[Kentucky Rifle]

I was just talking to my regular shop and the owner told me that Beretta has discontinued the Jetfire. He didn't like it. He sells a lot of Jetfires. I realize it's "only" a .25ACP, but as I sit here and type, my Jetfire is what's in my pocket. Naturally, there's a larger caliber revolver on my hip, but the Jetfire (loaded with Magsafes) is (for me) my most comfortable pocket pistol. Very reliable, right from the start. Magsafe ammunition makes it effective.
I believe I'll go out and buy another Jetfire to "put back".
Just wanted to put out the alert.

KR

[10-Ring]

Sad news indeed! :( My Jetfire is my do anything go everywhere gun. I had heard this news a few months ago & it's still hard to believe.

[George Hill]

It's not like they are taking them away from you... you already got yours... just buy some spar parts and your set.
It's not like its a Glock 22 or anything.

[shooter.45]

My dealer told me that about 3 weeks ago. I was hoping that it was not true but I guess so. I guess I better buy one of those use to have one but got rid of it for my P32 but that was a nice little gun. He does have a nickel one there maybe I will get that...

[bad_dad_brad]

I bought my Jetfire in . . . gee whiz, 1996. She is dressed in a beautiful polished Beretta blue. Always flawless and pretty darned accurate as well. I don't carry her anymore since I got a P32, but I will never sell her.

I suspect Beretta is dropping the Jetfire for liability and perhaps economic reasons. Sometimes known as a gang-banger gun (watch "Jackie Brown" - Ordell had one) and single action to boot - you do have to learn how to use her to be effective. And since the P32 and the plethora of tiny .32 and .380 pistols that have recently come out, perhaps the Jetfire isn't really selling all that well.

Sometimes mistaken as James Bond's original gun, it was probably an earlier .25 ACP Beretta model, although some Bond girls often delicately heft the Jetfire in the movies and posters.

The Jetfire 950 is a great little mouse gun, albeit in .25 ACP, but I understand why Beretta might not want to mess with her anymore. But I got mine! Maybe I will search a few local dealers to pick up another.

[JERRY]

if the .25acp was loaded to 850 f.p.s. with a 50gr. bulet like the manufacurers claim on their ammo boxes, it would indeed be a nice little round.

unfortunatly, youre lucky to get 750 f.p.s.



that aside, the beretta .25 jetfire is/was a good looking and very functional gun.

[Tamara]

Sigh... I, too, mourn the passing of a schweet little pocket gun. Still my favorite, as it was much easier for me to shoot fast and accurately than most of the newer DA thirty-twos. On top of that, they're dead-bang reliable, and tend to last a long time, which is good, since I don't intend to let mine get away...

RIP :(

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=571632

[Kevlarman]

Wow, makes me kind of glad I bought mine! I saw it in a shop going for about $100 on consignment. Older model, no manual safety, but looked to be in good condition. It's fun to shoot, and even though I don't have a CCW, I can see (by putting it in my pocket at home) how easy it would be to conceal.

[ruger357]

:(

[longeyes]

What's the best place to get parts for these? Anyone?

[JBP]

I do like my Jetfire. It looks like Beretta is still going to make a sub-compact in 25 ACP but only in the Bobcat 21 model. The dimensions between the two look about the same. What's the difference between them?

[Kevlarman]

My guess is the DA trigger on the Bobcat. I might have to go and pick one up in .22LR.

[Tamara]

The SA Jetfire is a fair bit smaller than the DA Bobcat.

Here's a pic of a 950BS Jetfire next to an early slim-slide 3032 Tomcat:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=573188

[ruger357]

Tamara,
I would like to get a set of grips like your's for my 950. Where did you get them?
Thanks

[Tamara]

Uh, actually from a guy that sets up at local gun shows who Marko and I refer to as "The Grip Guy". :uhoh:

Lemme grab a screwdriver, hang on a sec...

Nope... nothing printed on the backside of the grip panels. (Amazing how dirty they can get on a blowback operated gun, though. :uhoh: )

I think they're from Boone Trading Company???? Maybe?

[ruger357]

Thanks Tamara. I just checked out Ajax. They have them, but without the emblem.

[Kentucky Rifle]

This is the "worthless .25ACP".:D
If Bobcats in .22LR were as reliable, I'd go buy one right now. (Difficult to remove a dud round and all. I still want one.) Nice little .22LR for "pot shots". Great fun, but I want it to fire every time I pull the trigger. For that, I think I'd better get a NAA "Black Widow". And that's not a bad idea at all. Hummmm.

KR

[ruger357]

Not a bad idea at all Kentucky.:D

[dhoomonyou]

Is Beretta replacing it with something NEW & SMALL & Pocketable?

[Marko Kloos]

A moment of silence for the passing of the Beretta Jetfire, former king (and still most stylish) of the mouseguns.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=574796

[Al Thompson]

Yep. :( A good tool for the tool box. My 950 still works.

[Kentucky Rifle]

I purchased some grips just like that.
Every time you put up that picture of your Jetfire, I go and install those "Silverwood" beauties on mine. Don't they feel nice? :) What type grips does Mrs. Kloos have on her Tomcat? As a matter of fact, what type of ammunition does she use? RBCD is regular pressure and is what is in all my .32's.]
Since I already own the stainless Jetfire, I think I'll go buy the matte black version for "winter wear". Seeing Tamara's and the charactor marks it has convinced me. I even like the ivory grips. I think it's Excaliber who will put that silver Beretta logo on for an extra 10 bucks.

KR

[Herb Fredricksen]

Hi Bad Bad Brad and fellow THR'ers,

I, too am saddened if the Jetfire .25 and/or the Bobcat .25 are discontinued. My first pocket auto was a 21A 22lr (for the DA/SA capabilities and low cost practice with 22lr) and I thought I'd get a 21A .25 or a .32 Tomcat next but haven't gotten that far. Meanwhile I've picked up a 318 .25 and a 418 .25 and a 948 .22. but the smaller SA only 950 BS or whatever they are called is still appealing due to its size and weight. However its hard to beat the look of the 318 and 418 vs the later .25's.

This all peaked by interest in the James Bond gun in the first movie. I clearly saw a finger rest on the mag. In Connery's hand it looked like the larger framed 1934/1935 vs the smaller framed .25 of the book.

If I see an affordable 950BS .25, whatever its name, I'll probably buy it to fill out my "Guns of James Bond" collection. Beretta made so many Patent 1919 pistols I doubt I can find or afford one of each.

Meanwhile I plan to drive the range officers mad at my club's next Pennsylvania Speed Steel Match by using the 21A as my pistol. It shoots like a charm and the tip-up barrel goes to safe when popped open (at least in my opinion) between mag changes. I have 6 mags to suit. :-)

BTW, I obviously need an education on the .25 model number to name cross references. Anybody?

Herb Fredricksen

[Marko Kloos]

What type grips does Mrs. Kloos have on her Tomcat? As a matter of fact, what type of ammunition does she use?

Her Tomcat is wearing Beretta factory plastic panels, and the magazines are stoked with .32ACP Silvertips. The Tomcat in question is the very one pictured next to Tamara's Jetfire above, it's an early model with the glossy blue finish.

BTW, I obviously need an education on the .25 model number to name cross references. Anybody?

The offical model number of the Jetfire is Beretta 950BS.

[bad_dad_brad]

Herb,

Most likely the James Bond of the Fleming novels used a Beretta 1919 in .25 ACP, instead of the Jetfire, as his weapon of choice before his .32 Walther PPK. The reasoning behind this is that in the books, Bond had taken the grips off his Beretta, and wrapped tape around the skeleton frame. You can't do that with the Jetfire because the spring mechanism holding the magazine depends on the grips. But the Beretta 1919 does not.

And, you have sharp eyes. In the movie Dr. No, when Bond gives up his Beretta to M., it is most likely a model 1934 which is a .380. You can clearly see it is a Beretta because of the open slide, but it is much larger than a Jetfire or 1919. But hey, it is a movie prop, and at least they got the Beretta part right.

The Model 1919:

http://www.littlegun.be/ma_collection/a%20beretta%201919%20gb.htm

And an attached picture.

[Brigrat]

I know I like my jetfire, and I was seriously looking at getting another, as my wife has recently staked her claim to mine.

[Badger Arms]

Nice pictures, Brad. Don't know if that is your site, but there are some pretty guns there. I went to the web site and pulled a bunch for my compiled collection. I love 25's and own the CZ Duo, Z, and CZ45 (a safetyless CZ36). Note that production of the CZ36 didn't cease and it's still made today as the CZ92 virtually unchanged from the 36 with the exception of the manual safety being omitted.

http://www.itb.pt/images/ceska/CZ92-v.jpg

[Herb Fredricksen]

Hi Bad Bad (may I call you Bad Bad?) ;-)

Great info, helps me think straighter if not totally clear. Yes, I saw the open slide as well as the finger rest mag base in those brief Dr No scenes.

Your photos are among the cleanest I've seen, I urge everyone to look at them. Both pistols are Beretta Patent 1919 6.35mm/.25acp model 418's. The www.littlegun.be 418 is date stamped 1955 while mine is stamped 1954 and has a finger rest mag. Is the attachment the same photo?

I also have a Beretta Patent 1919 .25 model 318. The 318 has a convex grip safety while the 418 has a concave grip safety. My 318 has a flat mag base, I really prefer finger rest bases. NAA's optional .32 Guardian finger extension mag bases fit Beretta 1934/35 right off and will fit 318/418 mags with a little fitting. I need to order a few when they go on sale during one of NAA's monthly specials.

Beretta Patent 1919 covers many models so calling any Beretta model only a 1919 can lead to confusion. Best place to see them and understand that situation and my problem trying to collect them all is at this fantastic Italian site (click on English unless you read Italian):
http://gipa.virtualave.net/start.html Every Beretta collector should have it in their Favorites or Bookmarks.

My son-in-law is retired British Special Forces. After he retired he hired out as a private bodyguard to Dodi Fayez/Harrads/London and then embassies until he married my daughter and then moved to the States. When I show him a vest pocket pistol he reminds me they called them Disco Guns and taped the handles to make them thinner and more easily concealed. He and his peers carried such pistols.

Herb Fredricksen

[Hal]

Sweet - - my 950EL should be worth an extra 5 bucks or so now :D

[Badger Arms]

mine is stamped 1954 and has a finger rest mag.HERB: Please post photos. It's much easier to illustrate with photos... plus I want them! :D

[Herb Fredricksen]

Hi Bad Bad, (and Badger Arms)

I wanted to review the Gipa site while I was writing my last post but I didn't dare risk losing my draft by switching sites. Wish I had since going to it afterwards reminded me how pop-up laden it is. I hope the host benefits from the pop-ups because I hate them. They seem to be no more than a nuisance. You need to close each pop-up window without losing the good window, but the value of the pistol listings and the front and rear photos is worth the nuisance. I save the images I want to a folder for each specific pistol I'm tracking. Good site, pop-ups not withstanding.

I'm still stuck with imperfect knowledge on when the .25 1919 Patent pistol changed from model 318 to model 418. Neither the Gipa site nor Gene Gangarosa's Beretta Book answered the question.

George Foreman got away with naming all his boys George but I need different names for my babies. Until I know better I'm calling the convex grip safety model a 318 and the concave grip safety a 418. Love 'em both!

And Badger Arms: I sorely need a digital camera with decent resolution or the smarts on how to get reasonable size images from my scanner. Buying a digicam comes at the cost of buying another C&R (shudder) and learning how to use my scanner would distract me from research I really enjoy. Being male and impractical (do I repeat myself?) leads some of us astray.

Thanks for all the insightful comments,

Herb Fredricksen

[azrael]

I cant believe that they are discontinuing the jetfire...it was one of the first pistols I made a pocket holster for...just cant believe it :(

[Cooter Brown]

These are good and I might buy one if they had a little more power. There are zillions on the market, even if they stop making them today. I have the same basic gun in a 1950's Beretta Minx in .22 Short in a Desantis pocket holster, that with CCI hollow points seems, to me, to deliver a lot more punch than the .25 acp. Its for last-ditch point blank or preferably "contact" eyeball shots at the most, anyway.