mainspring housing differ from Colt’s implementation, and elements aren’t interchangeable regardless of visible similarity.
Throughout WWII, Britain bought roughly 10,000 Ballester-Molinas by way of Lend-Lease when 1911 manufacturing couldn’t meet demand. These noticed service with British and Commonwealth forces, notably within the Pacific theater. The pistols proved dependable and enough, although British armorer assist for the marginally completely different mechanism was difficult. After WWII, surplus Ballester-Molinas flooded the U.S. market as cheap shooters. Many had been refinished, modified, or used exhausting, making original-condition examples unusual. The import mark on this receiver confirms post-manufacture importation to america.
The included Colt exhausting case will not be authentic to this Argentine pistol however supplies period-appropriate storage. Argentina continued Ballester-Molina manufacturing till 1953, lengthy after WWII ended, supplying navy and police forces. Ballester-Molinas characterize sensible firearms manufacturing – taking a confirmed design and producing it domestically slightly than importing costly overseas pistols. The standard was enough for navy service, if not fairly matching Colt requirements.
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“Argentine Hafdasa Ballester-Molina Semi-Automated Pistol.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/5026/425/argentine-hafdasa-ballestermolina-semiautomatic-pistol. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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