No. 6

Q. I am doing some research on the .25 ACP Beretta 950, as made around the 1950's - before Beretta USA started manufacturing them. I have looked around and can find little information on the 950. Most information on Berettas are on the 9mm, etc.
I wonder if you are able to help me with the following questions.
1. Would the slide marking of an Italian made 950 made around the 1950's be "P. Beretta-cal.25-Brev.950" ?
2. What would the serial number range likely to be?
3. Where would the serial no. and proofmark be located?
4. Where can I find field stripping and exploded diagrams information on the 950? If you have diagrams/pictures are you able to supply a copy to me? I have got in touch with a local distributor of Beretta and they don't have such information.
5. Are you able to supply a scan/picture/or hand drawing of the Gardone Val Trompia proofmark that would appear on a 1950 Beretta 950?
6. What types of Beretta 0.25ACP's models would have been made around the 1950's? Is the Beretta 950 the only .25cal model made around this time? (Did the Jetfire name only came in existance when the Americans started manufacturing?)
I am sorry if these questions are troublesome in detail but I can't find much information on the smaller calibre Berettas nowadays. Everybody seems interested in the bigger calibres. I hope you are able to supply some answers to my questions. (11/05/1998)

A. 1. The slide marking of an Italian made 950 made around the 1950's that I observed are : " Beretta Brev. 950 - 6,35 " (example #1). On the oter hand the slide marking that I observed on a Brev.950 cal. 22 short are : "P.Beretta -cal.22 corto - Brev. 950" (example #2) . For this reason, it is possible that on the guns made for the American market the slide marking differs and the caliber could have been written like " cal. 25 ", and not " 6,35 ".
You must also consider that Beretta often changes some details also today but still more around the 1950's.
2. The serial number would have to be xxxxxB (example #1).
3. The serial number would have to be located on frames's right side, above the trigger. Proofmark would have to be located on the left side of the frame, near the hammer pin.
6. Around the 1950's there was two Beretta pistols cal. 25 ACP :
- patent 1919 model 418 cal. 25 ACP
- patent (model) 950 cal. 25 ACP
and at the end of the 1950's - beginning of the 1960's
- model 20 cal. 25 ACP (double action)
I think that the Jetfire name came in existance when the Beretta USA Corporation started to produce the 950BS pistols.
Some examples of Beretta model 950 pistols:
#1.
Manufacturing year : 1953
Serial number : 59523B
Serial number's position : frames's right side
Slide marking (left side) : Beretta Brev. 950 - 6,35
Slide marking (right side) : MADE IN ITALY
Proofmarks : rear left side of the frame
#2.
Manufacturing year : 1955
Serial number : 60881CC
Serial number's position : frames's right side
Slide marking (left side) : P.Beretta -cal.22 corto - Brev. 950
Slide marking (right side) : MADE IN ITALY
Proofmarks : rear left side of the frame
#3.
Manufacturing year : 1965
Serial number : B73657
Serial number's position : frames's right side
Slide marking (left side) : P. BERETTA - Mod. 950 B - Cal 6.35
Slide marking (right side) : MADE IN ITALY
Proofmarks : rear left side of the frame
#4.
Manufacturing year : 1990
Serial number : A32053V
Serial number's position : frames's left side
Slide marking (left side) : P. BERETTA - Mod. 950 B - Cal 6.35
Slide marking (right side) : P B. - MADE in ITALY
Proofmarks : front right side of the frame



No. 16

Q.Would you kindly send me any information on (modello) 950 cal. 6, 35mm. Thank you for your time and consideration. (01/02/1999)

A. Model 950 is a single-action, semi-automatic, blowbackaction pistol.
One of the main features is a tip-up barrel for quick, direct chamber loading and unloading, without working the slide.
The first model of this pistol has been constructed in 1950 years.
The last model is still produced.
Every model differs from previous ones for some modification or improvement. The passage from a model to the other happens in the respect of the conception original of the firearm. We can distinguish the following main models:
- patent (model) 950 cal. 25 ACP (6,35 mm Browning), 60 mm barrel
- patent (model) 950 SPECIAL cal. 22 short (22 corto), 95 mm barrel
- model 950 B cal. 25 ACP
- model 950 B, 950 B SPECIAL cal. 22 short
- model 950 CC, 950 CC SPECIAL cal. 22 short
- model 950 BS (JETFIRE) cal. 25 ACP
The Italian production ended on the earlier 1990 years.
Model 950 BS (JETFIRE) is the model today produced.
Model 950 BS (JETFIRE) is produced in the States, by Beretta USA Corporation.
The feature that distinguishes the model 950 BS from the previous ones is the hammer safety. Chambered for 25 ACP ammunition, 950 BS JETFIRE is also available in nickel and in EL models, featuring fine gold inlay on the slide and other gold accents.


No. 32

Q. Can you tell me where I can find the factory grips or a equal pair of quality grips for the model 950 B, 950 B SPECIAL cal. 22 short. I damaged my grips with an organic solvent while I was cleaning them. If you could assist me I appreciate it! Thanks. (03/26/1999)

A. Sir, I send you two addresses.

1. ..................
This is an enough large company. It is specialized, between the other things, in spare parts of Beretta guns and must have the grips for the model 950 B.

2. ..................
He is a very good gunsmith. He is specialized, between the other things, in Beretta guns. Also this person would have to be able to find the spare parts that interest you.


No. 42

Q. I recently purchased a Beretta 950 in cal. 22 corto manufactured in 1956. The gun is in nice shape except for the grips which are warped from heat. The recoil spring arrangement is different from a 950B and these grips will not fit. Can you recomend a source for these grips?
Also I recently examined one of these marked as a Model 1950 manufactured in 1952 I believe. At what date did Beretta change the designation to 950? (04/15/1999)

A. No, any source.
I think that the only possibility is to look for on the second-hand market.
For what concerns the name used by Beretta for this gun, look at the following examples:

Slide marking : " Beretta Brev. 950 - 6,35 " ; manufacturing year: 1953
Slide marking : " P. Beretta - cal. 6,35 - Brev. 950 " ; manufacturing year: 1955
Slide marking : " P. BERETTA - Mod. 950 B - Cal 6.35 " ; manufacturing year: 1965
Slide marking : " P. BERETTA - Mod. 950 B - Cal 6.35 " ; manufacturing year: 1990

I don't know a Beretta pistol marked " Model 1950 ".
I would like to know other information on this gun, the slide markings, the serial number, and any other interesting detail.


No. 48

Q. I have an old 22 Beretta:

TIPO FLOBERT MADE IN ITALY
C84087
PBERETTA-Mod 950 B-Cal 22 Short
XXVIII

I bought it one year ago for 200 dollars, it is not in a good condition but work excellent, maybe it was so expensive but I live in Mexico and you can't buy guns easily. Here is hard to find .22 short bullets, It's possible to make some changes to accept .22 LR ?. (05/13/1999)

A. Your gun is a Beretta Pistol model 950 B, manufactured in Italy in 1972 (really XXVIII = 1972 would be the year when the gun has been submitted to the proofhouse).
The firearms factory Pietro Beretta is in Italy in Gardone Val Trompia (province of Brescia).
Model 950 is a single-action, semi-automatic, blowbackaction pistol. One of the main features is a tip-up barrel for quick, direct chamber loading and unloading, without working the slide. The first model of this pistol has been constructed in 1950 years. The last model is still produced. Every model differs from previous ones for some modification or improvement. The passage from a model to the other happens in the respect of the conception original of the firearm.
We can distinguish the following main models:
- patent (model) 950 cal. 25 ACP (6,35 mm Browning), 60 mm barrel
- patent (model) 950 SPECIAL cal. 22 short (22 corto), 95 mm barrel
- model 950 B cal. 25 ACP
- model 950 B (60 mm barrel), 950 B SPECIAL (95 mm barrel) cal. 22 short
- model 950 CC, 950 CC SPECIAL cal. 22 short
- model 950 BS (JETFIRE) cal. 25 ACP
The Italian production ended on the earlier 1990 years. Model 950 BS (JETFIRE) is the model today produced. Model 950 BS (JETFIRE) is produced in the States, by Beretta USA Corporation. The feature that distinguishes the model 950 BS from the previous ones is the hammer safety.
As it regards the change of the caliber, I think that it is really very difficult (practically impossible) to change the caliber from .22 short to .22 L.R.
To make a change of this kind would need, at least:
- to change the chamber;
- to change the slide travel;
- to change the recoil spring;
- to change the magazine.
It is necessary to think also to possible legal problems.
It is necessary to think also that the Beretta has never produced a 950 pistol in caliber .22 LR.
For these reasons it is better to abandon this idea.


No. 50

Q. I own a beretta pistol model 950 B caliber 6.35 mm serial number B-65097, is made in Brazil, i purchased it in february of last year and would like to know the date of manufacture and a source of magazines, it seems that the mags available here in mexico ( homemade or hechizos as we call them in mexico ) are a tad long and protude of the bottom of the gun. thank you in advance. (05/15/1999)

A. according to the serial number, your gun has been manufactured in 1965 (or perhaps in 1964).
The model produced today is the model 950 BS (JETFIRE). Model 950 BS is produced in the States, by Beretta USA Corporation. The feature that distinguishes the model 950 BS from your pistol is the hammer safety.
The magazine is the same.
For this reason you can buy the 950 BS magazine; this magazine should easily enough be available on the market.
I send some addresses to you:

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