Argentine 1911s Shooters or Don't Bother

[MagnumDweeb]

I was at a customers house today cleaning the marble in his house. He asked about doing all the furniture and we got to talking about guns somehow. At one point he brought out an unloaded 1911 that turned out to be an Argentine 1911. It had the 1941 and the word Armada on it so I assume it was a Navy issued model. From what I could learn on the internet it was an Argentine made 1911 using Colt imported machines. Since it was made after 1936 can I assume it was heat treated and thus stronger and safer than many of the Colt 1918 and before made 1911s.

I guess what I am really asking is this gun a shooter, some on the intraweb have stated that it is compatible with 1911A1 parts, if so that would go a far way in making me want it since I could replace some of the internals in the interest of safety and possibly improved performance. Maybe even change the barrel so it could shoot SAAMI compliant JHPs.

Does anyone have any experience with these guns, I'd like to make it a shooter for mostly plinking but I'd also like to use it for SD if it could appropriately serve that purpose as well.

 

[JohnD13]

Was it a Ballister Molina? Not all parts are interchangeable, the trigger is different for one thing. But they do shoot pretty well, the one I've shot a lot wasn't picky about ammo, and I don't recall any other failures.

 

[Ultravox]

Might want to head over to the 1911 forum and ask: http://forums.1911forum.com/

 

[JayPee]

Was it the Argentine Systema Colt Model of 1927? Those are highly desirable license-built guns considered by many to be every bit the equal of the Colt. There is a wealth of information about them on the 'net.

JayPee

 

[moonpie]

if it has a 1911 trigger its a clone. if the trigger is a standard lever its a molina. the barrel ass.,mag, and sight are the same on both.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Systema Colt's are amongst the best military M1911A1's made.

Built on Colt tooling with fine German steel.

 

[nearmiss]

If it looks like this it's a Ballester Molina. The most obvious differences between this and a 1911 are the hinged trigger and lack of a grip safety. The barrel and magazine are interchangeable with a 1911. They have a decent reputation, this one shoots good even with the old fashioned GI sights.

 

[Japle]

Argentine 1927s are excellent guns. They're essentially pre-war Colts for much less money. Remember, the sights and thumb safety are the original, small type.

I have three. One is in VG+ condition and stays in the safe. One is in pretty good shape and I'll get around to customizing it real soon now.

One semed to be a good one, but shot horrible groups. Turned out the serial numbers on the slide, frame and barrel all matched, except that the numbers on the barrel were in the wrong order.

I rebuilt it with mostly Wilson parts, installed a BoMar rear sight and now it shoots pretty well.

 

[Drail]

Under a good light source look carefully at the breechface/firing pin area. A great many of these guns were stored in Argentinian military armories by sliding the gun onto a steel rod through the muzzle. If slammed repeatedly and hard enough that rod will distort the breechface enough to really mess up the slide. I have had to replace the slide on several of these guns for customers who bought them without inspecting them closely. Always beware of military weapons, some of them were abused terribly. But if you find an Argentine 1911 in good shape though they are very high quality guns. They used extremely high grade steel when manufactured. I have shot a lot of them that were very good "shooters".

 

[MagnumDweeb]

It had a grip safety and the Colt name and horse marking on it if I'm remembering right. On further research I've found there are a couple companies out there lik King that have good replacement barrels for it. If the frame was heat treated, then with a new barrel, it ought to be able to handle modern day +P rather well I'd hazard to think.

 

[Jim Watson]

the Colt name and horse marking on it

If it has Colt trademarks then it is a Colt Argentine contract gun, made in Hartford, Conn., USA prior to the Argies tooling up to make their own.

There is a history of the Argentine .45s at:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=68064

Know what you are buying.

I won't get into new barrels for +P and new parts for safety and performance because I don't shoot +P and my '27 performs safely and reliably with the original parts.