Question about an Argentina 45

[HawkEyeEarl]

I have a 45 that is supposed to be an argentina 45.
It looks just like a govt 1911 -- generic with no brand name at all.
Shoots great.
However it does not have any of the markings that I see mentioned for those guns made in 1927.
The slide is blued. I believe the previous owner had polished out some rough finish and blued the slide.
It was mentioned that there had been some marking on the gun that did not survive the refinish.
Where would that marking have been?
The serial on the top of the slide matches the number on the right side of the receiver.
However I believe there are numbers on the ejector that are different.
Would those have originally have matched the slide and ejector?
The receiver looks to be nickel plated.
How else could I prove to myself it is indeed an argentina 45?
Any other clues on such a gun?
The numbers seem to be a little large, maybe fancier than some serial numbers.
Do any of yall have any pictures of an argentina 1945?
The trigger is very distinctive.
Did the argentina guns have a differnent trigger than colt 1911s?
Or perhaps mine has been improved over the years.
It does work awfully well in my opinion.
Especially since it may have been considered 'junk' by previous owners.
I simply installed full length guide rod and changed a spring to change it from 'junk' to a very reliable shooter.
Thanks,
Earl

[Mikey]

yo earl - since you said it looks just like a govt 1911, I am assuming it has the grip safety.  If so, it is most likely a Model 1927 Argentine 45.

These were either made directly by Colt and shipped to Argentina or made on Colt equipment that Colt set-up in Argentina to make that 45.

The markings on the slide should have read (something like) D.G.F.M. Elercito Argentina, referring to the Argentina Army.  Yours may even be marked 11.25mm (their designation for the 45 acp). Yours should have a wide hammer spur that is knurled with a wide thumb-plate, like a target revolver or auto.  

I do not recall any manufacturer of 1911s to have numbered the ejector but who knows.....

Whn you say 'different trigger', what do you mean?  

Yep, they are good shooters. Most need only a new set of springs and they will go ya many thousands of rounds.  Enjoy.  Mikey.

[HawkEyeEarl]

it is a beauty.
I may try a picture of the trigger.
Thanks
Earl

[Blackhawk44]

By "different trigger" you mean a pinned 'swinging' trigger with no grip safety, that would be an Argentine Ballester-Molina; Argentina's improvements after the Colt manufacturing agreement expired.

[HawkEyeEarl]

Yes I do mean a pinned trigger.

I did not think to describe.

So is that the clue that this gun is an Argentina pistol of 1927?

Are there serial number ranges for these guns?

Mine is blue on the top and nickel? on the bottom.

Thanks,
Earl

[Mikey]

HawkEyeEarl - Blackhawk44 is correct.  If your pistol has a pinned trigger and no grip safety then it is the Ballester Molina which is not the same as the 1911.  They look similar but not the same.  Some say this is an upgrade to the 1911 design, much the same way John Browning changed the design of his 1911 when he designed the P-35 High Power.

I have only fired one of those pistols once and was not happy with it - I think the springs in it had weaked over time and recoil was fairly obnoxious.  The 1927 Model that was laying next to it seemed to be the easier pistol to shoot at the time and I went with that one instead.

However, I seem to recall that with ball ammo the Molina functioned perfectly and was right on target at 25m.  Mikey.

[HawkEyeEarl]

It has a pinned trigger.

But it also has a grip safety.

It looks just like a 1911 except i had never seen a pinned trigger before.

Thanks again