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Beretta M1934 Air Force stamped

4K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  abukafura 
#1 ·
I added a Air Force M1934 to my collection and I thought I’d post a few photos on my new pride and joy. I started out with a 1939 Royal Army a few years ago and then I added a 1944 M1935 Nazi 4UT (7.65mm).

I always wanted another M1934 and was able to score this late 1944 production one. It was a G.I. bring back. The period correct holster was part of the deal. The barrel bore is excellent and seemingly little fired. It is certainly not mint, having some pitting on the slide, but that just put it in my price range. Given the production date, was this firearm made for and accepted by the Italian AF or somehow provided to the German military? I thought the Germans controlled the Beretta factory at this time. There were no noticeable German stamps of any kind.

This new collector welcomes your comments and opinions.
 

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#2 ·
Your pistol was produced for the Italian Socialist Republic.(R.S.I.) The Republic came into existence after Mussolini was rescued from Italian imprisonment, by German forces in 1943. A German controlled Government was set up in Northern Italy! The German Army occupied the Beretta Plant from 1943 to !945. Pistols manufactured during this time period were for use by the R.S.I. forces or the occupying Germans. Pistols with the AA and BB suffix serial numbers are reported to have been produced for the German Occupation Forces.
Tom
 
#3 ·
Your pistol was produced for the Italian Socialist Republic.(R.S.I.) The Republic, came into existence after Mussolini was rescued from Italian imprisonment, by German forces in 1943. A German controlled Government was set up in Northern Italy! The German Army occupied the Beretta Plant from 1943 to !945. Pistols manufactured during this time period were for use by the R.S.I. forces or the occupying Germans. Pistols with the AA and BB suffix serial numbers are reported to have been produced for the German Occupation Forces.
Tom
I have report of many guns in those serials used by RSI forces and not only for Germans.
Don't you find strange that the royal eagle was used for republican army?
 
#4 ·
Grunt and kanister, thank you for your comments.

But, I am still confused for the reason kansiter mentions. What I mean is, I can't image there would be very many M1934s needed by what would have been left of the Royal, or rather RSI, Air force during 1943-45. So is this Royal Eagle stamping rare for a late 1944 manufactured M1934? I would think so, but I don't know much. ;) It makes less sense to me that this Royal Eagle stamped M1934 was intended for the occupying German forces even given the "BB" suffix. So I am still scratching my head. :confused:
 
#5 ·
Kanister, A similarly marked Baretta was the subject of a post in January! On 1-16-19 you posted the following. We think the Gardone Proof House used the old Brescia proof marks including the RAF proof mark, until old proofs were consumed. This was because new proofs could not be obtained.
In your opinion, does your statement hold true?
Tom
 
#7 ·
Kanister, Grunt, so if I understand you correctly. A Royal Eagle proof mark during late 1944 may or may not been for the RSI AF but rather for the RSI army or even for the Germany army. Your reasoning is that the Beretta factory did not have newer stamps for the new Italian RSI army or AF (or German 4UT yet) and just decided to stamp the frame with whatever proof die they had available. So when a M1934 was assembled, inspected and ready to be shipped out, some inspector just wacked the frame with any stamp to indicate it was accepted. Do I understand this correctly?
 
#9 ·
Eugen, I just logged on and got into this discussion late. It appears you already got your answer. I agree the use of the AF acceptance is seldom seen on these AA and BB guns for the reasons stated. I think you did well. The condition is nice and the holsters themselves are desirable. Congrats on your pickup and thanks for sharing.
 
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