Make: Beretta

Model: 1934

Serial Number: 534249, matching serialized parts

Year of Manufacture: 1936 / ATF Classification: C&R

Caliber/Gauge: .380 Auto / 9mm Corto

Action Type: Semi automatic, hammer fired, detachable magazine

Barrel Length: 3.38"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a short blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch dovetailed into the slide.

Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece textured hard rubber panels with smooth borders and metal brackets. The grips show moderate handling wear, the texturing shows some wear. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright and the rifling is sharp. There is mild erosion and oxidation in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7.5/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 65% of its metal finish. The slide is plum and shows edge wear with spots of finish loss. The frame finish is thinning, showing edge wear, loss of finish on metal surfaces of the grips, and moderate freckling. The grip areas show handling wear, mostly gone to a light patina. The screw heads on the grips show moderate tooling and retain turnable slots. The markings are clear and complete. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: One 8rd magazine and a brown leather flap holster.

Our Assessment: This early Italian military Beretta Model 1934 dates to 1936 and represents the formative years of what would become one of Italy's most recognizable service pistols of the Second World War. Adopted by the Italian military in 1934, the Model 1934 was designed as a compact, robust sidearm suitable for officers and support troops, emphasizing simplicity and reliability. Early examples such as this one reflect prewar production standards before the pressures of wartime manufacturing altered finishes and machining practices.

Chambered in .380 Auto, also known as 9mm Corto, with a 3.38" barrel, the Model 1934 was purpose-built around this cartridge, delivering manageable recoil and dependable function in a compact format. The .380 Auto cartridge saw widespread European military and police use during the interwar and wartime periods, particularly in service pistols intended for carry rather than frontline combat. The bore rates 7.5 out of 10, and the action functions correctly, indicating a serviceable example that remains mechanically sound.

Approximately 65% of the original blued finish remains, with matching numbered parts that support the pistol’s originality. The pistol is accompanied by a brown leather holster, adding period-appropriate context and completeness to the offering. As an early-production Beretta Model 1934 with matching components and original military character, this pistol provides a direct connection to Italy’s prewar rearmament era and the sidearms carried by its armed forces on the eve of global conflict.