From Argentina on Special Duty: The Supply of Ballester-Molina Pistols to the British Military during the Second World War

This paper traces the little-known story of the British military’s acquisition of one particular model of handgun, which was intended for use by British irregular forces during the Second World War: the Ballester–Rigaud, subsequently and more commonly known as the Ballester-Molina. These pistols were supplied to the British by the Argentine firm Hispano Argentina Fábrica de Automóvil SA (HAFDASA; literally ‘Hispanic Argentine Automobile Factory SA’) based in Buenos Aires. This article explores the background to the contract, examines how it was set up and the issues encountered in managing it, as well as looking at the quantities ordered, the cost of the handguns, the trials of their manufacture and export, and how they were shipped to Britain. Although difficult to fully evidence, the use of the Ballester-Molina pistol will also be examined.