Need help identifying a Pistol

[blackqball]

Hey fellas,
Wondering if maybe someone out there could help me identify what kind of pistol this is and maybe what it's worth.... My coworker got this from his grandfather many years ago and was thinking of getting it refinished to operating conditions if it's worth while. Also, if any of you guys can recommend someone who refinishes pistols like this in the L.A. area would be a big help too..... Thanks in advance for any and all help....

[pitfighter]

Was your friends grandfather in Vietnam by any chance?

[blackqball]

No, he said his grandfather fought in WWII....

[knucklehead0202]

looks like an early beretta or a copy of one perhaps, likely chambered in 7.65, which is .32acp. you could probably just pull it apart and clean it up and it'd work fine, as long as nothing is damaged. most small local gun shops offer strip and clean service, i'd start with that. is there any writing or other markings that may help identify the pistol? i'm now curious.

[blackqball]

Just the markings you see in the first pic and it's all matching on the frame, slide, and barrel. No other markings he says that he can see.... I thought early beretta in my opinion too.....

[knucklehead0202]

weird, I looked at small arms of the world and it looks similar, but a bit different than some of the early berettas. disassembling and cleaning it may offer some insight too. interesting if nothing else. almost undoubtedly of European descent, but heck, it could be a knockoff made in Timbuktu for all I know, lol.

[Armistice]

I've looked at sidearms from WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam and nothing looks like what you got. Only thing I can think of is that the side shot you have, those recessed bars on the slide, are not on the other side so throwing me off...

[blackqball]

Lol, I hear you..... Thank you all for your time.... I'm gonna talk to him about disassembling it to look for more clues...... I'll have him take a pic of the other side for you guys tomorrow.... I tried the same thing looking for pistols of different wars and no exact matches either..... Hopefully it's a rare one worth some money for him.... I know he's not gonna get rid of it either way....

[Eddie1965]

Chinese Beretta knock off?

[Armistice]

To me, my first thought was a Polish Radon or a Czech CZ vs. ...

[blackqball]

I thought the Radon too, but those damn dimples set it apart..... I looked up Chinese and Japanese vintage firearms and still nothing comes up...

[knucklehead0202]

yeah, just the shape screams beretta, but I haven't found one that looks exactly like it. weird.

[blackqball]

Here's a pic of the other side.

[weekend_plinker]

Pull the grips off and see if there is any marking under them. some manufactures hide marking there.

[billyjoblack]

MADE IN CHINA Asiatic pistols; makers unknown. these are typical of the many hybrid designs encountered in the far east. virtually no two of wich are identical. the most popular chamberings are 7.63mm mauser, 765mmauto, 9mm parabellum or 45 acp. hope this helps....