Beretta M38 – Was It the Finest Submachine Gun of WWII?
Although the Italian Beretta Model 1938 never achieved the same iconic status as the German MP 40, the British Sten, or the American Thompson, it was undoubtedly one of the finest submachine guns of the Second World War. Renowned for its reliability, controllability, and high manufacturing quality, the M38 was highly regarded by both Italian and German troops, while captured examples were equally prized by Allied soldiers.
The Model 1938 was a descendant of Italy’s pioneering Villar Perosa of the First World War and saw extensive service with Italian forces during the Second World War. The design proved so successful that, following the Italian armistice in 1943, several variants continued to be used and produced under German control. Although it never achieved the widespread recognition of some of its contemporaries, the Beretta Model 1938 and its derivatives are regarded by many specialists as among the finest submachine guns of the Second World War.
History
The origins of the submachine gun are closely associated with Italy and the Villar Perosa Fiat Model 1915, developed during the First World War. Originally conceived as a lightweight, twin-barrelled automatic weapon firing pistol-calibre ammunition, it saw extensive service with the Italian Army and was notably employed by the Arditi, Italy’s elite assault troops, during the brutal trench warfare of the conflict. But admittedely, the Villar Perosa was more a machine gun than an assault weapon, realson why some people will argue that the Germans Bergmann MP 18 was the first true, practical submachine gun.
The Italian Army was, of course, aware of the limitations of the Villar Perosa and called upon industry to develop more practical solutions. Both Officine di Villar Perosa (OVP) and Beretta submitted designs, with the latter’s Moschetto Automatico Revelli-Beretta Mod. 1915, commonly known as the Beretta Model 1918, ultimately being selected.
The design was relatively simple, essentially combining one half of a 9 mm Glisenti Villar Perosa with a conventional wooden stock, while making use of existing components such as surplus Vetterli stocks and Carcano-pattern bayonets. The most interesting aspect, however, is that the Italian Army requested a semi-automatic weapon. The Beretta M1918 should therefore be regarded more accurately as a lightweight pistol-calibre carbine than as a true submachine gun.
In the 1930s, the Model 1918/30 was developed. It retained the general appearance and semi-automatic capability of the Model 1918 but incorporated two major changes. The original Villar Perosa-derived open-bolt mechanism was replaced by a new closed-bolt action, while the magazine was relocated from the top to the underside of the weapon and replaced by a straight magazine.
The weapon was cocked by pulling a ring located at the rear of the receiver, a distinctive feature that earned it the nickname “Il Siringone” (“The Syringe”). The Model 1918/30 was largely produced by converting existing Model 1918s, which helps explain why relatively few examples of the original Model 1918 have survived.
Finally, in 1935, Beretta’s chief engineer, Tullio Marengoni, revisited the designs of the Model 1918 and 1918/30 and developed them into a new submachine gun. The new weapon was chambered for the newly developed Italian Cartuccia 9 mm M38, a more powerful loading dimensionally compatible with the standard 9 × 19 mm Parabellum cartridge. Capable of fully automatic fire, it operated by simple blowback from an open bolt and was fed from a detachable box magazine inserted into the underside of the receiver.
The weapon featured a fixed, rifle-style wooden stock, a perforated barrel shroud for improved cooling, and a muzzle compensator. Following further development, the design would become known as the Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modello 1938, or Beretta Model 1938.
In November 1941, the Italian Army receibed approximately 10,000 Beretta Model 38s incorporating several minor modifications intended to reduce production costs, most notably a simplified muzzle arrangement and the removal of the bayonet lug. This variant became known as the Beretta Model 38A.
The Model 38A became the standard Italian Army variant and saw extensive service throughout the war. It was notably issued to commissioned officers and elite Italian units. Following favourable reports from the field, a further 20,000 weapons were ordered in December 1941.
Despite its undeniable effectiveness, the Beretta Model 38A proved too costly and time-consuming to manufacture under wartime conditions. Marengoni therefore developed a simplified and lighter version incorporating greater use of stamped sheet-steel components. The barrel shroud and bayonet mount were eliminated, while the separate firing-pin mechanism was replaced by a fixed firing pin machined directly into the bolt face. The wooden stock was shortened, and the new fluted barrel further reduced weight while providing additional surface area for cooling. Together, these changes significantly reduced the weapon’s overall weight and simplified production.
The resulting Model 38/42 was extensively used by both Italian and German forces. Following the Italian armistice in 1943 and the subsequent German occupation of northern Italy, production continued under German control. The Model 38/42 was adopted by German forces under the designation Maschinenpistole 738(i), abbreviated MP 738(i). The Model 38/43, was a collapsible stock variant adopted in February 1943 and designed for tank crews, but saw very limited production.
After the Second World War, the Beretta M38 remained in production in further developed form as the Model 38/49. The most widely encountered variant was the Model 4, which was adopted by the Italian Army and also by the newly established West German Bundeswehr, where it received the designation Maschinenpistole 1 (MP1). One of the principal differences from the earlier Model 38/42 was the introduction of a cross-bolt safety located in the fore-end, replacing the earlier safety lever.
The Beretta Model 38 is one of the finest examples of the first generation of submachine guns. Like many weapons of this generation, it featured a traditional wooden stock and extensively machined steel components. This method of construction produced a robust, well-finished weapon, but also made it relatively heavy, expensive, and time-consuming to manufacture.
For simplification I will only talk abot the Models 38A, 38/42 and 38/49 model 4.
The Model 38A was a relatively long and heavy weapon. As mentioned above, subsequent variants were progressively simplified through the greater use of stamped-steel components, a shorter barrel and fore-end, the elimination of the barrel shroud, and the adoption of a fixed firing pin machined into the bolt face. These changes resulted in shorter, lighter, and simpler weapons that were better suited to wartime mass production.
| Model 38A | Model 38/42 | Model 38/49 |
|  |  |  |
Weight | 4.2 kg | 3.25 kg | 3.25 kg |
Lenght | 946 mm | 800 mm | 800 mm |
Barrel lenght | 315 mm | 210 mm | 210 mm |
Rate of fire | 600 rpm | 500-550 rpm | 500-550 rpm |
The Model 38A incorporated several distinctive features worth mentioning:
One of its most characteristic features was its twin-trigger arrangement. The smooth front trigger provided semi-automatic fire, while the grooved rear trigger provided fully automatic fire, allowing the shooter to select the mode of fire simply by choosing the appropriate trigger.
Unlike many contemporary open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns, the Model 38A did not use a fixed firing pin. Instead, it employed a separate firing pin that was struck by the ejector as the bolt reached the forward position. Later variants simplified this arrangement by incorporating a fixed firing pin directly into the bolt face.
Another unusual feature was its left-side ejection. The original Model 38 appears to have featured a centrally positioned ejection arrangement, but this was rejected by the Italian Army. From the Model 38A onwards, subsequent variants therefore featured ejection through a port on the left side of the receiver.
The Models 38A and 38/42 feature a safety lever on the left side of the receiver. This lever blocks both triggers and locks the bolt in either the forward or rearward position. As mentioned above, the later Model 38/49 replaced this arrangement with a cross-bolt safety providing the same functions.
The Model 38A features an unprotected front sight post and a tangent rear sight adjustable to an optimistic 500 metres. Later variants retained the unprotected front sight post but adopted progressively simpler rear sights. The Model 38/42featured a flip-up rear sight with more realistic settings for 100 and 200 metres, while the Model 38/49 was fitted with a simple fixed notch rear sight.
Another distinctive feature of the Model 38 series, rarely encountered on other submachine guns, is the prominent muzzle brake. The Model 38A muzzle brake featured four transverse slots, while later variants adopted a simplified design with two larger transverse slots.
The Model 38 was originally issued with a 20-round straight box magazine of double-column, double-feed design. 10-, 30-, and 40-round magazines were subsequently developed, with the 40-round version becoming the most commonly used in combat. These magazines were of excellent quality and remained in use long after the Second World War. They were also adopted for the later Franchi LF-57 submachine gun.
The magazine release consists of a small lever that can be operated from either the left or right side of the weapon. The Model 38A also features a magazine-well cover designed to protect the action from dirt and debris when no magazine is inserted. This feature was omitted from the later simplified variants.
On the range
When first handling the Beretta Model 38/49 (the example available for my test-firing session was a Model 4 manufactured in 1957), the weapon feels surprisingly light and well balanced. However, unlike the earlier Model 38A, this variant lacks a barrel shroud or a suitable handguard, leaving very little space to comfortably and securely position the support hand in front of the magazine. The left-side ejection port further complicates support-hand placement in this area. Moreover, as the barrel heats up during firing, there is a significant risk of burning the support hand.
Loading the magazine is straightforward thanks to its double-column, double-feed configuration.
The sights are adequate for a submachine gun, but I find them positioned too low on the weapon - or perhaps the stock is simply too high. As a result, I have to press my cheek firmly against the stock to obtain a proper sight picture, as can be seen in the photographs. Interestingly, I experienced exactly the same problem when shooting the German MP 40.
Lets load and fire!
Using the front trigger for single shots, the Beretta Model 38/49 is easy to shoot and highly controllable. The muzzle brake undoubtedly helps reduce muzzle rise, although it also produces a pronounced muzzle flash.
The same applies when using the rear trigger to fire bursts. The Beretta Model 38/49 remains highly controllable, although the felt recoil is characterised by a distinct, sharp kick with each shot, making it somewhat less comfortable to shoot than many other submachine guns.
I suspect that the earlier Model 38A, with its greater weight, longer barrel and higher-mounted sights, would have been more comfortable to shoot.
I experienced no particular difficulties when shooting with my left hand positioned in front of the magazine. However, I remained constantly aware of my hand placement, paying particular attention to keeping my thumb clear of the ejection port.
Conclusion
I must admit that my knowledge of the Beretta Model 38 was initially rather limited. Researching and test-firing the Beretta M38 was a fascinating experience that gave me a much better understanding of why it became so popular, not only among Italian troops but also among German paratroopers and Waffen-SS units, and even some Allied soldiers.
Despite being an older design, the Beretta Model 38 incorporated several safety features that made it safer to handle than many other submachine guns of the Second World War. Firstly, it featured a proper, easily operated safety lever that not only blocked the triggers but also locked the bolt in both its forward and rearward positions. Furthermore, its innovative dual-trigger system eliminated the need for a separate fire selector, allowing the shooter to switch intuitively between semi-automatic and fully automatic fire simply by choosing the appropriate trigger.
Building on his experience with the design of the Beretta M18, Tullio Marengoni, Beretta’s chief engineer, developed a remarkably innovative submachine gun for its time. Its widespread use and popularity during the Second World War are a testament to the success of his design.
The Beretta Model 38 also enjoyed an exceptionally long service life for a first-generation submachine gun, remaining in military use well beyond the end of the war. In the German armed forces, it was replaced by the UZI in 1959, while the Italian Army continued to use variants of the Model 38 until their replacement by the Beretta M12 in 1978.
Considering its innovative design, combat reputation and remarkable longevity, the Beretta Model 38 undoubtedly deserves a place among the finest submachine guns of the Second World War and the post-war era. It also stands as one of the most iconic firearms ever produced by Beretta, a company celebrating its 500th anniversary in 2026.
Well written article :-), what is your opinion on the hispano suiza which is basically the swiss licenced version of the suomi