Glisenti Model 1910 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 can use only weaker cartridges than pistols of comparable caliber . History . Development . 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 . Original Design . The Glisenti Model 1910 was originally designed to fire a 7 . 65x22mm 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 . Design Details . Mechanics . 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 9x19 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 . Replacement . Attempted Redesign . Metallurgica Brescia gia Tempini in 1912 attempted to improve the design of the Model 1910 . The improved pistol , referred to as the Brixia , was submitted to the Italian Army for approval . The Brixia had a strengthened frame and removed the grip safety but wasn ' t a big enough improvement to make a change in the Italian Army . The Brixia was later to be sold to the civilian market but the outbreak of World War I lead to the cancellation of the project . End of Service . The Glisenti remained in production until the early 1920s . In increasing numbers from 1916 onward , the Glisenti began to be phased out by the Spanish produced Ruby pistol and Beretta M1915 . The Beretta later became the official service pistol in the Italian Army in 1934 . The Glisenti was declared obsolete the same year but saw limited service in World War II .