Beretta 57: Italy Makes a .30 Carbine SMG for Morocco
Italy
•
12m
The Model 57 is a select-fire carbine made by Beretta around the .30 Carbine cartridge. It uses a newly designed magazine much more durable that the American M1/M2 Carbine magazines, and has a tilting bolt locking system coupled with a gas tappet style of piston. Many of the features are distinctly Beretta, like the left side ejection and right side charging handle (like on the Beretta 38 submachine gun family) and the dual triggers (front for semiauto; rear for full auto). Only one contract was made for these carbines, to Morocco in the early 1960s. This is probably because of the ready accessibility of surplus M1 and M2 Carbines for any western-affiliated nation interested in the cartridge.
Many thanks to the Royal Armouries for allowing me to film and disassemble this very scarce automatic rifle! The NFC collection there - perhaps the best military small arms collection in Western Europe - is available by appointment to researchers.
Up Next in Italy
-
SPAS-15: Franchi's Improvement on the...
The SPAS-15 was Franchi’s successor to the SPAS-12, improved with detachable box magazines (6 round capacity) and a construction of simple sheet metal samplings and polymer. Like the SPAS-12, the -15 allows the used to switch between manual pump action and semiautomatic at basically the touch of ...
-
The Italian Workhorse: Carcano M91 Rifle
Today we start a series looking at the evolution of the Carcano series of rifles. Starting with the M91 rifle adopted in 1892, the Carcano would be the workhorse of the Italian military through two world wars and many colonial expeditions. The rifle is a simple but durable and reliable system wit...
-
Carcano Moschetto 91 Carbine and its ...
Following rapidly on the heels of the M91 rifle, the Italian military adopted the Moschetto M91 in 1893 as a carbine to equip a variety of forces. They were issued to cavalry, Bersaglieri, Carabinieri, and others who needed handier weapon with an attached bayonet. This is a remarkably light and h...
