Make: Beretta

Model: 70S

Serial Number: A57811Y

Year of Manufacture: 1978

Caliber: .380 ACP

Action Type: Single Action, Blowback-Operated Semi-Automatic Pistol with Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 3.5”

Sights / Optics: This pistol is equipped with a blade front sight and a dovetail-mounted square notch rear sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece black checkered plastic with Beretta logos. Both panels show scattered scuffing and handling marks, particularly near the upper rear edge and around the screw escutcheons. There are no cracks or chips, and the grips remain fully serviceable. In this writer’s opinion, the grips rate in about Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with strong rifling. There is some fouling throughout, but no visible erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its original metal finish. The slide and frame exhibit only faint edge wear and minor operational marks. The screw heads are sharp, and all markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide locks back properly on an empty magazine and the thumb safety engages securely. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Accessories: This pistol comes with one magazine and a brown leather holster showing moderate wear from use and storage.

Our Assessment: The Beretta Model 70S represents the final refinement of the long-running “70 Series” lineage of compact blowback pistols. Chambered in .380 ACP, it offers a comfortable balance of size, power, and shootability for a carry or range gun. With a simplified takedown and reliable function, it became a favored sidearm for civilian defense and plainclothes use alike. The 70S was widely praised for its smooth operation and stylish profile, echoing Beretta’s classic aesthetic.

This particular pistol is in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition, with roughly 98% of its original finish retained and only modest signs of use. The bore is still sharp and clean apart from some stubborn fouling, and it comes complete with a leather holster—making it a ready-to-use setup for the Beretta collector, shooter, or vintage carry enthusiast.

Compact, elegant, and proven reliable, this Beretta 70S remains a testament to 20th-century European pistol design and will likely continue to appreciate in value as interest in Cold War-era sidearms grows.