Beretta 1923 model 9mm glisenti cal

[Eugen]

I have a chance to privately purchase a 1938 Beretta 1923 model that has been in a local family for a long time. I know next to nothing about Berettas and even less about the 1923 model. This gun in near mint condition in my opinion and I am temped to buy it, but I noticed that it is chambered for a 9mm Glisenti cal.

Glisenti?! What's dat? A quick search indicates that it is an special Italian 9mm with a different shaped bullet and reduced power for a blow back designed gun. So I doubt it could safely fire regular 9mm Luger ammo in the 1923 model. I did a quick web search last night and I could not find any currently manufactured ammo like that that was for sale. One source said that Fiocchi occasionally makes it. I'd like to shoot this gun a little, but probably won't by it if ammo is for it is as rare as lips on chickens.

I have only seen a few paper photos of the Beretta and won't get to handle it until later tonight. So no photos to post. I don't even have a offering price yet.

Any advice regarding this model and ammo availability would be most welcome.

[John Sabato]

Same case dimensions as 9mm Parabellum, but much less powerful. You could use 9mm Luger brass and handload for it if you can't find a source for commercial ammo. Not safe for 9mm standard loads.

Basically an historical wall-hanger... not a shooter IMHO.

[Eugen]

John, your advice is spot on. I handled the gun and it was so nice it almost appeared unfired. It had two original mags.such a beautiful old Beretta. I really would have loved to buy it, but your words kept ringing in my ears. I don't want it to just look at it. So I passed on it. I don't do hand loads and don't plan to in the future. I am sure it will find a nice home with a Beretta aficionado.

Thank you for your advice.

[Karl]

The grips on the pistol look like they came off of a 1912 Steyr Hahn.

Photo is not my gun, I just pulled it off the internet. KFS

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Karl

The grips on the pistol look like they came off of a 1912 Steyr Hahn.

Photo is not my gun, I just pulled it off the internet. KFS

Close,
except for the checkering and the top border or lack there of.

[Eugen]

Thanks folks for all the helpful replies.

The local seller allowed me to take the Beretta and a Russian 1938 Tokarev TT33 home for inspection. Having lost interest in the Beretta, I called a friend who might be interested in the Beretta. After he stopped by my house and took a quick peek at the Beretta, he called the seller and they closed a deal over the phone. In case you are curious the seller was motivated and was asking $700 and it sold for $650.

Here are some photos of the minty Beretta.

[Lugerdoc]

John S, What's the story on the one that you show with the wood grips? Asian copy? TH

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

John S, What's the story on the one that you show with the wood grips? Asian copy? TH

Just an internet picture Tom to illustrate the model. Found it with Google. No idea on the Manufacturer or history... sorry.

[sheepherder]

Forgotten Weapons emailed a short synopsis on the 1923 Beretta today - Since they send it to everybody, here's the email version -

RIA: Beretta Model 1923
by Ian McCollum

https://www.full30.com/embed/6dfa3b6...591edd7a3f4037

Beretta offered its first semiautomatic pistols during World War One, with the Model 1915 chambered in 9mm Glisenti. This was quickly supplemented by the 1915/17 scaled down to the .32ACP cartridge, which was both handier to carry and less expensive to make. After the end of the war, Beretta looked to deign a more modern replacement pistol for military and security service use.

This would take the form of the Model 1923, which was based on the same patent and the same basic design. It was again chambered for the 9mm Glisenti cartridge - identical dimensionally to the 9x19mm Parabellum, but loaded substantially lighter so as to be more suited to a simple blowback action. The 1923 was the first Beretta design to use an exposed hammer, a feature which would follow into all later Beretta service pistols through the Model 92/96.

The 1923 did not sell well, and only 10,400 were made by 1926, when production ended. These pistols would remain in Beretta’s inventory into the mid 1930s, and the last 3,000 were finally sold to the Italian military just following a contract signed for purchase of 150,000 of the Model 1934 pistols - a deal which has the hallmarks of a cooperative agreement of the government to take these reliable but generally undesirable guns out of Beretta’s hands to help clean up their books.

A small number of 1923 model pistols (actually designated model 1924 by Beretta) were made with locking lugs at the bottom of the grip to fit a detachable combination shoulder stock and holster. This stock was essentially a standard Model 1923 leather holster with a mate lug and folding retractable strut added to connect to the pistol. While all holster/stock combinations were compromises between the need to carry the gun and the need to make it a more stable shooting platform the 1923 type was not a great design, of limited shooting utility (hence its very limited production and sale).

It seems to be an auction - RIA probably - but it sounds like your friend may have a collectible Beretta at a reasonable price...

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/ria-beretta-model-1923/

It is a RIA auction, and the one being auctioned is slotted for the shoulder-stock...

http://www.rockislandauction.com/vie...id/68/lid/1428

[Eugen]

Sheephearder, after reading that article and the one for auction, I guess my buddy got a great deal!! The Model 1923 that he now owns is in mint condition, altough its not machined for a shoulder stock and has no holster. Still, he easily could double his money if he were to sell it.

Thanks. I'll share this info with him. I am sure he will appreciate it. I'll also remind him who introduced him to the deal.