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Beretta 951

magmag Member Posts: 464 ✭✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
Anyone ever seen an Israeli marked or made 951 in the USA??

Thanks
Ray
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Comments

  • captkirk3@dslextreme.comcaptkirk3@dslextreme.com Member Posts: 3,804
    edited November -1
    Morning RAY, The answer is YES! Some years back the country [USA]was inundated with HELWINS [Egyptian Made under Licence} and some few Israeli and Nigerian Marked Models..They are Known as the Model 951 and were Known as the Military Model and were the Standard pistol of the Italian Armed Forces for a number of Years...In The U.S. the Italian Made Models were marketed as the Brigadier..I've owned several and actually even had an Israeli Marked 951...The Israeli Marked 951 Commands a Higher Premium than the Standard Beretta Marked 951..
    The last one I saw was at a Gunshow in Phoenix several Months ago and it was Bought by my Nephew...who is married to a Girl from Israil..He paid under $200.00 for it.......Best......

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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  • magmag Member Posts: 464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I already have an Italian made commercial 951; an Italian made Egyptian contract 951; and a Helwan on the way { thanks johnnylaw }. An Israeli marked one would be a nice addition.

    The search continues :-)

    Ray
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  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello mag, you picked a fine pistol to collect as there are a number of variations of the Model 951. One of the hardest to locate are the very early alloy framed models- these were soon discontinued due to excessive wear. Other countries which used the Model 951 pistols were Columbia (police use), Tunisia, Nigeria, Sudan, Lebanon, Isreal, and Haiti. All of these countries used pistols purchased directly from Beretta in Italy. As you know, Egypt began licensed production of the 951 at the Maddi Company for Engineering in Cairo in around 1960. Interestingly Iraq also received a license to produce these pistols where they were called the Tariq. Exact production numbers of Iraqi made pistols are unknown but some examples were sen during the 1991 Gulf War.

    Commercially these pistols were known as the Bigadier and were frist imported into the United States by the old J.L. Galef and Sons Co. of New York City and in 1968 these pistols retailed for $111.90. In 1973 The Garcia Co. took over distribution in the United States and the pistols were sold as the Model 951/Brigadier for $180. Later Interarms started selling them along with Steyr and when Beretta discontinued the Model 951 in 1975 the MSRP was $199.95. There was also a special target version called the 952 chambered for .30 Luger...you seldom find these today. In 1988 Navy Arms and Interarms began importing Egytian made 951's under the trade name Helwan. I think importation of these Helwan pistols ended in 1994 with a MSRP of $262. Navy Arms may have continued importation for a little while longer. Good luck and happy collecting!

    Mark T. Christian
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