TopN

Hi Mike, I've never seen take one before, nice catch. Attached below is the one that's still offered from time to time. Steve

Hi Mike, Thanks for the reply. I've got a number of older Beretta Rifle & Shotgun owners manuals - most have exploded views and/or pictures of the weapon. If I can get pics of BM69 & BM62 Rubber Butts, maybe I can match them up with similar Butt Plates on a Beretta Commercial Weapon. Another possibility is checking older Numrich/Gun Parts Corp Catalogs, but I can't find any of mine right now. Perhaps if someone sent a good picture(s) to Numrich - they might be able to match it to specific Beretta Models. I just don't think Beretta would spend the time/money to make a unique Rubber Butt for <300 BM69's or <2000 BM62's. Especially in the time before CAD/CAM machines. The Time Frame for the BM69 production would have been in 1969, is that correct? And the BM62's were cranked out in the early '70's? If I was Beretta, I would have used what I had in the parts bins - possibly leftovers from discontinued models if I had enough available. Again, thank you for your reply. Steve

There seems to be a fair number of BM69 & BM62 rifles owned by members of the board. I haven't seem the following questions come up before. Are the rubber Butt Pads on BM69's & BM62's the same? Are the Butt Pads attached in the same manner on both rifles? As Beretta was very frugal in the assembly of the whole BM59 series of rifles, were the BM69 & BM62 Butt Pads unique to those rifles, or did Beretta possibly use left over commercial Butt Pads, trimmed to fit the BM Butt Stock? Were BM69 & BM62 Rifle Stocks machined out to hold a cleaning kit, and then plugged, or were they never cut for the "trap" ? Would BM69 & BM62 owners please post some pics of their Butt Pads. Steve

For $1500?!!! Outstanding, probably somewhere between 1/2 to 2/3 of the going price. The Stock isn't OEM for a BM62 - it's a BM59 Mark IV SAW stock & butt plate. The front sight isn't stock BM59 - but, I've seen something like it on a Garand once. I've attached pics of a standard BM62 & Standard BM59/62/69 Sight parts. Again, nice catch Steve

Greg, I guess that I'm one of those that think a BM59 is smoother than an M14. Maybe it's the longer Garand Action in 7.62mm NATO, or maybe the Rubber Butt has something to do with it - maybe both. About the longer threaded portion of the BM59 muzzle - what you said sounds good to me. The TriComp weights a heck of alot more than a Garand Gas Cylinder Lock. I've never used a BM59 Gas Plug on a Garand, but I'd guess that it would be like using an early solid Garand Gas Plug. The only barrel I can think of that isn't a cylinder at the base is the P.C. barrel, which had milled flats (I call them "cheeks"). As it was for Parachutists, I assume it was done for weight reduction. As to the C-Clip for the Front Band (or Lower Band) - I've always assumed it was done that way for accuracy proposes. I been told the Italians used British Pattern 58 & US web gear to hold BM Mags - I've never been able to find any Italian Pouches. I've never heard that they only used stripper clips to reload - although that would explain why no Italian Mag Pouches have been available. In the above I said "maybe", "guess", "been told", & "assume" alot, sorry. I can talk about an individual part that I have, but the "Why" Beretta (or the Italian Military for that matter) did something is just guess work - they junked their records a long time ago. Steve

Doug, All the SA Inc. BM59's I've taken down (only about 4-5) have had the solid 1 piece recoil spring guide. It is my understanding that these 1 piece guides were made for export BM59 Mark 1-4 series rifles. SA Inc. got them when they bought out Beretta's remaining parts stocks. I know Reese only recomended the 1 piece guides for semi-auto BM59's. It would be interesting to know if the Mark 1 & 2 Compensators (the ones that take mod M-1 Bayonets & can't take Grenades) have a "booster chamber". Reese offered those Compensators, and I kick myself for not getting one. Steve

Doug, Thank you for the info - I remember firing a M-14 on F/A was a real bear to control because the very high rate-of-fire. We were using the "clip-on" M-16 bipods (M-3?) which probably didn't help any. Does the "bush rifle" barrel length slow the rate-of-fire down any, compared to the longer standard barrel? Back to the BM59s - have you had any problems running the hollow spring housing without the "knitting needle" - any damage to recoil spring or damage to the end of the hollow spring housing itself? Steve

Doug, I've never fired a BM59 full auto - any idea how it's rate-of-fire compares to a M-14? I was issued & fired F/A a couple of those way way back. Is there any functioning problems - short recoil, etc., with the P.C. when the removeable part of the Tricomp has been taken off? Steve

Doug, There is a short chamber behind the "pepper-pot" I have no good way of measuring it in comparison to the one in the Standard Length Tricomp. Where did you come across the terms "Booster Chamber" & "Brake Chamber"? "Brake Chamber" is easy to understand, but "Booster Chamber" - what is boosted? But having said that - "Booster Chamber" is a much better description than "that weird milled-out space behind the pepper-pot" . One of my "dumpster-diving" penpals SWAG'ed (SWAG=Scientific Wild-Ass Guess) that the Short Tricomp might have been for the Italian Carabinieri (sort of a cross between State Police, FBI & Army Military Police). TopN

I'm inventorying & organizing (finally ) my BM59 stuff & and I discovered that I had 1 Tricompensator that was different from the others . The pictures show 2 Tricompensators. The longer one is the Standard Italian Infantry & T/A Tricompensator. The Standard Italian Infantry & T/A Tricompensator is about 7 1/8" long (184mm) by my measurements. This Short Tricompensator is only 6 5/32" (160mm ) long. Both are marked P.B. BM59. Both are set up for launching Rifle Grenades - note the Grenade Retaining Spring (Ring) present on both. Both have the Italian Military Bayonet Lug - neither will take modified Garand Bayonets used on most export weapons. Both are used, and came from Italy via my "Dumpster Diving" penpals - presumably off demiled weapons. Again, presumably, this short Tricompensator would require a Flip-Up (Direct-Fire) Grenade Sight that was different from the Standard Infantry/T.A. or the P.C. types of Flip-Up Grenade Sights. Does anybody know what the "short" Tricompensator was used for/on?

I've inventoring & organizating my BM59 stuff and I "found" some Gages that were in the wrong place (in a box of recoil springs): Another Chamber Length Gage - but not a "GO" or "NO-GO" CAL. 7,62 NATO CHIUSURA AL 0400 mm 10,16 1"635 m/m 41,529 VE FAT Firing Pin Protrusion Gage (the first 3 lines were added with Electro-Pencil) FUCILI 7,62m/m NATO E (next markings are stamped [rolled] onto the gage) GARAND 0.30 VERIF. SPORG PERCUSS MAX 059 = 1,50 MIN 044 = 1,12 FAT VE

Hi Guys, I've collected a few Gages for the BM 59 over the past 2 years. It's interesting to note that many of the Gages are marked "Fucili 7,62 NATO" (Rifles 7.62 NATO) or "Fucili s.a. cal .30 e 7,62 NATO" (Rifles semi automatic cal.30 & 7.62 NATO). Only one Gage is marked specifically for the BM59. That's the No-Go Gage & it's marked "FAL BM 59 cal 7,62mm PMALT 1999". I'd guess that's because all the .30 cal M-1's & 7.62mm NATO Tipo 2 M-1's had been withdrawn (demilled?) by that time. The No-Go Gage doesn't have the headspace marked in inch measurments like the Go Gages. These Gages are the only BM59 items that I've seen marked SMALT or PMALT. The Armory at Terni has used FAT, FAET, SMALT, & PMALT as it's production codes during the BM 59 era. I tried to take pictures of the markings on the Gages. However, the curved & reflective surfaces made the pics unreadable in most cases. So I've had to settle for front & rear views of them, plus a description of the markings. Go Gage A markings: Fucili cal. 7.62 NATO AF=41.4274(1".631) N03-600-001 SMALT 1994 RB Go Gage B markings: Fuc cal 7,62 NATO AF=41,4274(1."631) 1975 N03 600 001 FAET 611 P8 No-Go Gage markings: FAL BM 59 cal. 7,62mm R.S. 41.6560 N03-605-11 PMALT 1999 BR OpRod Piston (Tip) Gage front markings: Fucili s.a. cal. .30 cal. 7,62 NATO SMALT 1985 A.G. OpRod Piston (Tip) Gage rear markings: NP 13.335 No N02600007 verif del 0 del pistone T/E Gage A markings: Verif.usura canns in culatta fucili cal. 7,62 NATO N03 600 002 SMALT B8 C 1987 T/E Gage B markings: Verif.usura canns in culatta Fucili cal. 7,62 NATO N03 600 002 SMALT EA 1985 Note: Both T/E Gages have RIFIUIO inscribed around the base, next to the Handle Gas Cylinder Gage front markings: Fac. s.a. cal. .30 e cal.7,62 NATO FAET 1976 MK Gas Cylinder Gage rear markings: N: N03-6000-076 Verif. 0 Int. cilin. presa gas. All Gages also had electropencil alpha-numeric serial number markings like U.S. Military Gages would have. Does anybody have other types of Gages, or Gages with different manufacturer markings (FAT, PB, etc), or ones with earlier or later dates.? TopN

Pete, I posted pictures of some BM59 Bolts, & others added more pics. The date of the post is 25 June 2010. Beretta converted lots of U.S. made Garand Bolts to BM59. Because the surface of the Bolt is very hard, the "P.B. BM59" marking is very faint on some converted bolts. It has been mentioned in previous posts that some BM69's & BM62's have converted Garand Bolts instead of new manufactured Bolts. If your rifle has been refinished, the Bolt "PB BM59" markings may be very faint. Because of the length of time that the Garand & BM59 were in production, plus the large number of different companies which made them, Garand & BM59 Bolts come in a very wide variety of lengths . The odds of a random Bolt Headspacing correctly in your rifle are not so good. If you replace your current Bolt, make sure a Gunsmith checks the new one for proper Headspace. All that said, if you have Springfield made Garand Bolt that is not marked "PB BM59", the question is why? Beretta marked everything they made or converted. Did the Rifle get rebarreled and get a gunsmith converted Garand bolt then? Or did it develope excess Headspace & require a replacement Bolt? The Garand Bolts used in Golden State & NatOrd clones were not marked "BM59" when they converted. Post a picture of your Bolt if you can. Hope this helps. Steve

I have 2 partial sets of NIW/unused PB marked BM59 F/A parts. See attached picture. These were in a large lot of mixed parts I purchased a while back. Each set is $60 including shipping & insurance. All NFA rules apply. My e-mail is topn01@sprynet.com TopN

I'm adding a better picture of the Garand BFA. Like the BM59 BFA, the Garand BFA has a brass ring around the barrel, but with no words rolled onto it. Instead, the words "TIRO A SALVE GARAND" are inscribed directly onto the barrel along the right side only. The only other marking is "58" on the bottom - the year of manufacture?

Thank you for the info. I've got a Reising Pouch. I paid $50 for it - what's the going price for one?

I have a 5 cell 20rd USMC marked Magazine Pouch. I thought it was a Thompson Pouch when I got it. I don't collect either Reising or Thompson stuff, but as I'm a retired Marine I have a hard time passing over any USMC marked item. Is this a Reising Pouch, or a Thompsom Pouch, or is it a Fake? Were there USMC marked Thompson Pouches? I've attached a picture with a tape measure on both views. If anyone needs bigger pictures, I can e-mail the unresized front & back pictures (2 meg each) TopN

Mike, a few questions about your BFA. Is it a unused one? Any paint on the "base"? I'm not sure what the Box with the Star inside means. I been told - a.) it's an Italian Military acceptance mark. b.) It's a Italian Military Property Mark like the "U.S." on an American Military item. c.) It's the Maker's Logo or Trademark. I lean towards a). Can anyone out there confirm that? Is there any marking under the Box - "FAT", "FAET" or anything else? TopN

So far I've identified 4 or possibly 5 kinds of Italian BFA's. The 1st type is the one that was used with BM59 Ital & T.A. rifles. It was also used with the Pc rifle, although the Pc had another BFA made specially for it. This is the one we "normally" see - the one that Andy from Italy sold a few years ago in new condition. It is constructed like a Tricompensator. However, both the "barrel" and the "base" of the BFA are wider than similar areas of the Tricompensator. The wider base prevents the Grenade Sight Frame from being raised, and the wider "barrel" will not accept a Rifle Grenade or a Bayonet. The "barrel" has a very small hole bored through the top at a 45 degree angle about 1" behind the muzzle (for addition gas pressure relief?). The middle of the "barrel" has a Brass Band set into it. The words "TIRO A SALVE FAL BM59" (BLANK FIRING ADAPTER FAL BM59) are impressed to the Brass Band. The only difference I've noted between the 6 used & abused BFAs that I have handled is that the font of the impressed words "TIRO A SALVE FAL BM59" varies. I have "stacked" 4 different Brass Bands on top of each other in the BFA picture. All the used BFAs I've handled have been painted on the base portion. Red paint was used on 3, 1 was light blue, 1 was dark blue, and 1 was painted yellow. Because of the different colors, I'm guessing that the paint was applied by individual military units. You can see some red paint remains on the "base" of the BFA in the picture. About a month ago I told a member of this forum that there were no Manufacturers markings on any BFA that I've handled. While going over my original unresized pictures (my camera takes a 4 meg close-up), I found a Manufacturers mark on one that I sold several months ago, and Monday I received another with the same "FAT" markings. I attached a picture showing the "FAT" marking on the BFA "base". The 2nd type of BFA was for the BM59 Pc. It consisted of a removable "barrel" that replaced the similar removable part of the 2 piece BM59 Pc Tricompensator. I have never handled one of these or seen a picture of one. I'm told that this BFA was only used when Pc rifle had to be broken down for parachute jumping. This was because the spring holding the "barrel" of the BFA to the Pc "base" portion could be weakened by F/A firing and possibly fail. When the Pc rifle was used in normal (non-jumping) field exercises, a standard BM59 Ital BFA would be used. The 3rd type was for the BM59E and Italian 7.62mm Tipo 2 M1 Garand. It looks similar to Standard BM59 Ital BFA. It replaces the BM59E Muzzle Break or the Garand Gas Cylinder Lock. I have attached a picture of a Italian Garand Manual showing drawings/pictures of this BFA. The manual appears to show 2 different BFA's for the Tipo 2, labeled A & B. The 4th type is a pre-BM59 M1 Garand BFA. Instead of have a wide "barrel" and blocky "base" like that of a BM59 BFA, it has a shorter, thinner "barrel" and the "base" is contoured to match the Gas Cylinder, similar to the Gas Cylinder Lock it replaces. That is the one shown in the picture sitting on top of the Italian Garand Manual. The last type was described, but not pictured on page 26 of the Beretta Four Language Manual. The description is "It slides into the grenade launcher and is secured to it.". As always, any corrections, comments, or additional info is welcomed. TopN

The "BOSS" :hail: "suggested" :soap: last night that I might "want to" sell some things before I purchased any more "Toys" , so here goes. BM59 Gas Cylinder, Stripped NIW - 3 available - $75 each 20 round Magazine NIW BR marked - 4 available - $65 each BM59 OpRod New in VCI pack - 3 available - $60 each BM59 M3A1 cleaning tool NIW - 4 available - $15 each BM59 Sling NIW - 2 available - $15 each BM59 Stripper Clip Guide in grease - 4 available - $12 each BM59 Extractor w/Plunger & Spring new in grease - 7 available - $10 each Shipping is extra. With the exception of the OpRod, the items will fit in the small $5 USPS Priorty "if it fits it ships" box. The extractors can go 1st class letter. If anybody wants any of the above "Toys" you can e-mail me at: topn01@sprynet.com Thanks TopN :slap:

Thank you for the info, I've just ordered 2. TopN

How well did the M14 Springs work with the Beretta metal followers? I've never seen replacement BM59 Mag Springs, although I have been offered new-in-wrap replacement metal followers (I didn't take them). TopN

FAET = Fabbrica D'Armi Dell 'Esercito Di Terni 67-78, before that it was FAT - Fabbrica D'Armi Di Terni, after FAET it was SMALT = Stabilimento Militare Dell 'Armamento Leggero di Terni from 1979 until 2000. Now has another name. All the same place - Terni Arsenal. FAT, FAET & SMALT all made BM59 accessories - SMALT didn't mark their's (I think). By the time it changed it's name again, BM59's were being scrapped wholesale - so it didn't make anything for the BM59. It is making the new Italian Rifle on CNC equipment. It only took about 8 e-mails from/to a retired Italian Army guy in Italy for me to get that straight (maybe) - He speaks a bit more English than I do Italian - I don't speak any Italian. TopN

I have a different floorplate. Mine are marked P.B.B.M59. One has a steel follower the other two have plastic followers. Otherwise the floorplate is identical to those in your top two photos. Tom Nord Tom, thank you for replying. Are your Magazine Floorplates marked P.B.B.M59 or possibly P.B. BM59? Where did you get the Magazines with Plastic Followers? I've been told they (the ones with plastic followers) were not Italian Issue, but that they were made for "Foreign Contracts". Are the Magazines marked on the rear near the base & do they have a "Lip" on the Floorplate Front? I've attached 2 pics showing - (1) The difference between Magazine Floorplates with or without a "Lip". (2) The marking on the rear of a BR BM59 Magazine. TopN

Italy did not pack Stripper Clip Guides (Magazine Chargers) in with 7.62mm NATO Ammo. Instead, they where issued to individual troops just like any other rifle accessory (sling, cleaning kit, M3A1 tool, etc.). New BM59 Guides were preserved in cosmoline & barrier paper. What lucky troops. The attached pictures show the differences between the BM59 Stripper Clip Guide and the M14 Stripper Clip Guide. A lighter gauge of sheet metal was used when compared to the M14 Stripper Clip Guide. I've only seen FAET & unmarked Stripper Clip Guides. Has anybody seen, or have any, with other markings? I have a few extra FAET, PM me if you want one. Many thanks to forum member mike baker who sent me the nice pictures on the pretty pink background. TopN