More Italian Trials Rifles

Nathaniel F
by Nathaniel F

Previously, we looked at the Breda Model 39, an Italian rifle that competed against what would become the Beretta BM-59 in a bid to be the Italian military rifle of the 1950s and ’60s. TFB friend Trevor Weston sends along more photos of three Italian rifles that are not well known today. The first two are Beretta-made licensed-produced copies of the 7.62mm SG 510-4 rifle, the more conventional one being the first Chilean contract rifle of 13,000 made by the company for that country. The other is a Beretta-made “improvement” of the 510, called the BL-62, with a combined buttstock and pistol grip.

The third rifle is most unusual, and I’m not rightly sure what it is. It appears to be based on the pre-war Polish Wz. 38M rifle, but chambered for 7.62 NATO, a pistol grip (and what looks to be a grip safety), bipod, and rifle-grenade launching capability! The rifle was apparently produced by Beretta, but whether the designer was the same as the Polish rifle, or someone basing their work on that weapon is unknown.

If any of our readers have any more information on this third “mystery rifle”, please let us know!

Thanks, Trevor!

Nathaniel F
Nathaniel F

Nathaniel is a history enthusiast and firearms hobbyist whose primary interest lies in military small arms technological developments beginning with the smokeless powder era. He can be reached via email at nathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.

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  • JCitizen JCitizen on Oct 13, 2015

    Two of those rifles look more like they are from a SIG AMT family.

    • JCitizen JCitizen on Oct 13, 2015

      @JCitizen These were available to civilians when I was a kid, and I was in love with them. I ended up with an HBMG instead - oh well *

  • Secundius Secundius on Oct 14, 2015

    I'd LOVE to have the Beretta BM-59 Mk. 1 Para Model in .30-06, if it weren't for the price. But I understand that Indonesia has a License to produce the BM-59 in .30-06 called the SP-1 produced by PT.Pindad (the Bandung Weapons Factory) in Bandung, Indonesia...

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