Today for Gus’ Gear I present a Beretta M1915 pistol chambered in 9x19mm Glisenti. The M1915 Beretta is a simple blow back design that is chambered for a cartridge that is the same external dimensions as the 9mm Parabellum cartridge, but it is loaded with less powder because the blowback action will open too quickly with a full powered cartridge potentially causing damage to the pistol or injury to the shooter. This is the same cartridge adopted for the 9mm Glisenti M1910 automatic pistol. The Beretta M1915 was redesigned in a smaller size chambered for the 7,65x17mm Browning cartridges (.32 ACP) which is a better cartridge for a blowback pistol.
The left view of the Berretta M1915 pistols show the difference in size between the 7,62mm (top) and the 9mm (bottom) versions. They are the same basic design and function and disassemble in the same manner. Both have a heel release for the magazine with the safety/take down lever shown just above the trigger. It should be noted that the top pistol has the later m1919 safety/take down levers and as such, only functions for the take down feature. It seems that this is one part that is commonly lost on this model of handgun and as of yet I have been unable to locate a correct replacement part, short of buying another pistol (any excuse to buy a pistol is a good one though).
The right side of the 9mm Berretta shows little detail, only the PS in an oval, at the rear of the frame, the acceptance mark of the Italian Military.
Disassembly of the M1915 Beretta is accomplished by first removing the magazine, clearing the chamber and rotating the safety halfway between fire and safe. The slide can be held open while lifting the barrel straight up and out of the frame. Once the barrel is removed the slide can be moved off the frame to the front, which allows the main spring to be removed. At this point the safety can be withdrawn from the left side of the frame and dropped in the mud at the bottom of the trench. A small screw driver can be used to remove the grips, although this would not normally be done for cleaning. Reassembly is a reverse process.