So one of my panic buy pistols was an M1951. I got it from P&S and am quite pleased with the gun, but I quickly noticed it's unlike most others I've seen posted online. Oddly there are very few posted here on CGN from the batch that made it to Canada, but lots of photos and videos stateside.
Mike is one of the apparently very late made "1988" guns. Basically because it has 1988 on the slide. I suspect these late guns had some significant differences from earlier guns, but I'm not sure what changed and when over time. Maybe we owners can do a little comparison and sleuthing?
Here are the weird things I'd seen on my example. For starters, it came in a Beretta factor box, and some of the markings on the gun, like the engraved "PM" proof on the barrel are in the white, so I don't think it's been refinished. In fact, I don't think the gun saw any real use. The factory box records the gun's serial numbers on it in sharpie. Oddly they list very different numbers for the gun and barrel. Some (most?) older guns I see online from the 50's through 70's have barrels numbered identically to the frame. This gun looks factory fresh, but the numbers are different and the beretta box makes mention of both. So was it a parts gun? Refurb? Or did they number the barrels differently than frames after a certain point in time? No idea.
Box serial numbers:
Frame serial number:
Barrel serial number:
Notice also that most of these have a serialized slide and the slide serial is usually positioned directly above the frame serial number. My slide has no serial number on it anywhere. I've had it all the way apart - nothing. Also notice the trigger pin/slide release is secured with a C-clip. Earlier guns don't have this clip.
There is no "made in Italy" or "italia" mark, but it's made in Gardone (Italy). where Italia is usually stamped, I have "1988". I've also need photos of "1987" marked guns like this, and I recently saw one marked 1974 on the slide - could these be replacement slides where the replacement date is perhaps marked? No idea.
Here's the barrel proof, in the white:
Another oddity not seen on earlier guns, there is an extra grip screw with a phillips head (?) that keeps the rear of the grip panels from separating. Earlier guns don't have this and sometimes you see the grips with a bit of a gap here. This is not retrofitted with a drill, the grip panels are cast with this recess present and the screw is holding the panels tightly together. All the other 1987 and 1988 marked guns I've seen have this screw, but I've not seen it yet on earlier guns.
And for fun, here's the tang markings (supposedly PS is Italian Police?):
Lastly, the box top:
If you are curious, google translate says this means "Pietro Beretta Mod 51 Safe E73, Pallet E3".
My theory is that a client already was issuing the Beretta M1951 and in the late 1980's needed more pistols (replacements for worn out guns, or possibly a growing workforce?) and asked Beretta to do another run of the '51, despite series production having ended in 1980. For whatever reason,. Beretta incorporated some improvements (the extra grip screw, C-clip on the slide release, and??). I'm thinking they didn;t mark or number these later guns the same way (?). I know it's speculation, but it makes sense to me.
Anyone want to share what features their 1951 has?
Mike is one of the apparently very late made "1988" guns. Basically because it has 1988 on the slide. I suspect these late guns had some significant differences from earlier guns, but I'm not sure what changed and when over time. Maybe we owners can do a little comparison and sleuthing?
Here are the weird things I'd seen on my example. For starters, it came in a Beretta factor box, and some of the markings on the gun, like the engraved "PM" proof on the barrel are in the white, so I don't think it's been refinished. In fact, I don't think the gun saw any real use. The factory box records the gun's serial numbers on it in sharpie. Oddly they list very different numbers for the gun and barrel. Some (most?) older guns I see online from the 50's through 70's have barrels numbered identically to the frame. This gun looks factory fresh, but the numbers are different and the beretta box makes mention of both. So was it a parts gun? Refurb? Or did they number the barrels differently than frames after a certain point in time? No idea.
Box serial numbers:
Frame serial number:
Barrel serial number:
Notice also that most of these have a serialized slide and the slide serial is usually positioned directly above the frame serial number. My slide has no serial number on it anywhere. I've had it all the way apart - nothing. Also notice the trigger pin/slide release is secured with a C-clip. Earlier guns don't have this clip.
There is no "made in Italy" or "italia" mark, but it's made in Gardone (Italy). where Italia is usually stamped, I have "1988". I've also need photos of "1987" marked guns like this, and I recently saw one marked 1974 on the slide - could these be replacement slides where the replacement date is perhaps marked? No idea.
Here's the barrel proof, in the white:
Another oddity not seen on earlier guns, there is an extra grip screw with a phillips head (?) that keeps the rear of the grip panels from separating. Earlier guns don't have this and sometimes you see the grips with a bit of a gap here. This is not retrofitted with a drill, the grip panels are cast with this recess present and the screw is holding the panels tightly together. All the other 1987 and 1988 marked guns I've seen have this screw, but I've not seen it yet on earlier guns.
And for fun, here's the tang markings (supposedly PS is Italian Police?):
Lastly, the box top:
If you are curious, google translate says this means "Pietro Beretta Mod 51 Safe E73, Pallet E3".
My theory is that a client already was issuing the Beretta M1951 and in the late 1980's needed more pistols (replacements for worn out guns, or possibly a growing workforce?) and asked Beretta to do another run of the '51, despite series production having ended in 1980. For whatever reason,. Beretta incorporated some improvements (the extra grip screw, C-clip on the slide release, and??). I'm thinking they didn;t mark or number these later guns the same way (?). I know it's speculation, but it makes sense to me.
Anyone want to share what features their 1951 has?
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