HAFDASA information?

[black bear 84]

About 45 years ago, I used to shoot a pistol (in Argentina) that was a .45 similar to a Colt systema 1927, but I don't recall any grip safety.
If memory serve I think it was a little longer than the Goverment, (so I will need your help on this) I remember the grips was not checkered but with lines.
We used to call that pistol a Ballester Molina, but the leyend in the slide was HAFDASA (Fabrica Hitalo Argentina De Automoviles Sociedad Anonima)
I think that the patent was by Ballester Molina.
I am curious to know if this pistol is known in this country, and if one of your expert here can tell me if this was a commercial model only or if it was used by the police or Army of Argentina.
thank for the help.
bb 84

[TriumphGT6]

Is this it?

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/ballester.htm

[black bear 84]

TriumphGT6,
I can not be more happy with the link that you gave me.
Very good, and the picture is as I remembered!!
Thank you
bb 84

[TriumphGT6]

I know I've seen B-M's for sale in the states occasionally, although I have no idea how frequently the HAFDASA mark is found. Check auctionarms.com or gunbroker.com; one comes up for sale occasionally. Prices seem fairly high, $400+, considering you can get a new Springfield for the same money.

The trouble with Argentine-made guns is, you can't get parts. I have a Bersa 383 which has been idle for years because of a broken extractor. The importer (wonder of wonders, there is one) doesn't stock parts for 383's with five-digit serial numbers (too old). That Bersa is a very well-made little pistol, but without the factory support, it sells at a "junk" price.

[black bear 84]

BERSA S.A.



LAS HERAS 892 Tel: (011) 4658-0246
RAMOS MEJIA - (1704)
GRAN BUENOS AIRES Fax: (011) 4656-2093


This is a short to the point letter in Spanish: (if you want to write)

Estimado Senor:
Tengo una pistola Bersa modelo 383, que tiene roto el estractor.
Por favor envieme uno.
Puedo pagarle con Pay Pal.
Esta es una muy buena pistola que tiene un valor sentimental para me.
Tiene un numero de serie de 5 digitos # . por favor ayudeme a ponerla de vuelta en funcionamiento.
su seguro servidor

your name and adrress here---------------

____________________________________________________

You can fax your letter. good luck, don't forget to add serial number.
bb 84

[Hawkmoon]

My cousin picked up a Ballester-Molina a couple of years ago and he loves it.

[black bear 84]

Hawkmoon,
Any idea how much money your cousin pay for his pistol?
For nostalgic reasons I may want to buy one (if they are not considered collector's items)
thanks
regards
black bear 84

[wwfeatherston]

I'm off to test-fire one tommorrow. If it's anything as good as the one I shot a month or so ago, I will be buying it!

[Hawkmoon]

Hawkmoon,
Any idea how much money your cousin pay for his pistol?
For nostalgic reasons I may want to buy one (if they are not considered collector's items)
thanks
regards
black bear 84
Bear --

Sorry I didn't answer this sooner. I somehow missed following up on this thread.

Yes, I do know. He paid $400, and I believe that was about 2 years ago, plus or minus a bit. He asked me about it (after the fact), I did a bit of Googling, and came to the opinion that he maybe paid a little too much for it, but not a whole lot. He shoots it, says it shoots very well, and he's very pleased with the gun and the deal.

[wwfeatherston]

I'm off to test-fire one tommorrow. If it's anything as good as the one I shot a month or so ago, I will be buying it!

Fired two shots and the slde stop pin clattered to the ground! Put everything back together and it did it again.

The dealer selling it is sure he knows what the problem is, so he will fix it and I will have another try on Sunday. Otherwise, it is a good pistol for about $500 (that's $300US)

With this dealer, who is also a gunsmith- if he sells it, he will fix it and no quibbling about warranty times. Like all good dealers, he makes his living from return trade.

Moral of the story is try before you buy- not all sellers are so good!

[wwfeatherston]

Those first two shots went into the 8-ring, too!

[wwfeatherston]

Fired two mags, then- same problem, out came the slide stop. Also, the slide would run forward when I put a magazine in.

Back to the workshop- and I think I will buy something else. At least I haven't lost anything!

Trouble is, 1911's are not easy to come by here and my only real alternative is to buy a new Tanfoglio Witness 1911 for $1200 ($800 US) There are only a couple of dealers that sell pistols in this country...

[Hawkmoon]

I wouldn't give up on it yet. Rookie guess, it sounds like the slide stop may need to be replaced. The dealer/'smith may not have a replacement and is simply mucking around with the one he has. That-s a small part, not hugely expensive and light enough to send by letter post. If he can't get a new part there in NZ, it could probably be arranged through someone here on this forum. I would volunter, but I am not a firearms dealer so I don't receive the dealer discounts from places like Brownells.

[exitwounds]

In addition to the slide stop being worn, you could have a broken/ worn barrel link, link pin, or barrel lugs if the weapon will not unlock. If it will unlock but not chamber, and there is not dirt or an obstruction then the recoil spring is weak. Feed problems are generally caused by magazine issues (dirty/rusty, improperly aligned, broken/damaged or bent parts. All are inexpensive to replace. Try www.gunpartscorp.com , they ship and sell internationally.

[exitwounds]

Here is an example of one for sale:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=32934658
I guess they occassionally appear for sale.

[Doran]

BM barrels will "interchange" with 1911 type barrels so you might try a different barrel and/or link to tighten things up. Some BM barrels carry the last few digits of the pistol serial so keep the original if it matches your pistol.

Standard 1911 magazines work in a BM. The Argentine magazines are sometimes not very reliable, but keep it if the serial matches your pistol.

The pistol was designed for 1911 barrels and magazines to use existing equipment and spares. I haven't tried it but I doubt if slide stops will interchange. I have the email address for a BM parts supplier although I've been told by other members that some of the parts may not "drop in."