Glisenti Model 1910

Glisenti Model 1910
A Glisenti Model 1910
Type	Service pistol
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
Used by	Royal Italian Army and Royal Albanian Army
Wars	World War I World War II
Production history
Designer	Bethel Abiel Revelli
Manufacturer	Metallurgica Brescia gia Tempini Societa Siderurgica Glisenti
Produced	1910–1915
No. built	around 33,000
Variants	Brixia Model 1912
Specifications
Weight	820g (29 oz) Unloaded
Length	207mm (8.15 in)
Barrel length	100mm (3.94 in)
Cartridge	9 mm Glisenti
Action	Short recoil, locked breech
Muzzle velocity	305 m/s (1,000 ft/s)
Feed system	7-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Fixed front blade and rear notch

The Glisenti Model 1910 was a 9mm calibre semi-automatic service pistol produced by the Italian company Societa Siderugica Glisenti. It was put in production in 1910 to replace the aging Bodeo Model 1889. It saw extensive service in World War I and World War II with the Italian Army. The Model 1910 has a complex and weak firing system which mandates that the pistol ought to use weaker cartridges than pistols of comparable caliber.

The creation of a service pistol to supplant the Bodeo Model 1889 began to be rumored in late 1903. The pistol was designed by Italian inventor Bethel Abiel Revelli. Revelli spent multiple years developing a prototype before patenting his design to Societa Siderugica Glisenti of Turin. The Glisenti company acquired the machinery to begin production from the United Kingdom in 1906 but sold the manufacturing rights to Metallurgica Brescia gia Tempini.

The Glisenti Model 1910 was originally designed to fire a 7.65×22mm bottle-neck cartridge. The pistol being known as the Model 1906 began production in 1908. The Model 1906 failed to impress the Italian Army and was requested to fire a round similar to the German 9×19mm Parabellum. The redesign was named the Model 1910 and was formally adopted by the Italian Army. To reduce recoil and because of the pistol's weak design, the Model 1910 had to fire the 9mm Glisenti. The 9mm Glisenti is structurally similar to the 9×19mm Parabellum but has a reduced velocity.

The Model 1910 fires from a locked breech. When fired, the barrel and bolt recoil together. The barrel will stop in a rearward position. The bolt, unlocking itself, will then continue forward, stripping the chamber and driving the barrel forward again. After this action, a wedge will rise from the frame and lock the entire frame back into position. This firing system wasn't strong and had to fire cartridges weaker than the comparable 9×19 Parabellum caliber. The screw at the front of the frame, when undone will allow the removal of a plate on the left side of the pistol granting access to the moving parts within the pistol. This design was not stiff enough to sufficiently support the left side of the barrel extension and after prolonged firing, the left plate was prone to loosening. The only safety on the pistol was a small lever set in front of the grip.