Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the machine pistols category.
01 / Overview
Beretta Model 38
Category
Country
Production
1935–1975
Quantity
1,000,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · INTERWAR PERIOD
3
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
87
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1938
- Service Entry Year1935
- DesignerTullio Marengoni
- Weight (Empty)4.2 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersRoyal Italian Army, Italian police, Wehrmacht, Romanian Armed Forces, Argentine militaries, Italian Royal Navy, Regia Aeronautica, Mukti Bahini, Armée de Libération Nationale, Bundesgrenzschutz, Bundeswehr
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
- Cartridge9x19mm Parabellum
- Calibre9 mm
- Case Length19 mm
- Calibre Classpistol
- Bullet Weight8 g
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modesselective fire
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity40
- Cyclic Rate of Fire600
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typecross-bolt
◇Ballistics2MOD.2
- Muzzle Velocity420 m/s
- Effective Range (point)200 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length213 mm
- Sight Typeiron sights
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction6MOD.6
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialwood
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitylimited
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost4MOD.4
- Total Production1,000,000
- Production Start1938
- Production End1975
- Variants6
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1935Production started
- 1938Sale: Italy (500 units)
- 1939First deployment: World War II
- 1943Sale: Japan (350 units)
- 1958Sale: Finland
- 1975Production ended
91
years in service
40
years in production
1,000,000
units produced
31
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
BERETTA MODEL 38 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
5
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
1977–1978Ogaden War—→1971Bangladesh Liberation War—→1965Dominican Civil War—→19581958 Lebanon crisis—→1954–1962Algerian War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Beretta Model 38SALES4records
Finland
Japan
Germanyⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
06 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · Interwar Period
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
53MACHINE PISTOLS3INTERWAR PERIOD · MACHINE PISTOLS146ITALY · ALL WEAPONS5PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
A bayonet lug is a metal fitting on the barrel or muzzle of a firearm that provides a mounting point for a bayonet.
A type of firearm action where the breech is not locked and the cartridge case expands to seal the breech, using case expansion and pressure to retain gases.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
A firearm stock that can be folded or collapsed to reduce overall length for storage or transport.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources