The Beretta is a magazine-fed, semi-automatic pistol that fires the 32 ACP* caliber bullet. Beretta first introduced this pistol in 1935, and produced approximately 500,000 copies in various models. The Italian armed forced adopted the Beretta 32 ACP as the standard service firearm in 1937. The German Wehrmact used the pistol in 1944 and 1945.
Specifications
This pistol has the capacity for eight rounds: seven in the magazine and one in the chamber. Its semi-automatic function is a single-action, blowback process. It has a manual safety, and when the last round is expended, the empty magazine keeps the slide open. The Beretta M1935 model is made of carbon steel and the grip is plastic.
- Muzzle velocity is 925 feet per second.
- Weight is about 22 ounces
- Length is six inches.
Intended for military use, Beretta designed the model 1935 with minimal parts for maximum reliability and ease of maintenance. In particular, the feeding and extraction cycle is very dependable. Its robust construction insures a long service life if properly maintained.
In my historical novel St. Catherine’s Crown, the female protagonist, Black Orchid, uses the Beretta 32 with deft skills.
- ACP = Automatic Colt Pistol