I last shot a Beretta 1934 as a young guy in the late '80s - I liked the way the thing was built (and found that one notably accurate despite its trigger), but never took them seriously because of single-action trigger in combination with that safety. As a solidly middle aged man, I have more of an appreciation for things that are simply, beautifully and durably made for reliable function (like a nice bone-handled jack knife with a fine carbon steel blade), and the Mo. 1934s I'd see just started speaking to me. I low-balled a bid on a nice RE last month, missed the reserve and had someone hit "buy it now" before I could on the re-list. So, I was happy to see a pretty commercial one come up from my birth year, and glad to purchase it (at more than I would have ever imagined back in the late '80s, but for notably less than my top bid). When it came, I was very happy with what I unpacked - love the heft of the small, well-made thing.







The artful craftsmanship of its manufacture is easy to appreciate - just look at the way the cocking serrations are dished out.





I can get a full hand grip in the thing - it's almost precisely the size of a Kahr K9/P9/CW9 (and I have holsters for those - this gun is a little skinnier through the slide, but fits them well). The trigger is heavy, as is to be expected. There was some occasional creep (but not usually). The gun points well and the rear of the slide trapezoids up to draw your eye to the (small) front sight in the (small) rear notch.





It shot well enough, but wasn't as accurate as my FN-140DA (one ragged hole) with the variety of ammo I ran through it, but it did just fine at ten yards (seven rounds; fingertip indicates POA).



The marks left by the firing pin are really weird: very light. The shape of the tip of the firing pin gives some explanation of the phenomenon. However, every single round went off fine when struck.





A comparison showing how much smaller it is than than the Cheetah series.





Ah, and the fast and sensible takedown is really a treat, particularly when compared to that of my Model 70.



Anyhow, Numrich got me a new recoil spring (just because) and factory new magazine in a couple days. I'm pretty pleased with the gun, and I'm looking forward to getting back out to the range soon for a longer wring-out (and some chronography). Funny how a fellow appreciates different things as he ages.

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Now go make God proud...

Erich

Thank you for sharing. I do have a question about that extended magazine.

The angle of the extension seems to be excessive. Does this fit the hand well or is it uncomfortable?

Thanks, BLM

What exactly is the problem with the safety design?

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Release the Kraken

That's nice!!! Congrats!!!

I've been casually looking for one locally in ABQ, but they are either more than I'm willing to pay or beat.

robertrtg has some Beretta parts.

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Thread Killer.

I've long been a fan of the 1934 and currently have seven in .380 and
six in .32 acp,(1935). The 1934 Beretta is like the 98 Mauser, it
evolved over time from earlier models and the more you learn about it
the more you appreciate the small details and the true genius of it's
designer. A few things you might want to consider; the "new"
magazine may be one of the Romanian surplus mags imported in large
numbers along with a batch of 1934s several years ago. Some are a
bit fat and need a bit of stoning or filing to smoothly fit. The
floorplates are usually a bit too thick for the mag catch and need a
little spot reduction from your dremel. I have had ignition problems
with a couple of mine that were easily fixed. The firing pin return
spring is very strong and I have cut a few coils from a couple. Also a
cause not readily noticed, the base of the inertia type firing pin
barely protrudes from the slide and the chamfer on the rear of the hole
varies and on some guns can get peened by the hammer and prevent
the pin from fully retracting, an easy fix. The safety is best used only
for takedown. The hammer has a very positive halfcock notch that
just barely holds the hammer off the firing pin so it's very safe to
carry chamber loaded. As heavy as the trigger pulls are I would carry
one cocked with safety off with no worries. Some "experts" think the
1934 is the best pistol of it's type of all time and I have to agree
with them.

It has to be rotated 180 degrees, which can be a bit disconcerting during the adrenalin rush of a life or death confrontation.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Thanks, gents!

Completely comfortable, BLM.

alwslate, thanks: new mag is factory marked and is identical to the one in the gun. I mentioned on another forum how many 1934 owners have told me the same thing you said about carrying on half-cock, but I think I'd go with Israeli carry if I carry it.

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Now go make God proud...

I didn't think there were any factory marked new mags available but
it's good to hear that there are. Most of the aftermarket mags are
junk. I have carried one of mine from time to time and for me half-cock
is the only way to go. My hands are small and it is impossible for me
to thumb cock the hammer from full down without both hands on the
gun. From the half-cock position I can cock the hammer fairly easily
with only one hand. Also it is very hard for me to rack the slide
without cocking the hammer first. But we are not all built the same
and so what works for one may not be right for the other. I'm sure
the industrial strength firing pin spring is part of the design. A safety
measure if the gun were dropped with a round chambered and the
half-cock or full-cock notch sheared. Your fired primers look normal.
Most of the 380 firing pins are flat on the end and if you look at the
face of the slide you will notice the dished surface around the pin
hole that lets the fired primer bulge a little. They're all like that so
I'm sure it's by design. You'll probably want another one to keep
this one company before long.

Well, maybe I'll give the half-cock notch a try, my Hoosier friend. Thanks for the comments and informed observation (on the half-cock and the primers).

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Now go make God proud...

One more, sorry.

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Now go make God proud...

Those older 7.65mm pistols are sometimes quite well made. I enjoy shooting them once in a while.

I recently sold mine, made in 1944 after the Italian surrender, and probably a bring back. It had been chrome plated here in the USA which was a pretty common thing. It is a VERY rugged and usable defense pistol, which was its purpose. I have great respect for Beretta pistols, and still own several. Yours is one of the nicest I have ever seen.

IIRC, they were made through the 1950's.

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Liberals made the USA

Importation stopped in 1968, along with several other pistols because
of the GCA of 1968. I have two WW2 era 1934s, one dated 1937 and
one 1941 and five commercial guns, three 1965s, one 1966 and one
1967. I have seen several 1967s but I have never seen one dated 1968.
I don't really know much of anything about post war sales outside the
US but there's something that makes me think that there was still
some military or police sales well into the 60s. My three 1965s have
holes in the bottom left rear of the grip frame for the lanyard ring of
the military models but they are not in my 1966 or 67. The one piece
plastic commercial grips cover them but they are there.

The M1934 was manufactured until about 1991. Serial number ranges are:

Start - End -Serial numbers


1934 - 1942 - from about 500073 to 999996
1934 - 1942 - from 1 to about 40000
1943 - 1945 - from F00001 to F99997
1943 - 1945 - from G00001 to G57486
1943 - 1945 - from 0001AA to 9997AA
1943 - 1945 - from 0001BB to 9971BB
1946 - 1949 - from C00001 to C99998
1949 - 1954 - from D00001 to D99999
1954 - 1967 - from E00001 to E95760
1967 - 1973 - from F50001 to F61693
1970 - 1975 - from G00007 to G49620
1972 - 1974 - from H00001 to H25000
1971 - 1980 - from T 1 to T 10217
1991 onwards from A28530Y


Start - End -Serial numbers for the .32 M1935


1935 - 1959 from about 411000 to 923048
1962 - 1963 from A10001 to A14130
1966 - 1967 from H14131 to H14673

I have two of them. Both wartime RE's. I liked how well made they were, and they fit my hand well. I wasn't expecting much with the small sights, but they are tack drivers!

Well made, reliable, accurate, comfortable and just plain fun to shoot. Hard to go wrong with one.

Erich, that's an great looking Beretta! I was drooling when you showed it on the reloading section last weekend... And yes, they really put quality and craftsmanship in that piece, and looks like it shoots nice and straight, too.

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NRA Life Member

They are very nice pistols and fit your hand just right.