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| You've probably run across some Israeli surplus Berettas. The 1951 is the grandfather of today's Beretta 92 series. I own one, a late Garcia import. These pistols feel great in the hand. The safety is less than "ergonomic", being a pushbutton crossbolt. Magazines may be hard to find for the 1951.
Yes, they're reliable pistols. They are, after all, Berettas, but who's to say what kind of use and abuse these surplus pistols have had?
Helwan made a copy of the 1951. I know that those pistols had a tendency to crack the locking block, but that's not as a result of the design of the 1951; it's a result of being an Egyptian-made pistol. |
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Living my life my way
| quote: Originally posted by parabellum:
You've probably run across some Israeli surplus Berettas. The 1951 is the grandfather of today's Beretta 92 series. I own one, a late Garcia import. These pistols feel great in the hand. The safety is less than "ergonomic", being a pushbutton crossbolt. Magazines may be hard to find for the 1951.
Yes, they're reliable pistols. They are, after all, Berettas, but who's to say what kind of use and abuse these surplus pistols have had?
Helwan made a copy of the 1951. I know that those pistols had a tendency to crack the locking block, but that's not as a result of the design of the 1951; it's a result of being an Egyptian-made pistol.
Thanks Boss. That's what I was hoping to hear. Guess I need to get one ordered. |
| | | Posts: 1756 | Location: The Backyard of Nowhere | Registered: August 09, 2010 | 
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| Palmetto State Armory and Classic Firearms sell them for $279.99. One potential issue is the locking block breaking. There is a guy in the Netherlands that makes locking blocks for the M1951 but they are expensive. |
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| quote: Originally posted by Jim Watson:
Years and years ago, a friend had a late commercial 1951 with lever safety...
You sure about that, Jim? In years past I was a pretty serious Beretta collector, and in all my research, I never ran across a 1951 with anything other than the standard crossbolt safety. My 1951, serial number D01492, is proofed 1972. I guess Beretta was self-conscious about their aging pistol, because mine is marked "Model of 1971", but it's 1951 Brigadier all day long. Now, my very early step-slide Beretta Model 92, proofed 1977, has a frame-mounted lever safety. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of.
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| The batch that Brownells is selling is roughly the same price and is nicer quality. They were Italian surplus from a different unit than what others are selling. My understanding is that brownells is importing so should be discrete rollmarks. A friend works at Beretta and suggested only to get the ones from Brownells as "hand select" from someone else won't be as nice as the normal ones. Plus, free returns if your an Edge member (just don't do the 4473 obviously) |
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|   I can’t comment on the current imports, they might be well-worn, but the Beretta 1951 itself is a fine design and quite reliable. I have a “951” that is a pleasure to shoot and has never given me one problem, besides the tiny sights which are typical of handgun designs of the time. Most American shooters know this pistol from the inferior Helwan (and other Middle East copies) that flooded the US market years ago. I have owned some and will just say that superficially they might look the same, but they are not even close to the quality and reliability of the Beretta. Assuming the Beretta you purchase has not been abused I believe you will be very happy with it. |
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Living my life my way
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| | | Posts: 1756 | Location: The Backyard of Nowhere | Registered: August 09, 2010 |
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| Nice, I believe you'll be happy with it. Where did they put the import mark? |
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Living my life my way
| quote: Originally posted by JSW:
Nice, I believe you'll be happy with it. Where did they put the import mark?
Sorry for the delay in answering. Had outpatient surgery yesterday morning. PW Arms is on the bottom. Has PS on the right side and on the left is this mark. Can't find out what it means.  |
| | | Posts: 1756 | Location: The Backyard of Nowhere | Registered: August 09, 2010 |
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This message has been edited. Last edited by: molachi, 