Looking for info on a Ballester Molina 1911

G-dang · May 5, 2006, 09:47 PM

A local gun shop here in Nevada has two them for sale for about 280 dollars. It's built on an Essex frame. I don't have a 1911 but I'm really considering getting this one. I asked the owner about info on the gun and he didn't really know much. All he said that was he acquired those guns years ago and was lying in storage for about 8 years. The owner is a bit a old and has a bit of memory loss now and then.

Any info on these guns preferably from owners, but any helpful info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

James K · May 5, 2006, 10:00 PM

If the frames are Essex, what is the Ballester-Molina part, the slide? Barrel?

I never tried it, but I am a bit surprised that the B-M slide would fit the Essex frame. Anyway, the frame is no better and no worse than any other Essex frame, which is to say they are usually pretty good. The B-M was Argentine made and based on the Spanish Star design, not on the 1911 design. They look like a 1911, but the internal mechanism is different. They originally were a pretty good guns, not in the Colt class but decent. They are not as hard as the Colts, but stand up well.

The B-M is sometimes confused with the Argentine Model 1927 (Colt "sistema"), a gun identical to the Colt M1911A1 made in Argentina under Colt license and on Colt-supplied machinery. The two guns are not the same.

IMHO, a good B-M might be worth $280 or a bit more. A mixed gun like you describe is a different story and, again IMHO, I would avoid it.

Jim

Mister_Dinky · May 7, 2006, 02:54 PM

JK,
I just tried it. The BM slide will not fit a 1911 frame.

James K · May 7, 2006, 09:53 PM

Hi, Mister Dinky,

Now that you mention it, I think I may have tried it too, a long time ago, but those things do tend to slip an aging mind. Anyway, even if it did, or could be made to, fit an Essex frame, the result would still be at best a shooter, and at the price mentioned, I don't think it would be worth it.

Jim

May 5, 2006, 09:47 PM	#1
G-dang Member Join Date: March 5, 2006 Location: Nevada... Land of the free... Posts: 32	Looking for info on a Ballester Molina 1911 A local gun shop here in Nevada has two them for sale for about 280 dollars. It's built on an Essex frame. I don't have a 1911 but I'm really considering getting this one. I asked the owner about info on the gun and he didn't really know much. All he said that was he acquired those guns years ago and was lying in storage for about 8 years. The owner is a bit a old and has a bit of memory loss now and then. Any info on these guns preferably from owners, but any helpful info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. __________________ My guns: Browning Hi-Power 9mm Colt Commander 1911 Springfield XD-9 Service Model Springfield XD-9 Sub-Compact 2 Walther P22's 2 Taurus Tracker 357 Magnums Glock 17 9mm Ruger Sp 101 3 Hi-Point 45's Kimber Ultra Carry Norinco Mak 90 2 Yugoslavian SKS M 59/66's Romanian Ak-47 Sar-1 Smith & Wesson 4046 40SW More will be added soon...

May 5, 2006, 10:00 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	If the frames are Essex, what is the Ballester-Molina part, the slide? Barrel? I never tried it, but I am a bit surprised that the B-M slide would fit the Essex frame. Anyway, the frame is no better and no worse than any other Essex frame, which is to say they are usually pretty good. The B-M was Argentine made and based on the Spanish Star design, not on the 1911 design. They look like a 1911, but the internal mechanism is different. They originally were a pretty good guns, not in the Colt class but decent. They are not as hard as the Colts, but stand up well. The B-M is sometimes confused with the Argentine Model 1927 (Colt "sistema"), a gun identical to the Colt M1911A1 made in Argentina under Colt license and on Colt-supplied machinery. The two guns are not the same. IMHO, a good B-M might be worth $280 or a bit more. A mixed gun like you describe is a different story and, again IMHO, I would avoid it. Jim

May 7, 2006, 02:54 PM	#3
Mister_Dinky Junior member Join Date: July 18, 2002 Location: In one of the 50 Posts: 191	JK, I just tried it. The BM slide will not fit a 1911 frame.

May 7, 2006, 09:53 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Mister Dinky, Now that you mention it, I think I may have tried it too, a long time ago, but those things do tend to slip an aging mind. Anyway, even if it did, or could be made to, fit an Essex frame, the result would still be at best a shooter, and at the price mentioned, I don't think it would be worth it. Jim