Armaguerra Last-Ditch M35 Pistol

[@magisterrleth3129]

Wow, pretty attractive for a last-ditch gun. Leave it to the Italians, they just can't stand not making artful guns, pistols particularly. (They aren't _that_ pretty, but German last ditch guns were practically a metal bullet pipe fastened to a piece of wood they defined as a stock.)

[@SuperFunkmachine]

It's a we haven't got time to polish this finish.

[@justinlance5239]

@Adam Halsey yes but the last ditch people's rifle was a single shot 8mm mauser far more crude than last ditch arisaka

[@DIEGhostfish]

Hell, Armaguerra was in Nazi/fascist remnant occupied Northern Italy and still managed to churn out interesting experimental guns.

[@firstnamelastname2799]

Justin Lance the last ditch civilian weapon in japan was a sharpened stick

[@Seb-Storm]

@@justinlance5239 do you have a source for that? You got me interested there, that is something you don't hear every day :)

[@DjDolHaus86]

It looks like someone left their Beretta 92 in the dryer too long

[@TheOwningsberg]

TjDolHaus86 shriveled up and a little older haha. As an owner of the M1935 and 92fs I got a kick out of that

[@Asertix357]

John Woo's not known for going easy on his stuff.

[@ChezmarineWolf]

these are really cool pistols. my grandfather was an army air corps officer back in world war II and brought one of these back (well, a normal production run, not a last ditch) so my grandmother would have a mouse gun for her purse. sadly it was stolen by a methhead that my grandpa had paid to help do some yard work back in the eighties and presumably pawned for drug money

[@MarkLaLone]

This comment took a strange and sad turn

[@lanefamily0508]

@@MarkLaLone ha!!

[@eddietat95]

Probably confiscated (with or without bloodstains, hopefully the latter), sent to an evidence locker, and melted down or sold in a police auction.

[@stanleykendziorski7964]

Always love seeing what the fireplace collector has! Always something interesting

[@TheRevoltingMan]

Dear Lord, fireplace guy is the gift that won't quit giving. Ian must have lived there during his undergraduate studies.

[@xoxo2008oxox]

Ian, I have a lovely facist-stamped, Italian Officer's Beretta if you want to borrow for a Forgotten Weapon episode ... even has a interesting back story to its acquisition...

[@omardumbrell435]

Can I borrow it if Ian doesn't want to?

[@toaster9922]

Facist as in the italian facism?

[@Agentcoolguy1]

That'd be awesome.

[@zakatalmosen5984]

would you mind telling me where you live and the combination of your gun safe?

[@sparviero142]

Hi nice video, but there are some problems with dates, the war ended at the end of '43 (8 september 1943), still the Germans (for the reasons that you mentioned) decided to free Mussolini that was "imprisoned" on the Gran Sasso and created the RSI that was a puppet state in the north of Italy, so yea officialy the war for the kingdom of Italy ended in 43, but in reality war ended in April 45

[@matthewpalmer7184]

sparviero142 The Kingdom of Italy joined the allied powers post-1943 and was involved in serious combat in Italy (multiple divisions serving on the front) and the air war over the Balkans right to the end of the war.

[@sparviero142]

@@matthewpalmer7184 yes you are right. It was an imprecise statement "the war ended in 43 for the kingdom of italy" as you said it joined the allied powers. it ended the war against the allies(for the KoI), not the war itself. thank you for your clarification

[@goofynose2520]

@@matthewpalmer7184 Yep, my Italian grandad served with the British 8th Army in Italy post-1943.

[@gunner678]

Exactly

[@italianduded1161]

Yes thank you!!!

[@sambaggins2798]

So cool that collectors share with us through you so that we can see these treasures we might never have seen otherwise.

[@enzowarren9832]

Very cool! I’ve never seen such a crude beretta before. I absolutely love Beretta pistols. The 1923, 1934, and 1951 are some of my favorite “vintage” models, and it’s always nice to come across another variation of one of them.

[@clarino2]

These are incredibly interesting and informative videos. Thanks Ian!

[@Deamons64]

Hmm, even in a last ditch effort gun, the Italians make it aesthetically pleasant, or at least better than most for the time.

[@chriscary4074]

I thought Germans made it, Ian said they took over the factory, did they just leave the workers?

[@shawnr771]

@@chriscary4074 Probably some were forced labor. You work for who has the gun pointed at you.

[@Thicc_Cheese_Dip]

@@shawnr771 "You see, in this world, there's two kinds of people: those with loaded guns *cocks hammer* *click*, and those who dig. You dig."

[@donjones4719]

Tbh, I don't see these as last ditch weapons in the same sense as others Ian has covered. Those were redesigned and simplified guns or new designs. This is simply an aesthetically pleasant 1935 pistol with the finish work not done. The labor-hours for machining the moving parts of the slide and frame seem to be the same. I wish Ian had field stripped it for a look at the slide fit and the trigger group.

[@wetnaptkins3363]

How can you dislike Ian’s videos? I understand that a topic like history and firearms are not something everybody is interested but you have the option to not watch the videos.

[@gfarrell80]

No pleasing some people.

[@jeremyshipp4414]

Holy grind marks Batman!!!

[@sergeykoshelev4566]

Thanks for the episode, despite the machining and finish it is still a nice and handy gun... I'd pick Walther PP if I had a choice.

[@jeffjefferson2676]

Great content! Last ditch guns are the easiest/fastest to produce and are probably in a way the simplest versions of pretty advanced stuff.. This is the same as the other pistol so it seems. Thanks Ian! Jeff

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@jesserjzz1]

I had one of these... made of plastic and that fired orange vent tip arrows. Glad to finally know what gun was it. Used to say that was a regular Beretta. Great history.

[@Ingsoc75]

I have an air force stamped 1941 production M35 that my grandfather got in WW2. Interesting to see the difference.

[@junichiroyamashita]

Armaguerra,literally" weapon of war" even thought not grammaticaly exact,but it is often done in titles.

[@hhhhhhyy]

In many languages "Tool" and "Weapon" share a similar meaning.

[@junichiroyamashita]

@@hhhhhhyy in this case is weapon specifically,it should be "Arma da Guerra" but that would be too bland ,so it was shortened and made more simple

[@Kumimono]

Rather surprised that Italy of all languages has something other than bellum meaning war.

[@junichiroyamashita]

@@Kumimono we use the adjective "Bellico" but that is pretty much it,in italian Bello means beautiful.

[@Thicc_Cheese_Dip]

The general English translation of the name would be "War Weapon".

[@doraran2138]

An elderly WW2 vet in the Italian theatre, who was in charge of surrendering Italian troops, related had scores of Beretta pistols that he used for bartering with other Americans who wanted them as souvenirs, stating they were quite popular items. In addition to war trophy interest, some US troops, took advantage of small size, carrying them as a back up (which may have been against regulations-but I guess better to be tried by Adjuvant than buried by Mortuary Corp).

[@tag206]

The machining makes it look cooler than the regular m35.

[@charles_wipman]

I'd seen a couple of Berettas like that on the early 90s, i still have the same opinion on 'em.

[@Unsound_advice]

charles wipman which is?

[@jonmeray713]

Scott M probably negative,cause he is an expert,otherwise he wouldnt give such a retarded vague comment on youtube right

[@johnrohde5510]

My late father carried a Radom pistol in the Wehrmacht but always hankered after a Beretta.

[@solardeathdragon5517]

It looks like this is something the Beretta 92F and the M9 was based off of.

[@metal--babble346]

these are very accurate little guns. and if you run outta ammo, you got brass knuckles. Solid steel

[@mikejohn0088]

Very interesting -- many thanks pal!

[@Zbyhonj]

Something about guns with good fit and no finish really appeals to me.

[@DIEGhostfish]

I saw Armaguerra and got my hopes up for the OG-43 and 44 but one of the only surviving OG-43s is in Switzerland in private hands and I hadn't heard of you going on another trip.

[@charleshaynes815]

The Italian armistice was 3 September 1943 not 1944. Otherwise fantastic

[@dascabinetdesdoktorcaligar4714]

8 September 1943

[@RobertoDonatti]

It was signed on the 3d. And made public on the 8th.

[@tenacious645]

I love last ditch guns 😍

[@robosoldier11]

What an interesting looking salt shaker. The Italians were really getting innovative with their kitchen utensils.

[@aciddd5232]

robosoldier11 Yeah it doubles as a spatula

[@italianduded1161]

War ended for us in the 1945 too. Italy was split in half, and the center and north continued the fight against the Allied invasion.

[@kevinkolol4132]

Skallagrim + DemolitionRanch=forgotten weapons

[@LaTanaDiKosky]

S.A. stands for Società Anonima which might be compared to what now is a S.p.A. (Società per azioni) that might aswell traslato into Joint-stock company

[@chlebowg]

Thanks Ian, Got a Pakistani M35 copy in front of me here in Afghanistan

[@Tekdruid]

*Three* known examples existing? Wow, that's a veritable unicorn gun right there.

[@randywatson8347]

Well it still is precise fit looking at the slide.

[@kenwheeler3637]

Good to know. If I had come across one of these I might have thought it was some bootleg type knockoff. With them being so rare I highly doubt I'll ever see one but you never know.

[@BeingFireRetardant]

I think my friend has one actually. Looked at it a year ago. Have to double check. Crap gun, but maybe worth something due to rarity. Definitely looks like a Carmona instead of 35 Beretta.

[@kenwheeler3637]

@@BeingFireRetardant That would be awesome. I'm sure that'll make your friend very happy if it turns out to be the case.

[@thefryingdutchman8795]

What's the lowest serial number you've seen reference to on for this model?

[@conangaming2156]

Good video, keep it up

[@scumroyalsgaming]

The Pirate (?) Figurine in the background, next to the fireplace, looks like something ripped straight out of a nightmane.

[@bobbywest7970]

Great video!

[@Activated_Complex]

Very intimidating piece. Hey, look, it’s monogrammed. Who is Umberto Baggins?

[@billpotter7162]

I keep a regular production 1944 mfg m1935 on my nightstand

[@CaptainGrief66]

A reminder that the king Vittorio Emanuele III signed the armistice, Mussolini and the remaining italian fascist forces fled to northern italy and instituted the italian social republic and a defence line, in this state there also were companies like the central Beretta factory.

[@robosoldier11]

Marco Menabue well... it did take awhile and a lot of men and material. So i wouldn’t necessarily say they were kicked to the curb as easily as you make it out to be. Especially going through the Gothic and Winter lines. And arguably the north was more valuable anyways given the its the industrial hub for the most part. So ya.

[@marcomenabue7717]

@@robosoldier11 i know but remember, while you were fighting italian partisans fought in the streets liberating them even with their Life. And now fascism Is back again with racism and Fascists that punch peaple in the streets Just because they arent fascists

[@robosoldier11]

Marco Menabue I don’t want to get into the whole modern political dialogue. I’m just pointing out that the Italian campaign wasn’t as clear cut and dry as a lot of people make it out to be. They still lost obviously. But they gave it a good scrap.

[@marcomenabue7717]

@@robosoldier11 i totally agree

[@doraran2138]

The Free Italian Partisans (like the Free Polish and French partisans) are to be admired. The Communist Partisans were ABSOLUTELY no better than the German National Socialists (NAZIs) they were fighting. Tying children and pushing them into the Foibes of Istria by communists (well documented) was not any better than the electrocution or carbon monoxide vans the NAZIs used commonly in mostly Northern Italy. (I lived in a neighborhood with several former Free Italian Partisans, who killed many NAZIs only to be marked as enemies by the Communist Partisans after war. They (the former Free Italian Partisans) were allowed by Truman into US, many due to their exemplary anti-NAZI fighting history, as Displaced Persons since they were marked for death. ) If like communism you probably accept and approve of those atrocities much as those who like NAZIs accept and approve of the Holocaust. Most normal people find it all appalling and unacceptable. BTW: One Partisan related how his fisherman father was given an "Austrian rifle", presumably an M95 Steyr to shoot sharks or what-ever, by Italian government in 1920's. He carried it when he joined Partisans until he captured something better.

[@matthewmoses4222]

Vice marks all over one side of the slide, forgot to put the second soft jaw in during manufacture....

[@johnwhitley2898]

Cool piece! My dad "brought" one home from the war as a paperweight. LONG story, and as a teenager, I got the story about the cast aluminum M35 Beretta pistol/paperweight. It's my cool paperweight now. Lol!

[@kevinoliver3083]

The War did endvfor Italy in 1944 The Italian/Allied Armistice was in 1943. Italian Co-Beligerant, Partisan, and RSI forces continued fighting, for their respective sides until May 1945.

[@MCYonazz]

I had no idea "Brevettata" was a thing. Beautiful.

[@georgesmith5708]

"Brevettata" means "patented".

[@MCYonazz]

@@georgesmith5708 I know, but thank you. I just like how it can be a pun on Beretta as well.

[@billmcyrus]

Someone forgot to smooth that one out on the belt grinder.

[@M.M.83-U]

Great video on a very rare gun! But we shifted side in ww2, and started our civil war, the day september 8 1943.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

Betrayed the Germans in both wars :D Took a damn while in 2 though :D

[@M.M.83-U]

@@jimmydesouza4375 Yes, that's wat appen when you'r so dumb to trust your own propaganda. Fascists are very dumb.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

@@jimmydesouza4375 In WWI the Austrians broke the Triple Alliance pact. In WWII is like saying the Germans betrayed the Japanese by surrendering before them.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@@neutronalchemist3241 That's not true. The Italians broke the Triple alliance by invading into the Tyrol and such. Also there's a difference between fighting till your capital is gone as the Germans did and turning coat the moment there's angry Americans nearby like the Italians did :D. What you're doing is silly. That being said, the Germans did actually betray the Japanese in a few ways (primarily strategic and unfulfilled aid promises).

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@@M.M.83-U Nothing about propaganda, simple fact. Hell I wasn't even saying it was a bad thing that you did, notice "took a damn while"? Was just amused at your countries continual betrayals ultimately ending up supporting the "greater good" :D.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

How did they put the serial number on it? It looks like it's been etched out or something by hand, but that seems like it'd take a wierd amount of time. It's too uneven to be a stamp though... Looks wierd, is what I am getting at.

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

Better than what you can get for the same price nowadays

[@MesserMorfeo]

The problem with the armistice date is that Historians do not agree with each other when talking about the Italian Civil War ('43-'45). Quick recap: After invasion of Sicily, Kingdom of Italy surrendered, in 1943. German troops in Italy started the operation Achse, de facto annexing Northern and Central Italy. Italian Kingdom decided to continue the war in the Allies faction to liberate the country. So, the Civil War started, with fascist and german nazis on North and partisans, royalist, republicans, communists, socialists and Allied support on South. Allied invasion in Italy was parallel with partisan action: the first stage of advance was slow and dangerous, in the final moments entire cities rose up against Hitler and Mussolini.

[@josh.fornite2082]

Demo ranch made a vid in the rock island auction and i instantly thought of u :) What have u done to me

[@wraithwyvern528]

Last ditch gun that looks nicer than anything the Brits or Germans ever used

[@carlosguilherme2958]

The bast pistol mod 1935

[@LisaKeskitalo]

Love your videos. I’m a history professor at a university. I am currently working on my PhD. 9 years ago I started collecting military surplus firearms. I have 17 in my collection right now. My most recent being a C96 Mauser. Had it out to the range over the weekend. Probably one of my favorite ones to shoot.

[@thesturm8686]

Looks at the thumbnail Me : last ditch weapon in 1935? Actually clicked the vid Me : oh, nevermind

[@forestcampbell8962]

Cool stuff indeed.

[@BennyLlama39]

I know very little about guns, so this may seem like a dumb question. As similar in general appearance as these guns are, would the parts be interchangeable?

[@webtoedman]

In theory, yes. By mid twentieth century, components could be made with sufficient accuracy and repeatability to allow manufacture at several different sites, and assembly elsewhere. It wasn't the preferred technique for most countries, as it needed a tremendous quality control effort. You could assemble parts of Cremona built pistol into a standard Beretta, but it would probably need hand fitting, and it might not work as well as an "unmixed" example from either factory.

[@HighFalutinTootin]

James Bond loved this pistol

[@hatespeach9835]

why do both slides have the exact same mark/divet on them

[@chancepaladin]

i know . it looks sad without its little red dot. :(

[@benjaminb505]

The saftey switch, when placed on safe, will catch on that slide divet and hold the slude open.

[@michelangelangelo7091]

Holy Cow, that's a very small gun

[@sgshulte7283]

It looks like the m92 little cousin

[@arktikat0083]

sg shulte more like m92’s grandpa lol

[@sgshulte7283]

@@arktikat0083 yep Grandpa

[@DFX2KX]

oddly, that last ditch gun seems to have a small circular cutout for the red dot to get inserted. how odd.

[@lewisirwin5363]

I think it might be an indent for the safety lever to click into as well.

[@Alvi410]

Erhmm Ian... For Italy the war ended on the 25th of April 1945. Don’t know if you were referring to the weapons production.

[@chriscary4074]

Axis Italy

[@chriscary4074]

Italy has the same offcial end to the war as the Europe, but they switched from axis to allies, and as Ian said the Germans took over the factory in 1944 when they were no longer in an allied country but an occupied territory

[@Alvi410]

Chris Cary No. The official end of ww2 in italy is the 25th of April. That’s when they celebrate.

[@chriscary4074]

@@Alvi410 yes, but the reason these are "last ditch" is because they switched sides and so axis Germany had to boot scoot and boogie, again cause they when from being in an allied Nation to an occupied territory

[@Alvi410]

Chris Cary Yes. Of course. Where did you hear me complain about that? I made an observation about dates. Not on occupation/production

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Meeting my friends at the range...they ask what are you bringing?. My Barretta....I reply. They see an M35 and go....whats that?

[@kenibnanak5554]

Tha may be 'crude' by commercial standards, but if I managed to turn that out im my basement, I would be pretty proud of myself. :)

[@MianCowell]

Mah mah mah my Cramona...

[@angelofontana9656]

Cremona

[@KG370]

Some say only extra virgin olive oil is the only approved lubercation for the gub

[@garrisonandrew9862]

1943*

[@RidleyMMA]

Does anyone else see the Boston Pizza logo?! In reverse, of course. Same font, same style.

[@CrunchyPilot]

I have a new dream gun.....

[@chancepaladin]

that steel just looks amazing oooooooooooo. so secksyy

[@WhiteDwarfVR4]

I'm a simple man, i see a PB or a trident, I hit like.. Unless it's forgotten weapons, it gets an obligatory like anyway. 👍😉

[@bigblockman11]

this gun looks like m9's grandfather

[@thesturm8686]

I thought all berretta pistols looks like that

[@gfarrell80]

More like it's petite grandmother.

[@bigblockman11]

@@gfarrell80 nah this last ditch model is too rough to be a grandmother

[@italianduded1161]

Bellissima 😍🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@jeff7.629]

Hmm, looks suspiciously like a F.I.E. TITAN II.

[@ByzAsian45]

More like modello but WWII

[@stocco4483]

Arma de guerra

[@davoocass]

va bene

[@ScottGlenn-n9t]

Huh huh. Goo 230. Huh huh.

[@JonnyCigar407]

Can you hire me man lol

[@bengarrison216]

Pretty nifty pistol (pistol) made in Italian Craig mona, salutations

[@UNIm95]

Maybe it is reversed cause of german language? F = Feuer = Fire S = sicher = save Or the are also mechanical changes in pistol?

[@ExUSSailor]

Ironically, if the Germans had simply left Mussolini in the custody of the legitimate Italian Gov't., he would have stood trial, possibly been executed, but, maybe, only been imprisoned. Either way, he wouldn't have faced the grisly fate that awaited him. Granted, he EARNED that grisly fate.

[@electrecuted]

I hate guns. I am a pacifist. I think guns dont have a place in civilians life (unless they go hunting for non endangered species). But this channel is amazing. Its historical aspect, the way everything is presented (emphasis on engineering evolution and not to the killing aspect of pistols), the research behind everything that is presented makes this channel probably the top channel in youtube (not to mention, camera angles, flow of speech, attention to detail). It's kind of a pleasant cyber museum for whoever wants to find info. And I keep coming back and check the "safeties", the story of the manufacturer e.t.c. All this when I have never held a pistol in my hands, nor I will ever do!!!

[@justimagineihaveaname.2674]

The armistice was signed in September 1943, not late 1944.

[@samirhachem5837]

،،نورينكو موسدس

[@bigboreharley]

Khyber pass copy.....

[@1891shooter]

[@Wolfskopf]

Goo 230 lol

[@matejmatej3554]

We love you gun Jesus 🙌🙏🙌 greetings from Sunny 🌞 and hot sLOVEnia hope you will visit us in the future country is small but we have a military museum here and you won't be disappointed 😁 P.S we share border with Italy Austria Hungary and Croatia so we have rich military history from WW1 and WW2 there's no excuse for you not to come hehehe

[@hukaman88]

Hey my grandma has one of those lol she doesn't let me touch it till I let her shoot my fireball lol

[@JinnahClaus]

i saw Hago ad 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

[@dak4465]

Italy and their last ditch guns. When will they learn to make guns BEFORE the war

[@TerryCrews1]

Thank you for this video. My father in law has one of these and I have been trying to find the history on it. Have been having a hard time finding anything about it. He has G00053