Ballester Molina

[DougO83]

I have a Ballester Molina 1911 (pics to come) and I have noticed some slight pitting on the slide. I don't think it is an issue now, but it probably would be in the future.

Is it possible to replace that slide with a standard 1911 slide?

Thanks!

[Bill DeShivs]

It won't be an issue in the future if you oil it.
I don't believe the slides are interchangeable, and I'm too lazy to drag mine out to try it.

[Scorch]

I have a Ballester Molina 1911

Not to sound pedantic, but no, you don't. The Ballester-Molina model 1937 is not a 1911, nor even a clone of the 1911, it bears more in common with the Star Model B pistol. A 1911 slide will not fit on it.

The Ballester-Molina model 1937 pistol was intended to be a more economical version of the model 1927 pistol, which was a licensed version of the 1911A1. It was designed by Hispano-Suiza in Spain and sold to Argentina through a political deal. It is a scaled-up version of the Star Model B designed to use the same magazines as the Model 1927 (1911A1) already in use by the Argentine army, but other than that it has very few parts in common.

To the inexperienced, it looks kinda almost like a 1911, but an experienced person can spot one easily. I had a gentleman bring a pistol in wrapped in a shop rag that he picked up at an estate sale believing it to be a 1911. I saw literally only a small area of the pistol and told him it was not a 1911.

So, for your pistol, the best way to get it to take a 1911 slide using as many BM parts as possible is to remove the magazine and put it into a 1911 and go on from there.

[Dixie Gunsmithing]

Ah, those old Spanish pistols. Don't you just love all those hand fitted parts?

[Bill DeShivs]

Ballesters are not Spanish, they are Argentine. They have few hand-fitted parts.

[Quentin2]

I bought a beat up Ballester Molina in the mid-70s. Because of feeding problems it was dirt cheap and looked like an interesting and fun project. Fortunately, USGI mags and a 1911 recoil spring solved the problem, it fed hardball just fine, as well as my Colt Series '70 Government Model.

I wouldn't worry about minor pitting of the slide. Mine sure had plenty of cosmetic issues and wear.

I really liked that beat up rattletrap! Don't have it any more but I do have one Argentine pistol, a FM Hi-Power which happens to be a true FN licensed version.

[James K]

FWIW, the B-M and its Spanish ancestors actually have a better safety system than the Browning designed Model 1911, and the pinned trigger is not as susceptible to problems with a light trigger as is the 1911. They also eliminated the grip safety, a relic of the horse cavalry days.

Jim

[James K]

Now what was that all about?

Back to the original question. I examined the two pistols closely. The first answer is no, a 1911 slide will not fit the B-M, at least as a "drop in" part. But I think with some machining it could be made to fit.

As a practical matter, the B-M is a pretty rugged gun and the chances of having a problem with the slide (slight pitting would not be a reason to replace the slide, in any case) are remote.

They are two different guns, close but not the same; both will give long and satisfactory service.

Jim

[DougO83]

Yea, James, I checked it against a friend's Kimber and it looks a little off. Bummer.

I guess I'll buy another pistola and retire this one to stay on the safe side.

[amd6547]

Shoot it. The one I had was very accurate, and fed 100% with any load I tried.
It was by far a better made gun than some of the 1911's I've owned. Solid steel.

[Bill DeShivs]

Why in the world would you think a little rust would make the pistol unsafe?

[gyvel]

I checked it against a friend's Kimber and it looks a little off.

Which one? The Kimber?

The only gripe I ever had about the Ballester-Moliina (and all the other pinned trigger Stars) is the trigger tends to pinch my short fat finger as it travels in its arc.

Ironically though, it's one gun I have always intended to get and never did. Somehow, it always stayed on the back burner. Oh, well; Ya snooze, ya lose.

[DougO83]

Bill,

It's not just a little rust, in my opinion. It's pitted. Since that affects the integrity of steel in general, I was curious and a little concerned. I wish I could get the pictures to load. I'll have to take some more later.

[James K]

To damage the integrity of the slide, the pitting would have to be to a depth of half the thickness of the metal, be over a wide area (maybe a 1/2 inch circle), and in a high stress area.

A slide eaten away to half its thickness in the area of the locking lugs would be questionable. Frankly, I have never seen any rusting that extensive in a functioning gun, only in "dug" relics.

Jim

[Big Shrek]

Originally Posted by DougO83

Bill,

It's not just a little rust, in my opinion. It's pitted. Since that affects the integrity of steel in general, I was curious and a little concerned. I wish I could get the pictures to load. I'll have to take some more later.

I know, resuscitating the Dead...
But I'm hoping he kept it in the back of his safe

My slide, also, was slightly pitted with rust.
Not that big of an issue, as pitting on one side isn't really a problem,
unless it goes all the way thru. Wouldn't even be worried that much if it
went over halfway thru...because it's a slide, not a gas impingement device.
As long as the area over/around the slide stops are pretty solid, it's fine.

So you should be able to take it out & shoot it,
or do like I did and clean it, sandblast it,
and Cerakoted in Satin Black...then take it out and shoot it
after the Cerakote cures for at least 4 weeks

[g.willikers]

A thread from less than a year and a half ago isn't dead, it's just napping.

[MuzzleBlast]

Ballerina Molesters! Haven't seen one of those in years!

[Sevens]

Well thank goodness somebody said it!

[BOOGIE the oily]

Originally Posted by SCORCH

The Ballester-Molina model 1937 pistol was intended to be a more economical version of the model 1927 pistol, which was a licensed version of the 1911A1. It was designed by Hispano-Suiza in Spain and sold to Argentina through a political deal.

Well... no.
The Ballester-Molina pistol, originally named "Ballester-Rigaud", was designed in Argentina by Carlos Ballester Molina (son and nephew of Arturo Ballester and Eugenio Molina, founders of "Hispano-Argentina Fabrica de Automotores S.A." (HAFDASA)), and Frenchman Rorice Rigaud.
The gun was based on the Llama and the Star model B, and was oficially known as "Pistola Automática Calibre .45 Ballester-Rigaud, Modelo DGME 1938." (Automatic Pistol .45 Caliber Ballester-Rigaud, DGME Model 1938 (DGME being "Direccion General de Materiales del Ejercito", (General Directorate of Army materials)).
The pistol shares only its magazine, barrel, recoil spring and barrel bushing with the M1911A1.
Sometime between 1940 and 1942, Rigaud quits HAFDASA, and the factory changes the pistol name to "Ballester-Molina".