During both world wars, Italian soldiers were often equipped with well-made weapons, but some were impractical and sometimes unreliable. In the midst of these mediocre weapons, the Beretta Model 38 SMGSubMachine Gun More stands out for its ease of use and efficiency. As such, it undoubtedly represented one of the most successful weapons in the Italian arsenal until 1945. No doubt this success finds its source in its development carried out in a private environment, which allowed it to see the light of day without suffering from the nitty-gritty weights of poorly drafted military specifications.
Genesis
By adopting in 1915 the twin ultra-light machine gun Villar Perosa, Italy had taken a first step towards the adoption of a submachine gunSubMachine Gun More (Pic.01). The Villar Perosa, firing a slightly underloaded version of the 9 mm Parabellum – the 9 mm Glisenti – had little effectiveness both as a light machinegun or as an aircraft machine gun at least, not as much as some would have liked to. On the other hand, by its small dimensions and its relative lightness, it answered the need felt by front-line combatants and the Arditi of the corps francs for a mobile automatic weapon, capable of quickly delivering a large volume of fire in a critical area of the front, to which the adoption of the German MP 18/I would provide an answer some time later on the French front.
Attempts were made to make the Villar Perosa transportable and usable by a moving fighter. This research very quickly led to the dissociation of the twinning and the assembly of each of the barrel / receiver assemblies on a stock equipped with a trigger mechanism of the rifle type. These changes are presented in more detail in the article by Michael Heidler available on this same website. Thus, in the aftermath of WWI, a whole range of submachine guns derived from the Villar Perosa appeared, most of which were made by the Beretta factories under the authority of the engineer Tullio Marengoni (Pic.02).
Like the other SMGs manufactured at that time, these weapons found few buyers, because the experience of using the German Bergmann MP 18/I had been forgotten and most of the armies of the world were at that time mainly concerned with the adoption of a really effective light machine gun. Beretta marketed a carbine very close to its SMGSubMachine Gun More but with semi-automatic mode only: the Beretta model 18/30. This weapon was used by some Italian police forces (Pic.03) but also by the Argentine police and was found in 1938 in the stockpiles of weapons hidden in France by the revolutionary social movement better known as “la Cagoule“ (the cowl). Despite this single commercial success of the interwar period, Tullio Marengoni continued his work towards the development of a high-performance SMGSubMachine Gun More.
The « Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modelo 38 »
The uncertainty that persisted within the headquarters about the tactical use of the submachine gunSubMachine Gun More led Tullio Marengoni to propose a new type of weapon: the automatic musketoon or “Moschetto automatico” in Italian. (Pics. 04 to 08). Operating from a straight blowback bolt, it fires from an open bolt a new ammunition very close to the 9 mm Parabellum, but with a reinforced load: the 9 mm M.38 (Pic.09). This ammunition increased the power of the 9 mm Glisenti then used by Italy in these handguns (Glisenti model 1910, Brixia model 1912 and Beretta model 1915) as well as the Villar Perosa and its derivatives. The use of the 9 mm M.38 is also to be avoided in these weapons, still partially in service in the Italian army during WWII (Pic.10). In order to avoid confusion, the M.38 cartridge case is identified by a knurling on its middle part. This ammunition was delivered on stripper clips of 10 cartridges similar to those used in Mauser Model 1896 pistols (Pic.11).
The cocking handle is positioned on the right side and has a machined dust cover (Pic.12). The weapon has two triggers: one at the front that controls the single mode and the other at the rear the automatic mode, the latter is striated for easy tactile identification (Pic.13). The presence on the weapon of a locking device allowing at will to neutralize the automatic trigger confirms the primary vocation of semi-automatic carbine (Pic.14). A safety lever blocking both triggers is placed on the left side of the receiver (Pic.15). For the transport of the weapon without magazine, the magazine well has a flap to prevent the entry of foreign bodies into the mechanism (Pic.16). A solid wooden stock with a half-pistol grip, a rear sight adjustable up to 500 m and a barrel of respectable length (31.5 cm when most of the other SMGSubMachine Gun More have a 20 cm long barrel), which could be extended by a bayonet with a folding blade completed the semi-automatic carbine character of this weapon (Pic.17 to 21). The Italian army adopted it in 1938 under the name “Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modelo 38” (abbreviated MAB Mod.38). It also served with the National Security Volunteer Militia (MVSN) and the Colonial Police.
The weapon is equipped with a bolt whose small diameter recoil spring is housed in a telescopic tube, according to the principle put into effect a few years earlier by the German Heinrich Vollmer (Pic.22). The spring thus captive, this arrangement allowed a very easy disassembly, in which bolt and recoil spring are removed from the weapon in a single action (disassembly is shown on Pics.23 to 30). This provision also avoids the action of foreign bodies on the spring and prevented twisting of the latter, frequent with springs of small diameter not held by a guiding rod (as on the MP 18/I and the French STA SMGSubMachine Gun More). The bolt is equipped with a mobile firing pin operated by a lever positioned on the underside of the bolt. This lever makes the firing pin protrude when the bolt, at the end of its forward movement, hits the ejector support (Pic.31). This provision is also found on Thompson 1921 and 1928 SMGs. The rear part of the recoil spring protective tube protrudes from the center of the receiver cap, which has the effect of centering the spring and exerting permanent pressure on the cap preventing it from being accidentally disassembled (Pic.32).
On the first versions, the barrel of the MAB 38 is protected by a perforated shroud, consisting of a machined tube, pierced with oblong openings, on the following versions the openings are circular. Ahead of the front sight is installed a climbing compensator, operating on the same principle as the “Cutts” compensator of the Thompson SMGSubMachine Gun More: it is a cylindrical part machined with two large ports oriented upwards which directed part of the gases at the exit of the barrel in this direction and limit the climbing of the weapon. On later models, the two ports would be replaced by four slots closely reminiscent of “Cutts” compensator (Pic.33).
The butt plate has a hatch that gives access to a housing machined inside the stock in which two sections of a cleaning rod (the one of the Carcano carbine) and a 9 mm brush for cleaning the barrel are placed. (Pic.34)
Originally, three types of magazines were available: 10, 20 and 40 rounds. They are of a double-stack / double-fed type (Pic.35). This design makes them easy to hand-load (unlike the “Schmeisser” type magazines, whose cartridges are represented in a central position – “single fed”). There is, however, a loader that enables them to be loaded with 10-cartridge stripper clips. This guide was often carried suspended from the equipment by a carabiner. The cartridges for SMGSubMachine Gun More are thus delivered on these magazine blades which allow the rapid loading of magazines (Pics.36 and 37).
The magazine is inserted in straight way inside the weapon. It is locked by a lever whose control is located behind the magazine well. We can note here that inside the weapon, the magazine is not placed in a straight perpendicular way from the barrel, but in a slightly angled way, a better provision for feeding.
At an undetermined time, 30-round magazines were also put into service. They are externally identical to those of 40, but their locking plate has a guide limiting the sinking of the follower and thus the capacity to 30 cartridges (Pics.38 and 39). There are also 30-round magazines of intermediate size between the 20 and 40-round magazines, but it seems that these were manufactured after WWII. The magazines are blued and have on their back side a numeration in tens identifying the loading control holes. Some magazines bear a manufacturer marking but the majority are anonymous (Pic.40). The magazine of the Beretta model 38 would prove so successful, that it would be adopted on the whole Italian SMGSubMachine Gun More: from WWII (TZ-45, FNAB-43) but also on post-war weapons such as the Franchi LF-57 and the Beretta Model 12 S in service in many police forces. The latter was used by the French National Police, with the PM 12SD, and was only replaced in the 2010s!
The version finally adopted by the Italian army would be the “Model 38A” whose ejection port, previously placed at the top of the receiver is slightly offset to the left of the receiver, so that the ejection of the brass does not disturb the aim (Pics.41 to 43).
Wartime evolution
During the war years, the standard Model 38 corresponding to the type 3 described above, i.e. with a shroud with circular openings and a 4-slot climbing compensator, benefited from several simplifications designed to reduce its production cost and speed up its manufacture (Pic.44 to 46):
- the barrel shroud, initially machined from a single metal piece, was replaced by shrouds made from extruded steel tube and then from rectangular steel-sheet rolled and welded on its lower part,
- instead of being machined from a single metal piece, the receiver was made by rolling and welding a rectangular steel-sheet,
- the automatic fire lock pusher, which was totally useless on a weapon of war, was removed,
- the cocking handle was also simplified and its machined dust cover sliding in a rail, was replaced by a simple piece of stamped sheet metal covering the cocking groove,
- the arrangement for mounting a bayonet was removed,
- little by little, the superb walnut used to make the stocks ceases to receive the polish of yesteryear to take on a matte and poorly finished appearance then it gives way to simpler woods of lighter appearance, requiring less drying time. On these mid-war models the stock is slightly shortened at the front and now ends a little ahead of the stock band.
These minor simplifications, however, remained insufficient to meet the drastic restrictions imposed by the war economy and the Beretta factories had to adopt in the middle of the war very simplified versions of the Model 38.
Simplified end-of-war versions: 38/42 and 38/44 models
In 1941, while the Italian army was engaged alongside the Afrika Korps in the fighting in North Africa, the Italian headquarters took into account the wish of its paratroopers and motorized units to have a short weapon like the German MP 38 (Pic.47).
The satisfaction of this request was entrusted once again to Tullio Marengoni, who created the “Model 1”: a weapon that retains the basic mechanism of the MAB 38 but is equipped with a folding stock inspired by that of the German MP 38, an aluminum pistol grip and whose stock ends rear of the magazine well (Pics.48 and 49). The latter is profiled in the shape of a handle. The barrel of the Model 1 is devoid of a shroud, on the other hand it is thick, in order to delay its heating and fluted with longitudinal grooves intended to increase its surface of contact with the ambient environment in order to improve its cooling. Two slots machined at the muzzle, perpendicular to the axis of the barrel acted as compensator. The weapon has a fixed-striker bolt, which is slightly shorter than the Model 38. This version is sometimes referred to by some authors as the “Model 38/43”. There is also some confusion in the names of Beretta SMGs. For our part, we have chosen to stick to the “Model 1” nomenclature from the superb history of the firm published by R.L. Wilson in 2001 by Proxima. Despite these much-improved ergonomics, the “Model 1” would never be mass-produced, probably because of its too high-cost price.
At this time, the German war effort began to get bogged down in Russia: 1942 was the year of Stalingrad and the African campaign began to sound like a defeat. The entry of the United States into the war the previous year brought the Allies the help of a formidable industrial potential, at a time when the shortage of raw materials was settling in the Axis countries and the first effects of the Allied strategic bombings were beginning to weigh on the economy of the Third Reich. At the end of 1942, the Minister of Armaments, Albert Speer, simply incorporated the Italian arms industry into the normal sources of supply for the German army. The factories of northern Italy were gradually integrated into the production apparatus of the Third Reich. At the same time, the Romanian army, failing to obtain enough Orita SMGs from the Cugir national factory, also opted for the purchase from its Italian ally of MAB Mod. 38A and MP 41 from Germany (Pics.50 and 51).
At the end of 1943, the Third Reich having decided to abandon the manufacture of the MP 40 in favour of that of the MP 43 and 44, decided that the submachine gunSubMachine Gun More needs of the Reich troops would be met by Beretta Mod. 38A, who took in the German nomenclature the name of “MP 739 (i)” (Pics.52 to 57). The result of all these developments was an increase in orders for “Moschetto Automatico” at Beretta, which was forced to consider simplifying the original model in order to produce more and at a lower cost.
In 1942, Tullio Marengoni, offered the Italian army a more compact weapon that takes the mechanism of the Model 1 with a wooden fixed stock. The receiver is no longer machined or extruded steel but made using a stamped steel, rolled and welded. The fluted barrel of the Model 1 with two slots serving as a compensator at the end is preserved although some early manufactures are equipped with a thick barrel almost cylindrical and devoid of fluting. The tangential rear sight of the previous models gives way to a two-leaf rear sight for 100- and 200-meters distances. The bolt has a fixed firing pin, permanently protruding in the bolt faceThe bolt face is the part of the bolt which in set place the... More. This version called “Model 38/42” would be abundantly manufactured for both the Italian forces and the German army (Pics.58 to 65).
In his book “The world’s Submachine guns and Machine pistols“, Thomas B. Nelson indicates that at the end of 1943, the monthly production of Beretta Model 38/42 was close to 20,000 copies, which is quite respectable for a weapon of fairly traditional design, manufactured in a context of difficulties of refueling raw materials.
The difficult conditions of the last months of the war when southern Italy was in the hands of the Allies and signed an armistice with them, while German troops and their fascist allies in the Italian Social Republic (ISR) occupied northern Italy, resulted in the industrial field by an increased simplification of manufacturing. At the end of 1943, the principle of the so-called “telescopic” recoil spring, so distinctive of the Model 38, was abandoned in favor of a STEN-type bolt with a fixed firing pin resting on a large diameter recoil spring (Pic.66). On this model, the receiver cap no longer has the central orifice used to center the rear part of the recoil spring housing, which existed on previous models and ensured the locking of the bolt cap (Pics.67 and 68). Now to disassemble the weapon, it is no longer necessary to compress the back of the recoil spring housing to allow the rotation of the receiver cap: it is enough to clear a locking pusher placed at the back of the frame, which thus locks the cap. The barrel permanently loses its fluting (Pics.69 and 70). The butt plate also has its hatch removed (Pic.71). This simplified version, dubbed the Model 38/44, would go into production in February 1944, when Axis forces evacuated northern Italy under Allied pressure.
Neither the Liberation of northern Italy, nor the bombing it suffered on April 3rd, 1945, did interrupt the activities of the Beretta firm, which continued its manufactures to arm the law enforcement forces of the new Italian government, and which soon met with great success in exporting to the Middle East and South America where the Beretta SMGs would be widely employed (Pics.73 to 75). The Beretta would remain in service for a very long time in the Italian army and police where they would be dethroned only very gradually from the end of the 70s by third generation SMGs such as the Franchi LF-57 and the Beretta Model 12. Beretta SMGSubMachine Gun More was also adopted after the war by the West German border police (BundesGrenzSchutz = BGS) when it was created, shortly before that of a new German army: the Bundeswehr. This version of the Beretta 38/42 has a safety push button running through the stock (Pics.76 and 77). An unconfirmed rumor claims that the Beretta SMGSubMachine Gun More and Astra 600 pistol delivered to Germany in the 50s were the finalization of orders from the Third Reich and undelivered after the Allies liberated the border territories of the Reich thus cutting it off from its sources of supply.
In the fifties, the feedback from accidents with SMGs would lead to the adoption of automatic devices preventing the unintended recoil of the bolt followed by its return forward with chambering of a cartridge and the untimely departure of one or more shots. We would then see the appearance of pushers and safety “pedals” installed in the stock of the Beretta SMGs. The presence of a device of this type unambiguously indicates to the collector that he is dealing with a post-war weapon, which is not necessarily uninteresting but remains much less desirable than a pre-1945 model (Pics.78 and 79).
Accessories
Beretta SMGs were equipped with only a small number of accessories compared to some of their foreign counterparts. These accessories, which are now highly sought after by collectors, deserve to be presented here.
It seems that the Italian forces used two types of mag pouches during WWII:
- Pouches containing magazines in a vertical position. At the beginning of the war there were grey-green leather pouches for two or three magazines. At the end of the war, olive green canvas pockets appeared, some with one leather closure strap per pouch like the German MP 40 magazine holders, others with a single large flap closed by a single strap held by a wooden belaying pin (Pic.80).
- Vests on which the magazines are housed in the pectoral and dorsal position in seven horizontal pouches. These accessories, now highly sought after, are nicknamed “Samurai” by collectors, because of their atypical appearance. It seems that they were mostly in endowment in the paratrooper units. They made it possible to carry a large number of magazines close to the body, while intended to act as a bulletproof vest or makeshift shrapnel protection (Pics.81 and 82). It can be noted here that the magazines placed in the back had above all a “collective” vocation, not being able to be easily taken by the wearer of the vest.
Pictures of German troops using Beretta SMGs rarely show these pouches. It can be assumed that the Reich troops used the MP 40 mag pouch or other German SMGs. The German paratroopers, heavy users of Beretta probably housed the spare magazines in the pockets of their jump suit (Pics.83 and 84).
Two slings have been provided for the Beretta Model 38. A simple leather strap with an adjustment buckle like the French slings of MAS 36 but the Beretta was also often equipped with a brown leather sling adjustable by a slider quite close to the German one mounted on the 98k rifles and MP 40 SMGSubMachine Gun More. These slings are now often offered to collectors for German straps, sometimes after being covered with fake Nazi stamps to make them more convincing (Pic.85).
A transport bag in grey-green canvas to protect the weapon in sandy areas was provided: in addition to the weapon, it allows to carry magazines and a loader for stripper clips.
Various prototypes of Beretta SMGs were equipped with a foldable spike-bayonet permanently mounted on the weapon, as on the carabiner 38 TS. Most Beretta Model 38 series were however devoid of bayonet except on some copies which could equip a dagger-bayonet with folding blade. It seems that many of these bayonets were later turned into combat daggers by immobilizing the blade in the unfolded position. We also met Beretta 38/49 equipped with this type of bayonet, probably thus arranged to meet an export contract which we were unable to identify.
Conclusion
Powerful and accurate weapons, the Beretta Model 38 and its derivatives also proved to be very reliable in the field as well as easy to maintain and use. They are undoubtedly among the best individual weapons that the Italian army has been equipped with, and also among the most appreciated spoils of war of the Allied soldiers who would hasten to recover the weapons left on the ground at the end of the engagements that would oppose them to the Italian troops. The Beretta Model 38A would also seduce the German army who would order this model, which was often seen in the hands of the Fallschirmjäger, who seem to have particularly appreciated this versatile and effective Italian weapon, which thanks to its powerful ammunition and selective firing capability prefigures the assault rifleAn assault rifle is a weapon defined by the use of an "inter... More. Another Axis ally, Romania also adopted the Beretta Model 38 to complement the Orita SMGSubMachine Gun More that the Cugir factory could not produce in sufficient numbers to meet the needs generated by the war on the Eastern Front.
Luc Guillou
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Technical data:
Caliber: 9 mm
Ammunition: 9 mm M.38 (overloaded version of the 9 mm Parabellum developing a V0 of 420 m/s)
Total length: 930 mm
Barrel length: 315 mm
Empty mass: 4.25 kg
Cyclic rate: about 600 rounds per minute
Capacity: by magazines of 10, 20, 30 and 40 cartridges
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Pic.01: An Austrian fighter, obviously robust, shows to a group of officers how to use a Villar Perosa light machine gun as a portable weapon, which he simply does by placing it on his left forearm. (All rights reserved)
Pic.02: Tullio Marengoni: creator of the Beretta model 38. (All rights reserved)
Pic.03: Use by the police of the Beretta semi-auto rifle model 18/30 from a car whose windshield has circular scuttles allowing shooting while driving. (Thomas B. Nelson)
Pic.04: Moschetto Automatico Beretta modello 38: This first version of the Italian SMG element is characterized by the oblong openings of the barrel shroud and its muzzle brake with two large rectangular ports directed upwards. Note the finesse of the neck of the stock, which weakened the weapon in this area.
Pic.05: MAB 38 intermediate version, the compensator remains identical to that of the initial version, but the openings of the barrel shroud are now circular. The stock half-pistol grip is slightly less angled and is thicker than on the previous model, in order to strengthen its resistance.
Pic.06: Prototype of MAB 38 whose barrel is wrapped with a fluted aluminum radiator supposed to facilitate its cooling.
Pic.07: MAB 38A, with a shroud with circulating opening and a four-slot compensator: this is the most common production version of the Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modelo 38.
Pic.08: The ejection port placed on the top of the receiver is shifted to the left on this third version of the weapon. This example, manufactured in 1942, is still fully machined. It is equipped with the pusher blocking the automatic trigger, a bayonet lug and a beautiful dark walnut stock.
Pic.09: On the left, 9 mm Glisenti, on the center 9 mm M38 manufactured in 1941 by Giulio Fiocchi (GFL), on the right, 9 mm M38 manufactured in 1944 and whose bullet is steel-jacketed.
Pic.10: Glisenti Mod. 1910 pistol partially disassembled. The weapon no longer operates in a proper way due to the internal deformation of certain parts, probably following the firing of ammunition too powerful for this weapon (perhaps the 9 mm M38!). The red arrow indicates the hammer's housing in the covering plate, which is clearly ovalized.
Pic.11: Striper-clips for Beretta SMG. The clip is here filled with 10 cartridges of 9 mm M.38, identifiable by the knurling in the middle of the case.
Pic.12: Close-up of the receiver showing the cocking handle and its machined dust cover. After cocking the bolt, it is advisable to bring the cocking handle forward where the spring, that appears reddish in this picture, keeps it in place and prevents it from interfering with the bolt’s movements. Note the machined trigger guard and the protective cover of the magazine well made of thick metal. These parts will be replaced by components made from metal-sheet on late manufactures.
Pic.13: Close-up of the front of the triggers: we can see that the automatic firing trigger is striated, which allows a "tactile" indication to the shooter.
Pic.14: This close-up view allows to see the machined rail in which this solid dust cover of the cocking handle moves. This provision will disappear on simplified models. The arrow indicates the rear trigger lock pusher that controls burst firing.
Pic.15: The safety lever on the left side of the receiver (Picture by Julien Lucot).
Pic.16: For the transport of the weapon without a magazine, the magazine well has a protective cover to prevent the entry of foreign bodies into the mechanism. The magazine latch is visible under the protective cover at the rear of the magazine well.
Pic.17: Detail of the tangential rear sight of Mod. 38A (Picture by Julien Lucot).
Pic.18: MAB 38A equipped with its folding blade bayonet knife (deployed) and the German-type metal-slider sling adopted during WWII by Italy (often currently offered for sale as an MP 38 sling).
Pic.19: Another view of the MAB 38A equipped with its bayonet knife with folding blade (folded).
Pic.20: Folding bayonet for MAB 38 SMG. It should be noted that the guard of this bayonet includes a T-shape lug (C) and not a ring corresponding to the folding bayonets intended for carbines. The stock has a V-shaped groove (A) to allow the blade to find a place when the bayonet is folded. The arrow (B) indicates the lug on which the pommel of the bayonet is locked.
Pic.21: Detail of the housing of the front lug of the bayonet.
Pic.22: The bolt of the MAB 38A, with its recoil spring contained in its so-called "telescopic" rear tube (Picture by Julien Lucot).
Pic.23: Remove the magazine.
Pic.24: Handle the bolt to check that there is no cartridge inside the chamber.
Pic.25: Press on the protrusion placed in the center of the receiver cap.
Pic.26: Turn the cap to the right, until it unlocks. On 38/44 models with a different receiver cap, you must remove the pusher placed at the base of the receiver cap before being able to turn it.
Pic.27: Separate the cap from the receiver.
Pic.28: Bring the cocking handle back to extract the bolt from the receiver.
Pic.29: Extract the bolt and its recoil spring from the receiver.
Pic.30: Field disassembly is complete: one can only admire the simplicity of the maintenance, which fortunately contrasts with the complexity of most of the other types of weapons with which the Italian soldiers were equipped.
Pic.31: Detail of the bolt and the lever operating the firing-pin at the closing of the bolt (red arrow - Picture by Julien Lucot).
Pic.32: Receiver cap, locked in its center by the rear extension of the recoil spring (Picture by Julien Lucot).
Pic.33: Detail of the climbing compensator at the front of the front sight (Picture by Julien Lucot).
Pic.34: In the butt plate, a hatch gives access to a housing which contains a two-section cleaning rod and a brush.
Pic.35: The ejection port is placed on the left side of the receiver. When opened, we distinguish the cartridges which are presented alternately during the firing on the right and left lips of the magazine.
Pic.36: Loader for the stripper clip.
Pic.37: Filling a 20-round magazine using a stripper clip fitted on the loader. Two clips will be needed to fully load this magazine.
Pic.38: Magazines of 40 and 30 cartridges for Beretta SMG. The external dimensions are the same, only a spacer fixed at the bottom of the magazine limits the sinking of the follower on the 30-round model.
Pic.39: Markings of the two types of magazines: for one (A) the numbering of the cartridges contained by the magazine goes up to 40, for the other (B), it stops at 30.
Pic.40: “LP” marking of an unidentified magazine manufacturer.
Pic.41: Markings of the receiver of a copy manufactured in 1942, indicating the identity of the manufacturer, the model (38A) and the corresponding patent numbers. As with many weapons of the Mussolinian period, the date of manufacture is indicated by the Roman numeral "XX" (twentieth year of the fascist era).
Pic.42: Bersaglieri armed with a MAB 38A.
Pic.43: Alpini progressing in mountainous regions. With its 4.25 kg of empty weight, the MAB 38 remains a heavy weapon but nevertheless maneuverable and more compact than the rifle.
Pic.44: Late-made sample without the automatic firing blocking device and with a beech stock ending just in front of the stock band. Despite the simplifications of detail in the manufacture, the production of the weapon remains of a quality without comparison with that of the SMGs produced at the same time by most of the belligerents. (Picture Michel Arnod)
Pic.45: Simplified marking of this late-made copy on which we note the quite exceptional presence of a Waffenamt stamp. (Picture Michel Arnod)
Pic.46: Detail of the Waffenamt stamp (WaA 170). This type of marking is surprising because the Wehrmacht, in principle, generally did not trade back foreign-made weapons outside of those mounted under its control in occupied countries. This close-up makes it possible to distinguish the slightly granite surface from the metal. In the original state, the polish of the MAB 38A was very neat and the bluing shiny. This finish suggests that it is a weapon captured on the Eastern Front and reconditioned by sandblasting and re-bluing in the USSR before resale to a Western merchant. (Picture Michel Arnod)
Pic.47: Comparison between a German MP 38 (down) and an Italian MAB 38A (up). The requests of Italian airborne troops for a folding stock weapon similar to the MP 38 were at the origin of the creation of the Beretta "Model 1" by Tullio Marengoni.
Pic.48: The Beretta "Model 1", designed for italian airborne troops, was never mass-produced because of its high manufacturing price. (Picture Yves Cadiou)
Pic.49: The Beretta "Modele 4": a weapon manufactured in small quantities that takes the main elements of the "Model 1" but is equipped with a telescopic stock and an automatic safety pedal at the back of the pistol grip. (All rights reserved)
Pic.50: MAB 38A with shorten stock used by a Romanian soldier, during street fighting that took place in Budapest during the arrival of the Red Army. (All rights reserved)
Pic.51: Marking variant of a MAB 38A, probably made for the Romanian army.
Pic.52: The Italian MAB 38 was regulated in the Wehrmacht under the name “MP 739 (i)”.
Pic.53: Excerpt from a German manual showing the disassembled weapon. It should be noted that it is a “type 1” MAB 38 with oblong shroud openings that was pictured.
Pic.54: Extract from a manual of the Waffenamt of the MP 739(i) on which are clearly presented the 3 types of magazines: 1: 10-round, 2: 20-round, 3: 40-round (or 30-round the outer dimension of the two models being the same), the loader (4) the stripper clips (5 and 6) and the carrying bag of the weapon (7).
Pic.55: German paratroopers covering their motorcycle retreat with an MP 739(i). (All rights reserved)
Pic.56: German officer writing a message while keeping his MAB 38 close at hand.
Pic.57: A German para, armed with a Beretta SMG covers a war correspondent, during a frontline shot. (All rights reserved)
Pic.58: The Mod. 38/42, a simplified version of the 38A model that was put into production to meet an increased demand for SMG from axis troops (Germany, Italy and Romania).
Pic.59: This model 38/42 has a thick and non-fluted barrel.
Pic.60: Reception stamps on the stock of a 38/42 model.
Pic.61: Another sample of a model 38/42, with the classic fluted barrel inspired by the Model 1’s.
Pic.62: Another view of the model 38/42 seen in the previous picture.
Pic.63: Simplified marking variant on a model 38/42.
Pic.64: Another variant of simplified marking on model 38/42. This picture also shows the two-leaf rear sight mounted on these versions.
Pic.65: Picture of a Waffenamt stamp on the stock of a Beretta Mod. 38/42: a quite unusual marking whose authenticity is not confirmed.
Pic.66: Evolution of the bolt of the Beretta 38 SMG. A = Bolt of Mod. 38A, equipped with a mobile firing-pin operated by a lever here designated by an arrow. B = Bolt of Mod. 38/42, with a fixed striker. The percussion lever has disappeared, and the bolt is slightly shorter and therefore lighter, which was to increase the cyclic rate. C = fixed firing pin and large diameter spring (STEN-type) of a Mod. 38/44. The B and C bolts have unfortunately been neutralized.
Pic.67: Three SMGs seen from the rear. Mod. 38/42 with fluted barrel (C). The receiver cap, similar to that of Mod. 38A but made by stamping and not by machining, has a circular centering port for the back of the tube containing the recoil spring. Mod. 38/42 with non-fluted barrel (B): the receiver cap also has a centering port on the back of the tube containing the recoil spring, but this one is equipped on either side with two notches intended to prevent its unintended unscrewing. Mod. 38/44 (A): The receiver cap no longer has a centering port on the back of the tube containing the recoil spring.
Pic.68: Close-up of the receiver caps.
Pic.69: Three Beretta of the end of the war seen from above: from left to right: C = Mod. 38/44, B = Mod. 38/42 with non-fluted barrel, A = Mod. 38/42 with fluted barrel.
Pic.70: Details of the barrels: A = Mod. 38/42 with fluted barrel, B = Mod. 38/42 with non-fluted barrel, C = Mod. 38/44.
Pic.71: Butt plates: A = Mod. 38/44: simplified without hatch, B = Mod. 38/42 with a hatch to the cleaning equipment housing.
Pic.72: Despite the simplifications made to the Model 38 by Tullio Marengoni, the Mod. 38/42 remained a fairly long and expensive weapon to manufacture. The TZ 45 manufactured in very small quantities at the end of the war in Northern Italy represented a much more rational solution to the needs of the moment.
Pic.73: Marking of a magazine of Beretta SMG manufactured after the war for export to a monarchy of the Middle East.
Pic.74: The numbering of the cartridges contained is also carried out in Arabic numerals.
Pic.75: Beretta factory in Val Trompia (Beretta document)
Pic.76: Beretta Mod. 38/42 of the type delivered after the war to the German Border Police (BundesGrenzSchutz - BGS): this version is equipped with a safety pusher blocking the trigger, which does not appear on pre-1945 models.
Pic.77: Close-up of the E and D marking, stamped in the wood of the BGS model and identifying the triggers of single firing mode (E for "Einzelfeuer") and automatic firing mode (D for "Daubeuse").
Pic.78: Ultimate achievement of Beretta SMG: Mod. 38/49 with a safety pusher (arrow), which the shooter's hand must compress to enable the shooting.
Pic.79: Marking of a Mod. 38/49.
Pic.80: Barbarigo Battalion on its return from the Anzio-Nettuno front. The units of the Italian Social Republic were very largely endowed with SMG, the fascist iconography of the time would widely use the image of Mod. 38, symbolizing the efficiency, pugnacity and modernity dear to Marinetti. As shown in this picture, which also allows you to see the double pectoral magazine pouches of 3 pockets each in endowment in this unit, these fighters were equipped with vertical mag pouch in large canvas for three magazines (the endowment was two mag pouches of three magazines). (All rights reserved)
Pic.81: German paratrooper equipped with a "Samurai" type vest. (All rights reserved)
Pic.82: In North Africa, Italian fighting groups with Samurai-type magazine holders. The first two seem to be armed with a Cacarno carbine, only the third holds a Moschetto automatico Beretta. It should be noted that, unlike many of the pictures taken, the weapon is ready to fire here: a cartridge is visible in the ejection port, the bolt is cocked. The magazines placed in the dorsal position were usable only by the comrades in combat, the carrier could not seize them without turning his chasuble in front-back. (All rights reserved)
Pic.83: March 1944 near Cassino, German paratroopers including one armed with a Beretta model 38A, but apparently without magazine pouch. (All rights reserved)
Pic.84: German paratrooper officer carrying a Beretta on a sling, but also without a magazine pouch. (All rights reserved)
Pic.85: Sling for Beretta SMG. This example is made of brown leather, but you can also meet leathers tinted in gray green or black.
Pic.86: The fourth republic collapses, and France fears a coup of paratrooper units stationed in Algeria. In the courtyard of the Ministry of the Interior, "patriotic militias" are hastily equipped to deal with an arrival of paratroopers that would never take place: Curiously, the man appearing in the middle of the picture was assigned a Beretta Mod. 38/42 whose origin raises questions (weapon taken on the Wehrmacht or on the Fellaghas who also used this model extensively?). (All rights reserved)
Pic.87: In the early 80s, this gathering of supporters in Eritrea shows the most disparate armament: MP 44, Beretta Mod. 38A and semi-automatic Hakim rifle (Egyptian version of the Swedish AG m42). (All rights reserved)
