History:
In 1950 Beretta put a complete new vestpocket pistol on the market.
The smallest of the Beretta pistols borrowed a major design feature from three earlier guns - the French Le Francais, the Spanish Jo Lo Ar, and the Austrian 1909 Steyr. The feature was a barrel that could be released by a side lever to tip upward at the rear, exposing the chamber for loading and easy cleaning. This made the pistol especially convenient for anyone with weak hands, who might have difficulty in cycling the slide against the tension of the recoil spring.
The pistol, available in 6.35mm (.25 Auto) and in .22 Short chamberings, was first designated Model 1950 and then immediatly afterwards Model 950. For the American market, the .22 was called the "Minx" and the .25 the "Jetfire". Importer was the J.F.Galef Company.
The true Model 950 was not made for long, just for a few years, before it was followed by the slightly redesigned to the new Model 950B.
In its earliest form, the pistol had twin torsion-type recoil springs, located inside the grip panels on each side of the frame. The magazin catch button button was flat and checkered, and the forward edges of the slide were square and unbevelled.
Technical Data:
SYSTEM: self-cocking pistol with inertial system, tip barrel and external hammer
CARTRIDGES : 8
CALIBER : .25 ACP
BARREL LENGTH : 60 mm , 6 grooves right hand twisting
WEIGHT EMPTY : 290 g
TOTAL LENGTH : 118 mm
TOTAL HEIGHT : 87 mm
TOTAL WIDTH : 24 mm
TRIGGER : Single Action
SIGHT : fixed
SAFETY : hammer safety-noch
FINISH : alloy frame blackened/blued
GRIPS : black plastic