History:
Shortly after introduction of the first Model the pistol became slightly redesigned.
The twin recoil springs were soon replaced by a single combination torsion spring, heavy "wings" on each side of the barrel at the muzzle were added, and the forward edges of the slide became bevelled.
In regular production, the .25 was now designated Model 950 B, and the .22 Model 950 CC. There was also another version of the .22, the Model 950 CC Special. lt had a longer (95mm or 3.74 inches) barrel.
By 1953, when the new small pistols began to be generally available in the United States the "CC" suffix on the .22 Short version no longer was being used. For the American market, the .22 was called the "Minx" and the .25 the "Jetfire."
In that time (around 1954) the retail price of the 950 B in .25 Auto was $40.-, in .22 a little bit higher $42.95.
Along with several other fine European pistols, the Model 950 B was caught in 1968 by the new U.S. importation restrictions, and was banned because of its small size. Then, in 1978, the J. L. Galef company and Beretta arranged for production of the small improved Beretta as Model 950BS at the Firearms International factory in Accokeek, Maryland, a facility that later became Beretta U.S.A., Incorporated.
During its period of manufacture, the Model 950 B was also produced in a Beretta facility in Brazil, and some of these pistols were imported into the United States. The Brazilian-made Model 950B was produced with Beretta tooling and under Beretta supervision. These guns were identical in every way to those made in Italy, including the markings on the left slide flat. On the right side of the slide, they were marked "MADE IN BRAZIL".
Technical Data:
SYSTEM: self-cocking pistol with inertial system, tip barrel and external hammer
CARTRIDGES : 8
CALIBER : .25 ACP
BARREL LENGTH : 60 mm , 6 grooves right hand twisting
WEIGHT EMPTY : 290 g
TOTAL LENGTH : 117 mm
TOTAL HEIGHT : 87 mm
TOTAL WIDTH : 24 mm
TRIGGER : Single Action
SIGHT : fixed
SAFETY : hammer safety-rest
FINISH : alloy frame blackened/blued
GRIPS : black plastic