Beretta M1934
The
Beretta model 1934 is a compact, semi-automatic (or self-loading)
pistol which was issued as a standard service
firearm to the
Italian armed forces beginning in
1934. Its
caliber is 9 mm Corto (also known as 9 x 17 mm, and
.380 ACP).
Armi Beretta SpA of
Gardone Val Trompia (about 20 km north of
Brescia, Italy) has a history in firearms manufacturing reaching back to 1526, when they were established as a maker of barrels. But it was not until 1915 that, responding to the needs of the military during
World War I, they produced their first pistol, the model 1915. Beretta has become one of the world's largest pistol makers and the model 1934 (M1934) was their most numerous product in the pre-
WWII era.
In the early 1930s, the
Italian army was impressed by the
Walther PP pistol. Beretta did not want to lose a big military contract to their German competitor and designed the M1934 for the
Italian army which accepted it in 1937. This model was followed by the
M1935, which was similar to the M1934 in most respects, except that it fired a
.32 ACP (7.65 mm Browning) cartridge.
Pistols made during the Fascist Era are marked with their year of manufacture in two forms: the conventional Julian date in Arabic numerals and the date in the Fascist calendar in Roman numerals. The Fascist calendar commenced in 1922, but the date does not seem to have changed on January 1, with the Julian calendar; for example, a pistol from 1937 may carry either "XV" or "XVI" as its Fascist date.
The M1934 is 5.91 inches (150 mm) long overall and weighs 26.4 oz (750 g) unloaded. The barrel is 3.46 inches (88 mm) long. The gun is made of
carbon steel except for its
plastic grip panels. It is
.380 ACP (9x17 mm. Browning Short ("Corto" in Italian, or "Kurz" in German)) in
chambering, a cartridge of modest power, allowing a simple blowback design as opposed to the locked-breech necessary with higher-powered cartridges like the
9 mm. Parabellum.
It is fitted with a manual
safety and, when in the "Safe" position, the safety holds the slide in a rearward, open position. When the last shot has been fired, the
slide is retained open by the empty
magazine. The seven-round, detachable, box magazine is equipped with a spur-like extension that helps to ensure a firm grip even for a shooter with large hands, and assists with its extraction; the magazine is retained by a "heel catch" at the bottom of the grip.
As this pistol was intended for the Italian army, it was made with parts interchangeability in view, simplifying both manufacturing and maintenance, a first at the time.
It was designed and purpose-built for the Italian armed forces, but was also sold on the civilian market. Pistols taken by the armed forces usually exhibit acceptance marks stamped into the frame on the left just above the grip: "RE" (Regio Esercito) for the army, "RM" (Regia Marina) for the navy, or "RA" (Regia Aeronautica) for the air force. Police pistols may be marked "PS" (Pubblica Sicurezza).
Fitted with the characteristic Beretta open slide, the M1934 has a very reliable feeding and extraction cycle; the elongated slot in the top of the slide acts as the ejection port. It is made with relatively few parts and very simple to maintain. The M1934 is very robust in construction with a service life believed to be over 100 years if properly maintained.
The .380 ACP ammunition is somewhat anemic and the magazine capacity is only 7 rounds. When the empty magazine is removed it no longer holds the slide back. The slide will come forward and close the gun unless it is held open by application of the safety, a separate operation, and this slows down the reloading of the pistol. In most countries (though not in the U.S.) in this era, the carrying of a pistol was primarily an indicator of rank rather than having a serious defensive purpose.
The weapon saw extensive use in
World War II in the hands of Italian
Fascist forces, and quite a few were captured by
Allied officers in the hope that they would fire the 9 mm Parabellum cartridge used in the British
Sten submachine guns, but they soon found to their dismay that the pistol was chambered for a shorter, less powerful cartridge.
From 1934 to 1991, about 1 080 000 units.
Beretta M1934, serial number 606824, was used by
Nathuram Godse to kill
Mohandas K. Gandhi, in
New Delhi,
India, on 30 January 1948.
*In the game
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault you can choose this weapon when playing on the Italian side.
*In the
Noir series, this is the sidearm of Kirika Yuumura, one of the two protagonists.
*In the
Mobile Suit Gundam series.
*In
Lupin III Pycal uses it.
*
Beretta M1935*
Homepage of Beretta*
Beretta 1934 pictures and information in Italian
