When I wanted to get serious about collecting Italian stuff, it occurred to me that I should make a list of everyone who knew more about that topic than me... I quickly realized it would be a VERY long list, so I tried to narrow it down a bit - like who the big hitters are and how to get on cordial terms with them.
Did that. A couple of the major Italian rifle collectors take pity on me and feed me a little information. Then I learned of a German book on the topic and got that. It was a little pricey to get it here from Deutchland airmail, but it was worth it. I speak pretty much no German but am able to decipher the production tables and some other critical information.
Now I hear there's a good Italian book on the topic and have begun seeing how I can acquire that one.
I then reasoned Italians might be up on certain aspects of collecting and joined an Italian site by using an on-line translator. Which doesn't work too well, but they know some pretty obscure stuff...
Like the 'D' letter block for Beretta M91-38TS was for the Italian navy. I had one on hand, so that looked legit. Then I spotted another Beretta TS from the D letter block on gunbroker... and bid. I told mybusa & he spotted a navy stock cartouche I had not seen. Better & better! In the attached pics, notice how the receiver is numbered... Beretta didn't do that - the Albanians did, and for what reason I have no clue. I'd join an Albanian milsurp site, but I don't even know what language they speak!
It seems the Beretta letter block D is not alone in the navy contract - mybusa just scored one from the 'C' block. These are supposed to be rare, but I have 3 and mybusa has more than that. I've gotten 2 this year already.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =125085800
I guess the moral of the story is to do lots of homework... listen to what anyone has to say on the topic at hand! MAKE NOTES!!! Then watch the auctions closely. The sellers very often do not know what they have for sure. This is the second Navy TS that the seller did not notice the Navy cartouche. One who did had it priced up in the stratosphere!
Here's another tip, and you heard it here first!
There are Italian bayonets with anchors on them - usually on the cross guard. Not a maker's mark - these are Navy bayonets! AFAIC, they are worth a premium, but I can't say to what extent. I really enjoy collecting these! Unlike Wrenchesters or Colts where there are several books on the topic and collector associatons, this is a "learn as you go" genre. Kinda fun, actually!
You no doubt noticed it's a little beat up and soaked in cosmo ( cosmolene is the premier national product of Albania!) Well, our pal and milsurp magnet, Mybusa has been coaching me on how to improve a stock like this... we will see if I can get-r-done! SW
....whats the addy on Ross enterprises...???....its listed in Dayton-I have to drive thru Dayton every day to work... 
.....his addy is an apartment complex-not a business storefront......its kinda like me calling myself "Mario's Milsurp Emporium..." 
