Century's Ballester Molinas

[cwalker3]

I ordered the '2 for $299' special on Monday and they arrived today. (I know a lot of people here have shipping problems with Century, but they always seem to treat me right. Go figure.) Here are a couple of pics. The top one has wooden handguards that are in excellent shape. The other has plastic that I'll probably change to wooden. (Does anyone know which are the correct, (as-issued), ones? Both will be oxpho'd. Any refinishing tips will be greatly appreciated.
http://album.gunsnet.net/data/cwalker3/tb_243_p2183.jpg
http://album.gunsnet.net/data/cwalker3/tb_243_p2184.jpg

[cwalker3]

Sorry for the small pic size. How do I enlarge them?

[Jericho]

I believe that the wood ones are the correct ones... Looks good enjoy them :bye:

[Jericho]

Originally posted by cwalker3
Sorry for the small pic size. How do I enlarge them?

You need to enlarge them before you store them on the server... If you have photo shop you can do it there then post it... Good luck :D

[SalBO]

you got lucky on the grips. They sure look nice. Mine were well worn out and I ordered new ones for them . The wood is correct. Are you sure they are plastic ? I havent seen any that weren't wood. You might have something rare if they are.

On finishing, remember the more polished it is before bluing, the higher the gloss afterwards..........prepping is the key to a good finish.......

[Sturmgeschütz]

Must....resist...temptation.....to buy.... 45.....

[cwalker3]

Originally posted by SalBO
you got lucky on the grips. They sure look nice. Mine were well worn out and I ordered new ones for them . The wood is correct. Are you sure they are plastic ? I havent seen any that weren't wood. You might have something rare if they are.

On finishing, remember the more polished it is before bluing, the higher the gloss afterwards..........prepping is the key to a good finish.......

You're right about the grips. They are wood, not plastic. They're worn so smooth, they look and feel like plastic. They'll definitely be replaced.

How do you recommend polishing? Steel wool?

[cwalker3]

Originally posted by Jericho


You need to enlarge them before you store them on the server... If you have photo shop you can do it there then post it... Good luck :D

All I have is the My Pictures program that came with XP. What puzzles me is that I have saved pictures from this program to the server before and they posted at a reasonable size.

[SalBO]

Originally posted by cwalker3


You're right about the grips. They are wood, not plastic. They're worn so smooth, they look and feel like plastic. They'll definitely be replaced.

How do you recommend polishing? Steel wool?

I thought they might be wood but real worn. One set of mine were like that. I like them actually.

I use a buffing wheel on my grinder with polishing media. Buff, buff and buff some more until it looks like a new chrome plated pistol..then degrease it and polish in the oxpho blue with cotton balls. Do as many coats as it takes to get the color you desire. Let cure at least overnight and then buff with an old pair of panty hose or soft cotton cloth (I buy new cloth diapers)and oil. Then sit back and admire it........ :D

[cwalker3]

Thanks for the advice Salbo. I'll have to pick up a buffing wheel now, but if they come out looking good, it'll be worth it.

[lpspinner]

Originally posted by Sturmgeschütz
Must....resist...temptation.....to buy.... 45.....

Come on, you know you want two! Come on, you know you want two! Come on, you know you want two! Come on, you know you want two!

What the heck, once they're gone, they're gone. :D

[lpspinner]

Originally posted by cwalker3
Sorry for the small pic size. How do I enlarge them?

I like the grips on the first one. Nice guns you got, way to go!

Here you go....

http://album.gunsnet.net/data/cwalker3/full_243_p2183.jpg

http://album.gunsnet.net/data/cwalker3/full_243_p2184.jpg

[AvtomatKalashnikova]

WOW.....I've never seen wood pattern on the 1st BM....very interesting! These are great deals for beater .45acp. ;)

[Sturmgeschütz]

Originally posted by lpspinner


Come on, you know you want two! Come on, you know you want two! Come on, you know you want two! Come on, you know you want two!

What the heck, once they're gone, they're gone. :D

Man, if my insurance wasn't due in 3 weeks I would get one anyway....*sigh*

well I graduate in a week, maybe I can get a good job real quick :)

[Jericho]

Originally posted by AvtomatKalashnikova
WOW.....I've never seen wood pattern on the 1st BM....very interesting! These are great deals for beater .45acp. ;)

There is no such thing as a beater 45... just those that have be well broken in :bye:

[lpspinner]

Originally posted by Sturmgeschütz


Man, if my insurance wasn't due in 3 weeks I would get one anyway....*sigh*

well I graduate in a week, maybe I can get a good job real quick :)


While you're at it, you can find me a job as well. Been unemployed for almost 9 months now.

[cwalker3]

Thanks for the enlargement lp. I guess I should have pasted the viewed image rather than the thumbnail.

[SalBO]

very good 45's, those will clean up nicely. The grips on the first one are definately a little different than the ones I have seen so far.... I wish some one would come up with an exotic wood set for these...Rosewood would be cool.......