PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Hello!
I figured this one belonged in Milsurp, due to the very nature of the find.
Bought a couple of prohibs lately and decided to clean one two days ago.
It is a Beretta Modelo 1935 (M/35), made in 1941. Upon cleaning it to verify its fascist origins (XIX on the slide), I found the familiar SA mark in the rectangle with rounded corners that is usually displayed on my Finn Mosins.
About 30 seconds of searching on the web confirmed that I had a Finn Beretta, one of the lots that were ordered from Italy in 1941.
M/35: About 4,100 bought from Italy. About 1,000 arrived in 1941 and 3,090 arrived in 1942. Finnish frontline and home front troops used them 1941 - 1944.
Beretta M/34 and M/35 had all best characteristics of earlier Beretta model 1931 and 1932 pistols combined. During WW2 Finland and Romania bought these pistols for their Armed Forces. The Romanians acquired M/34, while the Finns bought both M/34 and M/35.
Beretta M/35: Finnish Army made two orders of M/35 pistols to Italy during WW2, both of them in 1941. First one containing 1,000 pistols arrived late 1941. The second one of 4,000 pistols proved problematic and only 3,092 of ordered pistols were delivered by late 1942, the remaining pistols bit over 900 pistols the Italians replaced by delivering M/34 pistols instead. During Continuation War both by Finnish front-line troops and home front troops used Beretta M/35 pistols. Year 1951 some 2,091 pistols M/35 remained, they remained warehoused until mid-1980's. Finally year 1986 most of them were sold and only small amount was still kept for uses that demanded easily concealable pistol (couriers etc).
So, without even knowing, I bought for a very paltry sum a pistol that fits my Finn firearms collection!
I'm now in search for a properly marked holster for this pistol.
Judging by its finish, this firearm has seen a lot of service: hoster wear is very evident. Handgrips have seen better days but are still serviceable. They look like they are made out of some sort of compressed leather bonded to a steel mounting plate. Left side shows more scuffing but still okay.
Barrel is very clean with strong and shiny rifling and there is absolutely no rust inside; all parts are clean and bright. Pistol comes with two very nice and clean magazines.
Good find for Christmas Eve! Thanks, Santa!
PP.[/b]
I figured this one belonged in Milsurp, due to the very nature of the find.
Bought a couple of prohibs lately and decided to clean one two days ago.
It is a Beretta Modelo 1935 (M/35), made in 1941. Upon cleaning it to verify its fascist origins (XIX on the slide), I found the familiar SA mark in the rectangle with rounded corners that is usually displayed on my Finn Mosins.
About 30 seconds of searching on the web confirmed that I had a Finn Beretta, one of the lots that were ordered from Italy in 1941.
M/35: About 4,100 bought from Italy. About 1,000 arrived in 1941 and 3,090 arrived in 1942. Finnish frontline and home front troops used them 1941 - 1944.
Beretta M/34 and M/35 had all best characteristics of earlier Beretta model 1931 and 1932 pistols combined. During WW2 Finland and Romania bought these pistols for their Armed Forces. The Romanians acquired M/34, while the Finns bought both M/34 and M/35.
Beretta M/35: Finnish Army made two orders of M/35 pistols to Italy during WW2, both of them in 1941. First one containing 1,000 pistols arrived late 1941. The second one of 4,000 pistols proved problematic and only 3,092 of ordered pistols were delivered by late 1942, the remaining pistols bit over 900 pistols the Italians replaced by delivering M/34 pistols instead. During Continuation War both by Finnish front-line troops and home front troops used Beretta M/35 pistols. Year 1951 some 2,091 pistols M/35 remained, they remained warehoused until mid-1980's. Finally year 1986 most of them were sold and only small amount was still kept for uses that demanded easily concealable pistol (couriers etc).
So, without even knowing, I bought for a very paltry sum a pistol that fits my Finn firearms collection!
I'm now in search for a properly marked holster for this pistol.
Judging by its finish, this firearm has seen a lot of service: hoster wear is very evident. Handgrips have seen better days but are still serviceable. They look like they are made out of some sort of compressed leather bonded to a steel mounting plate. Left side shows more scuffing but still okay.
Barrel is very clean with strong and shiny rifling and there is absolutely no rust inside; all parts are clean and bright. Pistol comes with two very nice and clean magazines.
Good find for Christmas Eve! Thanks, Santa!
PP.[/b]
