Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	Fabbrica D' Armi Pietro Beretta SpA More Info

About the Gun

Compact single-action open-slide blowback pistol that replaced the Model 1935 in the Beretta line. Early guns use a cross-bolt safety and brown plastic grips; later guns use a frame-mounted thumb safety and black plastic grips. Frames are either alloy (Puma) or steel (Cougar). Fixed sights sit on the slide.

Production

Production ran from 1958 through 1968.

Market value

MSRP at production was around $100. Current used market value for examples in good to very good condition ranges $350–$500.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	.32 Automatic
Alias:	7.65 mm Browning
More Info

Analysis

Beretta introduced the Model 70 in 1958 as the first gun in a new medium-frame series that retired the 1934/1935 pattern. The 70 kept the open slide and single-action lockwork and added a longer barrel bushing, a faster safety, a revised magazine catch, and simpler takedown. Alloy Puma and steel Cougar frames ran together. The cross-bolt safety gave way to a thumb lever around 1968–1969. Unsuffixed Model 70 production in .32 Auto is the 1958–1968 window on this page. The later 70S (magazine safety, and .380 Auto) and the .22 LR Model 71 Jaguar are separate models. Used 70s are common C&R guns. Clean, original-finish examples with the correct magazine bring the top of the range; refinished or mixed-safety guns sit lower.