The Ballester-Molina was a pistol designed and built by the Argentine company Hispano Argentina de Automotives SA (HAFDASA). The Ballester was originally called the Ballester-Rigaud (c. 1938–1940). The Ballester was created to give the Argentinian police and military a less-expensive alternative to the Pistola Colt Modelo 1927. Production of the Ballester-Molina began in 1938 and ceased in 1953.