MANUFACTURER – Pietro Beretta SpA, Gardone-val-Trompia, Brescia, Italy
STATUS – Obsolescent, still found in guerilla and insurgent hands, particularly in the Mideast and N. Africa
SERVICE – Italian military, Late WWII production went to the German military who issued it as the MP 739 (i)
The Beretta 38A was one of the more successful submachineguns of World War II. Manufacture of the weapon survived the war with production only ending in the 1950’s. Three variants of the weapon were made, each intended to further simplify manufacture during wartime.
The first version of the 38A was produced in January, 1938. It is easily recognized as it is the only weapon in the series to have long slots cut into the barrel jacket. Additionally, the end of the barrel has two large ports separated from each other at the top by a central bar. This model would often come with a small folding bayonet that would mount underneath the muzzle. The bayonet could be left in place on the weapon and the blade folded back to lay against the barrel jacket, edge up.
The two triggers act independently of each other in providing a means of firing the weapon. The rear trigger allows for automatic fire. For use at times of low visibility, the rear trigger on many models is serrated so that it can be identified by touch. The front trigger is for semiautomatic fire. The action of either trigger is to release the bolt, allowing it to move forward, stripping a round from the magazine, chambering it, and firing. The bolt has a floating firing pin driven by a cam. Only when the round is fully chambered will the cam drive the firing pin forward to fire the round, much like the cam system that was later found on the Thompson M1 submachinegun bolt.
The bolt is very well machined and polished, as are most of the parts to the first 38A. Of particular note is the magazines intended for use with the weapon. The first magazines were made of sheet metal folded and formed. The body of the magazine has a series of regular 4.7 mm (3/16 in) holes with numerical markings of 10, 20, 30, and 40. These markings indicate how much ammunition is in the magazine by being able to see the base of a round inside of the hole. The 10 and 20 round magazines were usually seen in the hands of Italian police and carabiniari use with the larger mags used for military use. The basic design of the magazines, particularly later welded models of thicker steel, were very successful and have been used in most Italian submachineguns since their introduction.
The second variation of the M38A was put into production in the Summer of 1938. The most significant visible difference in this variation was that the longitudinal slots in the barrel jacket had been replaced with round holes, the holes being easier to machine into the part. There was a sliding bar placed at the rear of the trigger guard on the second variation. By pushing the bar forward, the rear trigger was blocked, effectively locking out fill automatic fire. This variation would also accept a folding bayonet. This was the first model of the 38A submachinegun to be put into full-scale production.
A third variation of the 38A went into production late in 1939 and was made in the greatest numbers. This version had been lightened somewhat in answer to experiences in the North African desert. The bayonet and mounting were removed. In early 1940, the barrel jacket was formed from rolled sheet metal. And the compensator at the muzzle was simplified into four slits cut across the top of the barrel jacket at the muzzle. The cammed firing pin system was also soon dropped from production. It was replaced with a fixed firing pin on the front of the bolt.
The Beretta Model 38A and its variations are considered by many to be one of the finest submachineguns produced during World War II. This is opinion is supported by the fact that the weapon remained in production, even after the war concluded. It was very well made and is considered one of the most accurate submachineguns of the era. Even during wartime, the fit and finish of the Beretta 38A remained high with the only concession to sheet metal manufacturing being the rolled barrel jacket and the magazines.
