Sales of the weapon also occurred in the civilian market, but numbers are uncertain. Romania also imported 40,000 examples in 1941, and Finland received roughly 6,000 in 1942. The Regio Esercito absorbed most of the pre-war and wartime production of M1934. It has good precision, even in the hands of novice shooters. However, the simplicity of the M1934 did not reflect its quality. In fact, the production process for this weapon is far less than a vast majority of other pistols of the time. The pistol encompasses 39 total parts and designed so that it could be manufactured with the least number of mechanical procedures. However, the decision in using this lower performance cartridge was based on both technical and economic reasons. This process caused a delay which delayed the Regio Esercito from adopting the gun until 1936.Īlthough the M1934 met expectations, critics claim the cartridge choice did not put the gun on equal terms with other foreign competitors. However, when Beretta informed the army of the increased production costs, the Regio Esercito decided to revert to the original design. Beretta, lamentably, worked on the request and produced about a hundred guns with this Walther style safety. The Regio Esercito requested that Beretta introduce a Walther-style slide safety, similar to the one located on the Walther PP. This version became known as the Beretta M1935 and was adopted by the Regia Marina and Regia Aeronautica. Additionally, Beretta developed a version chambered to fit the 7.65 mm Browning (.32 ACP) cartridge. It utilized the 9x17mm (.380 ACP) round, known in Italy as the 9 mm Corto, or “Short”. The new gun, the Beretta M1934, was simple, reliable, and robust. The M1915 sidearm equipped most of the Regio Esercito during the Great War. Its cartridge should have good stopping power but also be cost-efficient.īeretta weapons designer Tullio Marengoni designed a gun that not only represented the evolution of the previous Beretta gun, the M1931, but also the final development of the design process that started with M1915.

The ministerial request called for a small weapon with minimal bulk and utilizing simple, yet reliable parts. The famous Italian weapons manufacturer, Beretta, active since 1526, subsequently obtained the contract. In 1933, the Italian Ministry of the Interior desired to re-equip the police force with a new side weapon.

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