A Historic Look at Beretta’s Modello 1934 Pistol
I love gun collecting. Back in the 1970s and ‘80s, Shotgun News (this publication) was loaded with hundreds of ads for surplus rifles, pistols, ammunition, accessories, and other militaria. In the late 1980s, I started to collect surplus .32 ACP pistols and I had an FN 1910, a Vesta, a MAB, and I think I had a Colt 1903. Unfortunately, I only have the MAB today. Prices were anywhere between $75 to a couple hundred—surplus was everywhere back then. There is something really special about collecting a certain caliber trying to obtain all handguns from different manufacturers that were made during the same period. Around the same time, I did think about also collecting .380 pistols from WWII and back. The Walther PPK was my first one, but I never progressed much beyond it.
Today, Royal Tiger Imports is making surplus collecting a reality again. This is a big deal, as the surplus firearms market dried up over two decades ago and having this Beretta model 1934 pistol in my hands is making me excited about collecting WWII-era pistols again! Especially since I was a Beretta employee for over seven years.
History
An American GI showing off what may have been his “bring back” Beretta Modello 1934 pistol. (Photo provided by Paul Scarlata.)
The Beretta Modello (Model) 1934 pistol was somewhat an evolution of an earlier Beretta pistol, namely the Modello 1915/19, which served the Italian military from 1915 until 1931. The 1915/19 was updated from the Modello 1915 (chambered in 9mm Glisenti) by enlarging the open-top design to aid in ejection and was chambered for .32 ACP. When the 1915/19 was redesigned in 1932, becoming the 1932 model for a short time, the caliber was changed to 9mm Corto (.380 ACP), and an external hammer was added.
An Italian partisan during WWII shows off his Beretta Modello 1934 (or maybe Modello 1935). (Photo provided by Paul Scarlata.)
The pistol was also “beefed up” for strength, as it was going to be produced for military use across the Italian armed forces. This became the Modello 1934. Although there are reports of a .32 ACP version of the Modello 1934 having been produced, those pistols are said to be very rare. In 1935, the Modello 1935 was produced in .32 ACP and was mainly distributed to the Italian Navy and Air Force. This model was really just a Modello 1934 in .32 ACP. I am not sure why these two branches of the Italian military were given the small caliber.
The Pistol
If I could choose one word to describe the Modello 1934 it would be “robust.” This pistol feels like you could drop it off a cliff and after dozens of hits on rock as it makes its way to the bottom, it will be ready to fire when you get down there. Being this robust has its downside though; it’s not light at a little more than 23 ounces.
This is a single-action pistol with an exposed ring hammer. The half-cock position feels solid and the hammer is under a heavy spring (no issue with hard primers here). Since it has an open-top slide design, there are no issues with extractions as far as empty cases having anywhere to get hung up. The slide also features a fixed front sight and a rear sight adjustable for windage.
It incorporates a 180-degree throw safety, which is very safe to carry hammer back with a round in the chamber. A downward “flick” of the thumb takes the pistol to the fire position easily.
The pistol has a “European” magazine release, which is located at the bottom of the pistol’s grip at the rear of the magazine well. I have large hands, so the large pinky rest, as part of the seven-round magazine’s floorplate, is appreciated. There is also a lanyard loop attached to the frame for you boaters out there.
Now for the grips. Remember when I said this pistol was “beefed up” from previous models? Well, it’s very apparent with the plastic grips IF you remove them. Both grip panels are
reinforced with sheet steel—interesting. Grips are lightly textured, which is framed in. The famous “PB,” for “Pietro Beretta” (the company’s founder), are on both grips.
My serial number indicates it was manufactured somewhere between 1967 and 1973. Although it is not a WWII-era-produced pistol, it is the exact same model of those used during that time period.
Range Time
When the pistol arrived, I tested it almost immediately. I loaded up some Federal 95-grain FMJ ammo and did some plinking. A big surprise: recoil was very snappy and mildly painful at times. I shoot big bore handguns on occasion and even enjoy robust recoil, but this was different. I expected the heavy weight to absorb a lot of the felt recoil, but it didn’t. The gun bucks directly back and hits between the thumb and forefinger knuckles—not comfortable. Some additional initial observations were that the trigger is creepy, the slide is difficult to pull back unless the hammer is cocked back first, and although the slide locks back after the magazine is empty, it drops as soon as the magazine is removed—no fast reloads. Plinking on steel of various sizes out to 75 feet showed that the pistol was reasonably accurate, but an accuracy test would be in order. No malfunctions after about 100 rounds.
I set up my shooting bench with targets out to 25 feet. I changed my ammunition to Federal’s 95-grain FMJ flat-tip .380 for the accuracy test. The temperature was 70 degrees Fahrenheit with winds zero to four mph. The test would consist of three five-shots groups fired from a sandbag rest.
Taking my time, my first group measured in at 1.33 inches. Without the outside shot, the group came in at .95 of an inch—pretty nice. Empty cases eject at six o’clock and go overhead, landing three to four feet behind. Since I took my time, I really got a feel for the trigger. It was very heavy, creepy, and seemed as if there were three stages to it. It later measured in at about eight pounds. My second group came in at 1.48 inches, and the last one at 1.86. These are very acceptable, and I would say that the groups opening up gradually was due to the uncomfortable recoil and trigger. I also tried a few rounds of a self-defense load in the form of Federal’s 99-grain Hydra-Shok. That three-shot group measured in at 1.33 inches. All ammunition fed perfectly. The Beretta 1934 is more than adequate for shooting within self-defense ranges for this caliber.
I then decided to bench my Ruger LCP just to compare felt recoil—I had never benched this pistol. Taking my time on the sandbag, the very lightweight LCP had almost extreme muzzle flip in this position but was very comfortable otherwise. Interesting.
After pointing the pistol in a safe direction, removing the magazine, and making sure that the pistol is empty, pull back the slide until the safety, in the safe position, can be inserted upward into the milled-out cavity in the slide. Then, push the barrel rearward all the way and lift from the back/chamber upward and remove it. Grab the slide, pull back slightly, then lower the safety from the milled-out slot, and remove the slide by pushing it forward. The recoil spring and guide rod, as well as safety, can now be removed as well. Very easy to dissemble for cleaning and just reverse for reassembly.
Practical Use?
Well, first off, almost any surplus military pistol model was used in battle at some point. So, the answer is “yes” as far as using one for self-defense. However, many issued pistols in the first half of the 20th century were chambered in weak .32 ACP. Sure, .32 ACP out of a tiny pocket pistol is better than a golf club for self-defense, but I would only carry a .32 when a really small pistol is the only practical option (like when wearing a bathing suit and tank top to the beach). The 1934 Modello Beretta reviewed in this column is in the more powerful .380 ACP and this is the smallest caliber I would be relatively confident carrying. With the effective modern self-defense rounds offered today, .380 is very acceptable—especially as a back-up.
I did strap on the military holster and carry this pistol around my property. The leather military holster is a reproduction ($34.99 from RTI) and has the typical flap design with strap-through-metal loop “lock,” so it will keep rain and snow off of the pistol. It also sports a spare magazine holder.
While wearing it was comfortable, the weight was noticeable. On my postal scale, the model 1934 weighed one-pound, eight and one-eighth ounces empty, it is four ounces heavier than my empty Smith & Wesson 9mm Shield Plus, which feeds from a double-stack magazine. Compared to the modern .380 ACP pistol I carry from time to time, a Ruger LCP with seven-round magazine, this Beretta is about a pound heavier. Bottom line, if you are nostalgic about historic guns, you can keep the 1934 Beretta in your nightstand or take it out for a stroll, it will work just fine for self-defense after some training with it (and after getting a modern holster). As a collector piece, it is awesome, and the price is very reasonable. Add one to your collection!
BERETTA MODELLO 1934 PISTOL SPECS
Caliber: 9mm Corto/.380 ACP
Capacity: 7
Barrel: 3.5 in., 1:9.84-in. twist (original)
Overall Length: 6 in.
Weight: 1 lb., 81⁄8 oz.
Sights: Fixed front, Rear v-notch adj. for wind.
Finish: Blue
Cost: $299.99 (as tested with new barrel), $199.99 (with original Beretta barrel threaded)
Contact: Royal Tiger Imports: (321) 212-7801, RoyalTigerImports.com
