Herb Fredricksen
Member
Hey Bad Bad and Badger Arms,
I'm continuing the discussion of Beretta .25 vest pockets here as the topic has now shifted to the 1919 Patent Berettas from model 1919 through models 318 and 418. Here is another very useful German site on Vest Pocket Pistols. Near the end it lists the Berettas we're talking about:
http://www.vestpockets.bauli.at/
Here are my observations from its photos (attached) and English text:
Model 1919 .25 concave (humped) grip safety and straight backstrap.
Introduced in 1920, it remained in production until 1935.
Replaced in 1934 by the:
Model 318 .25 concave (humped) grip safety and curved backstrap.
Introduced in 1934 (?), it remained in production until 1947 (?).
Replaced about 1947 (my assumption) by the:
Model 418 .25 image shows the convex (inward curved) grip safety.
Apparently production of this model started when production of the 318
ended. It remained in production until 1958, the US version originally
called the Bantam and then the Panther.
Replaced by model 950, 950B, 950BS, 20, 21A, etc.
Note from this site's excellent English text:
"In 1947 the last change of the 6.35mm pistol took place. The main change
was in the shape of the grip safety, instead of the hump it was now curved
to match the contour of the frame."
You can see how I might be confused. My 1947 dated pistol has the concave grip safety while my 1955 dated pistol has the convex grip safety. For simplicity I'm calling the 1947 humped a 318 and the 1955 curved a 418. If and when I know better I'll change my nomenclature.
Herb Fredricksen [email protected]
PS, I tried to attach the three photos but I can't prove it worked before sending. If not you can view them on the website above. It worked on my email draft. If you want a copy send me your email offlist.
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I'm continuing the discussion of Beretta .25 vest pockets here as the topic has now shifted to the 1919 Patent Berettas from model 1919 through models 318 and 418. Here is another very useful German site on Vest Pocket Pistols. Near the end it lists the Berettas we're talking about:
http://www.vestpockets.bauli.at/
Here are my observations from its photos (attached) and English text:
Model 1919 .25 concave (humped) grip safety and straight backstrap.
Introduced in 1920, it remained in production until 1935.
Replaced in 1934 by the:
Model 318 .25 concave (humped) grip safety and curved backstrap.
Introduced in 1934 (?), it remained in production until 1947 (?).
Replaced about 1947 (my assumption) by the:
Model 418 .25 image shows the convex (inward curved) grip safety.
Apparently production of this model started when production of the 318
ended. It remained in production until 1958, the US version originally
called the Bantam and then the Panther.
Replaced by model 950, 950B, 950BS, 20, 21A, etc.
Note from this site's excellent English text:
"In 1947 the last change of the 6.35mm pistol took place. The main change
was in the shape of the grip safety, instead of the hump it was now curved
to match the contour of the frame."
You can see how I might be confused. My 1947 dated pistol has the concave grip safety while my 1955 dated pistol has the convex grip safety. For simplicity I'm calling the 1947 humped a 318 and the 1955 curved a 418. If and when I know better I'll change my nomenclature.
Herb Fredricksen [email protected]
PS, I tried to attach the three photos but I can't prove it worked before sending. If not you can view them on the website above. It worked on my email draft. If you want a copy send me your email offlist.
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