Beretta M1956 6.35 (25 auto) Semi-Auto

[augustino]

Just put a nice looking but old Beretta M1956 6.35 (25 auto) Semi-Auto pocket pistol on lay away at my local pawn shop. Gun appears to be in good shape for its age. Bluing is pretty much gone but it feels tight. Has a safety in the grip similar to a 1911, that I like! It takes the 25 auto caliber round, not a stopper but better than nothing in a pinch. Paid 150 out the door, I thought that was fair, not great but I wasn't taken to the cleaners either. I've seen numerous on-line selling for as much as 250 in worse condition. I hear this pocket pistol is rare??? Due to that I may not carry it but instead just clean and oil it, then tuck it away. I do however want to get a Beretta pocket pistol probably in 32 acp to have on me since they're so darn light and easy to conceal.

Any thoughts or comments on this pistol?

Thanks!!!

 

[otomik]

it's a good quality .25acp for what it is. more commonly known as the 950 Jetfire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_950_Jetfire

after a good 50 years of production it was discontinued recently. supplanted largely by the double action successor called the model 21 bobcat.

from a practical defense standpoint I wouldn't carry a .25acp, it's slightly better than .22lr for a small gun but the cost makes it unappealing to shoot and there's other offerings these days with more power (see stickied thread at the top of this section). Sounds like you got a good deal so from the standpoint of money so you've done good anyway. if you were really into Beretta mouseguns the smarter defensive route would be to get a bobcat .22lr and practice a whole lot. when you're good with it buy and carry the similar Tomcat .32acp

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Negative, I believe you have a Beretta 418, sometimes called the Panther. The 950 Jetfire has a tilting barrel and does not have the grip safety. The 418 is considered to be the original "Bond" gun that Ian Fleming refers to in the books. Great little gun.

 

[otomik]

you're absolutely right. i skimmed his post and thought he was mentioning the position of the jetfire frame safety. :banghead:

Beretta 418, sometimes called the Panther.

i've heard it called the bantam. panther was something from the 70 series. or maybe they've recycled those names a few times now.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

No, Bantam is correct too. They used both, and I do not know why or when. I had one that had "Panther" on the grip panel, and I think it was a 1958-59 gun.

 

[788Ham]

Augustino,

Contact Wolff Springs and get new springs for your piece, also get a new mag spring. Have the new springs installed, very lightly oil it, you'll be amazed at how much smoother it operates!

 

[bannockburn]

I think J.L. Galef and Son were the intial importers of Beretta here in the U.S. Maybe they thought that the Beretta pistols would sell better if they gave them some sort of interesting name versus simply having a model number. Anyways, the Model 418 was introduced here in the early '50's as the Bantam model. This was later changed in the late '50's to the Panther model. These names could be found molded into the plastic grips, along with their caliber designation.