Berettas With Bayonets: The Very Early Model 38A SMG
Submachine Guns
•
9m 7s
The initial model of the Beretta 38A had a number of features that were dropped rather quickly once wartime production became a priority. Specifically, they included a lockout safety switch for just the rear full-auto trigger. This was in place primarily for police use, in which the guns were intended for semiautomatic use except on dire emergency (and the first batches of 38As in Italy went to the police and the Polizia dell’Africa Italiana). The first version of the 38A also included a bayonet lug to use a version of the folding bayonet also used on the Carcano rifles. This was a folding-blade bayonet, and the model for the 38A replaced the rifle muzzle ring with a special T-lug to attach to the muzzle brake of the SMG. These bayonets are extremely scarce today, as they were only used for a very limited time.
Up Next in Submachine Guns
-
Sterling vs Uzi: An On The Range Comp...
Sterling Mk.4 / L2A3: the ultimate angry toob. Uzi: the ultimate angry box.
Mike owns a Sterling and Eric @neutral_af owns an Uzi. Both open bolt, both blocked at semi. What do they think of each other's gats? What if we throw a closed bolt Sterling Mk.6 into the mix? And for a final compariso...
-
Development of the Uzi Family: Standa...
The Uzi was originally designed in the 1950s, and it was on the technological cutting edge at the time. The stamped receiver, telescoping bolt, and compact magazine-in-grip layout made it an inexpensive and effective weapon. Its sedate 600 round/minute rate of fire helped as well, making it easy ...
-
The CIA's shady suppressed Vietnam-er...
Filed off markings and serial numbers usually point to one thing: whoever used this gun didn't want you to know who they were. With our records indicating this rare and intriguing example was sent to us by no one other than the CIA, Jonathan has a lot of digging to unpick this covert creation.
