engraved llama .380

[TwoGunJayne]

I keep waiting for Brian @ Designer Grip to get healthy again. I've got like 5 or 6 grip sets I want from him in carbon fiber.

Here's to hoping God is with Brian in his time of trial and tribulation.

[grayelky]

Single 5-
If you take the barrel out of a semi-auto pistol, and examine it carefully around the area the cartridge goes in, on the "top" of the barrel, you will find one of 2 types: it will be smooth, like the rest of the barrel. This is referred to as "blowback" type, because the pressure simply blows the slide to the rear. The only thing holding the slide closed is the recoil spring. The other type will have 2 or 3 semi-circular grooves cut into the top of the barrel, with corresponding cuts in the top inside of the slide. These lugs and grooves mate up when the slide is fully forward, thus locking the barrel and slide together. Upon firing, they will slide together as a single unit until the projectile has cleared the barrel, thus reducing the pressure build up. These grooves and lugs locking together make for a (relatively) very strong mechanism for dealing with the pressures created when the cartridge is fired. This strength is what allows a locked breech style of semi-auto to safely fire cartridges with much higher pressures than a blowback gun can handle. Ammo that is safe in a locked breech gun (my Dad's Llama) would very likely destroy a blowback gun of the same caliber (my Walther PPK). I suspect your Llama does have these lugs and grooves, and possibly would be safe to handle +P pressures quite safely. DO NOT FIRE THEM UNTIL YOU HAVE A QUALIFIED GUNSMITH CHECK IT OUT AND VERIFY IT IS IN FACT SAFE TO FIRE +P AMMO!!! I am in NO WAY telling you your gun is safe to fire ANY ammo, until such time I PERSONALLY CHECK YOUR FIREARM! Sorry for all the caps, but, lawyers will be lawyers.....

As to the pearl grips, you are correct. My Dad's Llama had them, it it was awesome!

[single 5]

Thanks. Next time I field strip it, I will inspect it for the groves.

[big_gus]

Sounds like you stole it ... You didnt hold that mini on them while you paid them did you.... Just kidding of course... Always GREAT to find a good deal, especially a great deal. They are really good guns in my personal opinion, never had an engraved one, but have had the III in both 380 and 22 ( never cared for the 32 caliber). Congrats on the Good Find!!!

[Gulf.Coast.Freebird]

Trying to get a rough value on this 1953 Engraved Llama...
Any input would be appreciated.nand the spot that looks flawed below the slide is just the Serial Number I Blurred a lil bit.

[Uncle_Lee]

Do you know the model number?

Maybe between 300-500 dollars.
That is if it is between 95% & 100%.

[Gulf.Coast.Freebird]

I believe it to be a Model III not the IIIa.
I guess in 1954 when they became the IIIa they replaced the Lanyard Ring with a Vented barrel.

[OV-1D]

  I've seen in my lifetime a few weapon crack or break from too much engraving , too deep , wrong areas to take away material other factors also . Just because it looks great be weary of function . Slides are always a touchy place to get too enthusiastic with ones engraving , seen two split along the slides . Beautiful to look at but have them looked at by a competent , I mean a competent gunsmith if it looks too deep . Unc got the price pretty much maybe I'd add a hundred bucks or so , depending . Just an opinion .

[Gulf.Coast.Freebird]

It's actually not a deep engraving. It's Factory. Which I know can also be weakened metal. Anyhow I am not keeping it. I got a good deal on n it and I am just going to flip it.  And since my post I have run across 3 like it one sold for $1,000.00 on Gun Broker and there was one on Armslist for $900.00 and another for $700.00 for the Same Year and Same Model...
If I got even around $500 I would about Triple my investment... But I don't like to Sell Guns... I like to Trade them...
Anyhow thanks for your input.       

[cfsharry]

You could shoot that all your life and it will never break because of being engraved.
I personally would keep the gun and shoot it.
A nice piece.

[Uncle_Lee]

I was just going by the new Blue Book.

[OV-1D]

  Say Unc how far does that blue book go ?

[Uncle_Lee]

It ain't heavy.
If I tried real hard, maybe 50 feet.....

It is according to where you buy it supper...

[OV-1D]

 No ,no ,no I was asking how far back in years does it list for appox price . Dang . 

[pietro]

.

AFAIK, there were no Model III's - the .380's were all Model III-A's, and all were scaled-down 1911 copies, made from 1951 until the mid-90's.

Model III-A = a plain-jane blued .380.

Model C-III-A = a satin chrome .380.

Model CE-III-A = a chrome/engraved deluxe .380.

Model BE-III-A = a blued/engraved deluxe .380 with simulated pearl grips (MOTS/Mother Of Toilet Seat).

Model G-III-A = a gold/damascus deluxe .380 with simulated pearl grips.




Similar scaled-down frame pistols were:

The .22LR versions =  Model XV, BE-XV, CE-XV & G-XV.

The .22 Short versions = Model XVII, BE-XVII, CE-XVII & G-XVII.

The .25ACP versions = Model XVIII, BE-XVIII, CE-XVIII & G-XVIII.

The .32ACP versions = Model XA, C-XA, BE-XA.



Similarly-graded, larger frame pistols were:

9mm Parabellum versions = Model XI, etc.

.38 Super versions = Model VII, etc.

.45ACP versions = Model IXA, etc.



R U confused yet ? ? 


.

[cfsharry]

Pietro,
Good post.

[Uncle_Lee]

Well OV asked and I answered.

[Uncle_Lee]

Found one for sale:
$1295.00
If it sells, then that is what that one is worth.

http://www.gunsamerica.com//905627603/LLAMA-MODEL-111A-380-CAL-PISTOL.htm?wl=1

[elmacgyver0]

It seems a lot of people look down their noses at Llamas, I have two, a .22 and a .32 and really like them. They are the plain versions with vent ribs.

[autofull]

yep, lotsa time with these in 22lr. old ones with wood grips work, new ones with the two piece slide are iffy.