The M1951 is no longer produced in Italy and was never adopted by the Italian Army.
Serial production of this definitive version initiated in Italy 1955, and in Egypt in the early 1960s. The relatively large sights of the Egyptian Contract version were replaced - even on the Maadi-made Helwan 951 - by the original smaller, unobtrusive sights which were less likely to snag on a holster. Its lengthened slide further improved the pistol's balance. The 'third series' of the model 951 was the definitive production version. Despite intense pressure and incentives from the Soviet bloc, the Egyptians appreciated the 9×19mm Beretta's accuracy, power and uncanny reliability in desert conditions, and consequently, the Hungarian 'Tokagypt' was produced in comparatively small quantities. Beretta was in competition with Tokarev to become the primary supplier of sidearms to the new Egyptian republic. Its particular modifications included larger sights, a simplified, narrower grip and external 'thumb-spring' magazine release, rather than the push-button release in the lower-right grip of all other 951 versions. Approximately 50,000 Egyptian Contract 951s were produced.
#1934 beretta serial numbers series#
A special version of this second series (the 'Egyptian Contract' model 951) was modified according to the wishes of the military of the Egyptian Arab Republic. In 1975-76 a small number of alloy frame pistols were made once again using the new alloy developed for the soon to be released Beretta 92 pistols. The steel-framed version was nearly 250 grams heavier than the alloy version, but the balance was improved. This was replaced around 1955 by the 'second series' model with a steel frame that proved to be totally adequate in endurance. The initial production batch featured a lightweight alloy frame, which proved to be unable to withstand the shock of the relatively high-powered 9×19mm Parabellum round in the long run. The pistol was Beretta's first locked-breech design on the market (previous Beretta semi-automatic pistols, were all blowback-operated) and was in limited production circa 1953 and in full-scale production in 1956 until 1980.
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