Today on Gus’s Gear I have another Italian handgun, the M1910 Glisenti pistol. The Italian Army wanted to replace the M1889 Bodeo revolver with a modern auto loading pistol. The Italian Navy had already adopted the Mauser C96, but the army wanted a pistol that was an Italian design. The Glisenti M1905 was chosen, but it was chambered for the 7,65mm Parabellum cartridge. Germany adopted the P08 Parabellum chambered for a 9x19mm cartridge and the Italian commission wanted to have the pistol redesigned to also utilize a 9mm cartridge. The Glisenti design was changed to accommodate a 9x19mm cartridge, but due to its very short recoil lock up design, the cartridge had to be reduced in power. The result was the 9x19mm Glisenti cartridge that had a muzzle velocity of 925 feet per second (282 m/s) compared to the 9x19mm Parabellum muzzle velocity of 1,000 feet per second (329 m/s). The end result was an inferior pistol that had the added danger of chambering a cartridge of the same dimensions that was too powerful for the action.
The important features of the M1910 Glisenti are visible on the left side of the pistol. Just in front of the trigger is the take down screw, at the bottom of the left grip is the magazine release, which is an easy to use, solid release. At the top of the left grip to the rear is a hold open button which allows the user to lock the bolt in the rear position. On the very back of the bolt is the safety, which is notorious for not functioning due to the very small lug that engages the firing pin, they are usually damaged by having the safety turned too far. The only other safety is the grip safety that is barely visible on the front of the grip just below the trigger guard. Unless the grip safety is depressed, the pistol will not fire. The magazine has both sides open with a grip on the follower to help in loading it, the down side is that the magazine is weaker and can be damaged if dropped. The holster is the standard issue holster for the Glisenti pistol finished in Grigio-Verde.
The right side shows little detail, although the Italian coat of arms from 1880 is visible on the grip.
Disassembly can be done without the need for additional tools. There is a take down tool provided with each pistol, stored under the left grip. To disassemble, first remove the magazine and clear the chamber of any cartridges then depress a small spring loaded pin under the take down screw in front of the trigger, the screw can be loosened and the side plate can be lifted off. With the side plate removed, the left grip panel can be lifted off and the take down tool removed from its place. Using the take down tool the right grip retainer can be levered forward from the inside to release the right grip. The top assembly can then be pushed back and twisted to the right to release it from the frame. Now the take down tool can be use to push the cross key to the right out of the back of the upper assembly, this will allow the bolt to be removed to the rear. The small square recess in the take down tool can be used to remove the firing pin guide at the front of the bolt to release the firing pin. Reassembly is a reverse process. It should be noted that the side plate is shown upside down in this photo.