History:
After the first successful pistol model of Beretta appeared on the market in 1915 and was adopted by the Italian army, Beretta changed the construction slightly and in 1919 also put a vestpocket pistol in caliber 6,35 mm for civilian use on the market.
The pistol immediately became a bestseller. Like the weapon of 1915 it was also called "Brevetto"-pistol.
Even if the pistol was designed for the civilian market, it is very likely, that this pistol was used by police and authorities too, however appearently not official, as no accordingly stamped examples showed up, up to now.
Introduced in 1920, it remained in production until 1935 , with several minor changes in construction during the production phase. The essential alteration consisted in an extension of the trigger bar to a disconnector as implementation from 1926. Also in the appearances of the grip plates were different. In 1934 the shape of the frame was changed and the new pistol was put as model 318 on the market.
The numbering startes with 100.000 and went as first implementation until approximately 180.000 in the year 1926. In the changed pattern from 1926, the numbering went until approximately 610.000, where there were some overlaps and transitions patterns to the new model 318.
Technical Data:
SYSTEM: self-cocking pistol with inertial system and striker
CARTRIDGES : 8
CALIBER : .25 ACP
BARREL LENGTH : 60 mm , 6 grooves right hand twisting
WEIGHT EMPTY : 370 g
TOTAL LENGTH : 115 mm
TOTAL HEIGHT : 89 mm
TOTAL WIDTH : 22 mm
TRIGGER : Single Action
SIGHT : fixed
SAFETY : safety-lever and grip safety
FINISH : blued
GRIPS : metal and hardrubber