So, who here has jumped on the Beretta 81?
- Thread starter scoobysnacker
- Start date
My New-To-Me Beretta 81.
When I took the picture I noticed that someone had scratched "DAR" in the slide. Didn't notice that during my SPA Day or when cleaning after the range trip but it definitely showed up in the pictures. It's minor and I may try to touch it up or just fall back on Wabi Sabi.
When I took the picture I noticed that someone had scratched "DAR" in the slide. Didn't notice that during my SPA Day or when cleaning after the range trip but it definitely showed up in the pictures. It's minor and I may try to touch it up or just fall back on Wabi Sabi.
Very nice indeed. After pondering a bit, seeing the condition of these, and having a look at "normal" prices on GB, I ordered a second one -- hand select. With some nice grips, I anticipate my wife is going to want one. She is a good shot, but very recoil/blast sensitive and currently opts to have a full-frame .22 nearby, over any of the very nice 9mm's she's tried.
Quick question -- do these have a mag safety? Pretty sure the FS version does, but no idea about these pre-B's.
Quick question -- do these have a mag safety? Pretty sure the FS version does, but no idea about these pre-B's.
No mag safety. No firing pin block.
HighValleyRanch
New member
Just change the "D" to a "J"
"Yes, you can engage the safety with the hammer cocked and carry it as though it were a 1935 or Model 70."
I can on my new 1980 model that I just picked up today, but NO I cannot on my 1979 model. The safety will not engage with the hammer cocked on my older gun. I even tried it again just to make sure and it will not engage.
I can on my new 1980 model that I just picked up today, but NO I cannot on my 1979 model. The safety will not engage with the hammer cocked on my older gun. I even tried it again just to make sure and it will not engage.
A safety that won't engage when the gun is cocked sounds like a fairly serious, gunsmith-worthy issue.
TruthTellers
New member
I'm thinking of getting one in .32, I've been wanting a larger size .32, too many of them are pocket pistols or just small and not meant for accuracy. The Beretta 100 is a dream gun, but hard to find and usually $500... can't do that. These 81's tho, I can.
Only thing is that they just look to me like Beretta 92's and it's like if I want a 92, I'll just buy a 92. I don't care for the design, at least not in something smaller than 9mm, but there's not much out there in .32 ACP that are along the lines of the 81.
If anybody has some pics comparing the size of the 81 to other pistols, please post them. I am thinking of getting one, but I'm also thinking of getting a Zastava M70 in .32
Only thing is that they just look to me like Beretta 92's and it's like if I want a 92, I'll just buy a 92. I don't care for the design, at least not in something smaller than 9mm, but there's not much out there in .32 ACP that are along the lines of the 81.
If anybody has some pics comparing the size of the 81 to other pistols, please post them. I am thinking of getting one, but I'm also thinking of getting a Zastava M70 in .32
There are several other choices in 32acp that I enjoy, and all slightly smaller than the Beretta 81.
Bernardelli Model 60: Single Action hammer fired
Savage 1907: Single Action striker fired
CZ Model 50: DA/SA hammer fired
Ortgies: Single Action striker fired
Beretta 1935: Single Action hammer fired
Beretta Model 70: Single Action hammer fired
Savage 1907: Single Action striker fired
CZ Model 50: DA/SA hammer fired
Ortgies: Single Action striker fired
Beretta 1935: Single Action hammer fired
Beretta Model 70: Single Action hammer fired
Got mine in today from AIM, looks great. Finish is nice, grips are not scratched,barrel is clean. Just some fuzz in it, thinking from being carried. Even got an old fashion embossed label on the back of the grip, what I'm guessing is a name of ELISEO. Maybe the fellow who carried it? Now to decide if I need another one, must have pairs of everything.
OK, I'm gonna need somebody to come over here and shut this thread down. Please.
Wife and I just had a conversation about how we both need to stop being so cavalier about our spending. Not going broke or anything, just need to be a little more responsible. We were both saying the same thing. Then the next dang day, this thread pops up.
I like .32's. I have two .327 revolvers and two .32 ACP pistols. One of the pistols is a CZ 83. It looks to be almost exactly the same size as this Beretta. It was a surplus gun, but it's in great shape and it's very accurate and pleasant to shoot.
So I don't need one of these Berettas. Right? No matter how good a deal it is, or how nice they look, or how much I like .32's, I don't need one of these. Right? They look especially good with those wood grips, which would be fairly easy to find. But I don't need one. Right?
Please go someplace else to talk about them.
Comes with only one magazine. There! That's the reason I need for not buying one. Right?
Wife and I just had a conversation about how we both need to stop being so cavalier about our spending. Not going broke or anything, just need to be a little more responsible. We were both saying the same thing. Then the next dang day, this thread pops up.
I like .32's. I have two .327 revolvers and two .32 ACP pistols. One of the pistols is a CZ 83. It looks to be almost exactly the same size as this Beretta. It was a surplus gun, but it's in great shape and it's very accurate and pleasant to shoot.
So I don't need one of these Berettas. Right? No matter how good a deal it is, or how nice they look, or how much I like .32's, I don't need one of these. Right? They look especially good with those wood grips, which would be fairly easy to find. But I don't need one. Right?
Please go someplace else to talk about them.
Comes with only one magazine. There! That's the reason I need for not buying one. Right?
Sluggederbore
New member
You all got me excited for a minute, but now I see that I can't buy one anyway because I live in MA. I can't wait to move out of this godforsaken state.
Would you give your wife a pass if she wanted to buy some shoes that could be re-sold for double in 2-3 years, after she'd worn them a bit?
Don't you get some kind of special permission for taking one of these dangerous, assault-style "weapons of war" off the street?
TruthTellers
New member
After hemming and hawing a few days ago and looking last night at the mag situation for these, it's a questionable gun to buy because the mags are in extremely limited supply, they all seem to be surplus mags that have been around decades, and the price for one of them is $40 plus shipping.
I'll stick with the Zastava M70, mags are actually available for those.
It's a bummer tho because the 81's are not bad pistols and being .32 on a steel frame they'll last forever even with lots of shooting.
I'll stick with the Zastava M70, mags are actually available for those.
It's a bummer tho because the 81's are not bad pistols and being .32 on a steel frame they'll last forever even with lots of shooting.
She can buy anything she wants. She has worked hard most of her life. (And deserves one pair of shoes, at least.) She says the same about me. It's just the timing of our discussion and these guns becoming available that made me rant a bit.
My point really was, the Berettas very appealing, but really don't need another gun. I can't get the ones I have to the range often enough as it is. But these 81s are very tempting. What I really need, Metric, and you too, jar, is for people to tell me reasons not to buy one.