Argentina Arsenal Systema Colt

[aghauler]

They made several versions of the ACE. These are getting real hard to find and the magazines are impossible to locate.

Nice pistol! Took me a minute to figure out why you magazines looked different from mine. AFTER reading the fine print I saw they are 22 mags! Congrats, I don't think I've see an "ACE" version of the
M1927. BB

[morrcarr67]

Morrcarr67,
Thanks! But if you got the frame yer off to a good start! Actually saw an auction once for all the parts less frame, but that was several years ago.
Should I see another such auction I'll give you a headsup on it, if that's what you're looking for or wouldn't a 1911a1 build kit work? If work cancels me tomorrow I'm headin fer Carson City and the range and maybe Cabela's...if it ain't snowing that is and I'm taking that M1927 with me, she hasn't been exercised in quite awhile. BB

I will be building it with a 1911A1 Kit but plan on making a couple of changes. I'm going to use an old school beaver tail grip safety and a flat main spring housing. But the big difference will be the finish. But I will share that at a later time.

Thanks for the help

[mj1]

I got this unfired one over twenty years ago. Wish it could talk. It has a few dings and scratches from being in a big box with a stack of others.

[aghauler]

I will be building it with a 1911A1 Kit but plan on making a couple of changes. I'm going to use an old school beaver tail grip safety and a flat main spring housing. But the big difference will be the finish. But I will share that at a later time.

Thanks for the help

Sounds like a great project, I look forwad to seeing the finish product!

[aghauler]

Nice pistol and 3 digit serial number to boot! Check on the bottom of the trigger guard to see if it has an import mark, apparently that's where CAI stamped them. Mine was literally in a pile of pistols on the bottom shelf of a display case which I had to sort through.

[rojocorsa]

These look spiffy!

Are they exactly like the 1911s we all know and love? (First time I've seen these Argentine pistols, is why I ask).

[M. D. Van Norman]

[aghauler]

I believe the M1927's are direct copies of the 1911A1 with parts interchangability. The Ballester-Molina (dubbed the Ballerina Molester by some) also made in Argentina is not a direct copy and from what I've heard the parts aren't interchangible with the 1911A1's. I don't own one of those so can't vouch for that info though. Prices on the Ballester-Molinas is usually under the M1927's.

[morrcarr67]

I believe the M1927's are direct copies of the 1911A1 with parts interchangability. The Ballester-Molina (dubbed the Ballerina Molester by some) also made in Argentina is not a direct copy and from what I've heard the parts aren't interchangible with the 1911A1's. I don't own one of those so can't vouch for that info though. Prices on the Ballester-Molinas is usually under the M1927's.

Correct. here's a picture of one (not mine though)

Ballester-Molina / Ballester-Rigaud pistol (Argentine)

Characteristics



Type: Single Action
Calibers: .45ACP
Weight unloaded: 1075 gram
Length: 216 mm
Barrel length: 127 mm (5")
Capacity: 7 rounds



The Ballester-Molina pistol, originally known as Ballester-Rigaud (so marked during first years of manufacture, circa 1938 to 1940), were made in Argentine by Hispano Argentina de Automotives SA (HAFDASA) company. Manufacture started in 1938 in attempt to provide Argentinean police and military with less expensive alternative to the Colt modelo 1927 pistol, domestically made licensed copy of the American Colt M1911A1 pistol. Production of the Ballester-Molina ceased in the early 1950s. While Ballester-Molina pistol is externally very similar to Colt, it has significant differences, especially in the safety and trigger unit arrangements. Actually, the only parts exchangeable between Ballester-Molina and M1911A1 are the barrel with link and the magazine. The trigger and safety arrangements were more or less copied from the Spanish Star pistols, with the pivoting trigger, single trigger to sear link, and no grip safety. Ballester-Molina pistols were used by Argentinean military and police, as well as supplied to the Britain during Second World war. Britain issued these pistols to their Special Operations Executives agents, which usually operated behind enemy lines.

The Ballester-Molina pistol is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. the locking system is similar to that of Colt M1911A1, with the swinging link used to unlock the barrel from the slide. The single action trigger is pivoted on the axis, the frame-mounted manual safety locks the slide and the hammer.

[mj1]

M27s were made on colt tooling with the first several thousand made in the USA then a few more thousand assembled from Colt made parts and later they are all made on Colt tooling in country.

[skyblue]

I got this unfired one over twenty years ago. Wish it could talk. It has a few dings and scratches from being in a big box with a stack of others.

that's beautiful! next to the sistema ACE, marina de guerra (navy) issues are the most desirable, followed by aeronautica argentina (air force).

read all about them here:

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=68064&page=3

[38superdupper]

Picked this one up in Reno las weekend.
it has a "POLICIA DE LA CAPITAL" roll stamp
on the left of slide and "POLICIA FEDERAL"
stamp on the other side. Besides that it looks
just like a Colt prewar 1911a1 down to the ser#.
all #"s match. I looked in some 1911 books
and it look like this one wasn't an Army
"EJERCITO" one. This is an commercial A1 made
by Colt for the Arg. Federal Police Dept.

argi1.jpg

argi2.jpg

[morrcarr67]

Picked this one up in Reno las weekend.
it has a "POLICIA DE LA CAPITAL" roll stamp
on the left of slide and "POLICIA FEDERAL"
stamp on the other side. Besides that it looks
just like a Colt prewar 1911a1 down to the ser#.
all #"s match. I looked in some 1911 books
and it look like this one wasn't an Army
"EJERCITO" one. This is an commercial A1 made
by Colt for the Arg. Federal Police Dept.

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[ATTACH]123162[/ATTACH]

Very NICE

How much was it?

[38superdupper]

Very NICE

How much was it?

Just under 1K. Year of man. 1932