Beretta M1951

The Beretta M1951 is semi-automatic single action pistol, designed and manufactured by the Italian company Beretta. This 9 mm Parabellum caliber gun was intended for commercial use, but as it is a very competent gun it is used by the Italian, Tunisian, Nigerian, Egyptian and Israeli forces.

This is Beretta's first locked breech pistol, manufactured in 1953, and under production until 1980. It is known for its strength, reliability, and engineering excellence. This sturdy gun is designed with a short recoil operated falling block system and with an open top slide. One of its unique features is the heat-treated slide constructed from a chromium nickel steel block. The frame is machined from a single block of steel, and so are the steel sheet casing magazine feeder, feeder spring, base, and base plate. The automatic holdopen that is activated by the by the magazine feeder to lift the stop bolt catch is an ingenious feature that makes it more fast acting and powerful.

There are extensive safety systems built into this well-made gun. The safety catch built onto the hammer prevents it from striking the firing pin, if it is not in the full cock position. Along with this, safety blocks have been built in at both the hammer and the sear. The 'loaded chamber indictor' is an added safety device.

The action of the gun is intended to be quick. When it is ready to fire, the trigger lever pushes back against the hammer catch, this frees the hammer pushed forward by the compressed spring, to strikes the firing pin. As soon the gun is fired, the expanded gas acts against the locked assembly of barrel and slide, pushing these backward to a slot in the frame. The locked assembly provides a delayed blowback mechanism. After a movement of about 7 mm or 1/4 inch, a pin at the back of the barrel forces the locking catch to tilt downward. The barrel slide assembly now unlocks, stopping the backward movement of the barrel, this continues its direction of recoil movement, to expel of the empty casing.

To restart the entire action, the backward movement of the slide compresses the recoil spring and the hammer. This forces it back to engage the sear lever, and cocks the hammer, pushing the slide forward. This time the slide strips a round from the magazine and introduces it into the chamber, forcing the barrel forward to its initial position. As soon as the trigger is released, the pistol is ready to fire again.

The Beretta M1951 is designed to work in the most critical situations; the length is an effective 203 millimeters, or 7.99 inches, with iron sights in the front. The barrel length of 115 mm or 4.5 inches and the uses 9 mm cartridges, with an eight round detachable box magazine. Limited versions of the M951 & M952 are available with adjustable rear sight.
The Beretta M1951 is manufactured in many parts of the world. Egypt produces it under license calling it the 'Helwan Brigadier', the Iraqi version is called the 'Tariq'. There is also a 7.65 mm Parabellum version called M952, this however, is difficult to find. A few guns were made of experimental Ergal aluminum frame, these are also rare.

There are differences between the versions manufactured by the different countries. The Italian version, which gun experts feel is superior to the others, weighs 890 grams, while the Egyptian version weighs 720 grams.

The Beretta M1951 is an ideal service weapon, rapid in action, safe to use and easy to maintain, exactly the features one looks for in a reliable weapon.