Once Upon a Time There Was a King
By Francesco Gasparini - Diana Armi Magazine

When one speaks of Beretta, one always runs the risk of repeating others; this is what can happen when a product is so renowned. Such is the case with the M 12 sub-machine gun which we see almost every day in the name of law enforcement, or on the news, and of course, in action films.

However, I believe that few people have been able to see a PM 12 like this so allow me to start from the beginning in telling you its story.

In 1952, the famous MAB 38 started to grow tired (technically, of course). Engineer Domenico Salza, the manager of the Italian national proof house at that time, undertook a study to create a new automatic firearm which would be lighter, easier to handle and more practical and economical than the MAB. The detailed study produced several prototypes that varied only in the type of bolt. Eventually in 1958, the “M 12 sub-machine gun” with a telescopic bolt was born. The firearm was produced in two versions: one with a wooden stock and the other with a foldable metal recoil pad.

In 1961 it was adopted by the “Pubblica Sicurezza e Carabinieri”. A version with a fire extinguisher formed part of the “Arditi Incursori della Marina Militare Italiana” armament.

In 1977, the late great engineer “Valle” recommended modifications to the safety and to the shooting selector, unifying these two buttons into one command with three positions. Further modifications were recommended to the front sight, rear block and recoil pad. The new version was called M 12 S.

From its conception, the sub-machine gun was a huge international success with sales greater than the equally famous Israeli UZI.

It’s important to remember that until 1954 Arabian countries turned to the West for their firearm needs. Just think of the Beretta 51, supplied in large quantities to Egypt, and later renamed “Helvan”; or the Beretta 51/57, named Berhama after the Egyptian officer who requested its production, which later circulated around our shooting ranges albeit as a 7.65 PB caliber named 952 Special.

In 1966, during a relatively tranquil period in the Mediterranean and with excellent commercial relations between Italy and the producers of petroleum, Beretta agreed to supply firearms to the Saudi Arabian Police Force who, amongst their duties, were to protect King Faisal and his family.

To define King Faisal as a rich monarch is an understatement. When VIP’s came to visit, he found it so important to make a good impression that he would present them with a generous gift in memory of their meeting: a cigarette lighter in solid gold, a cigarette case adorned with precious stones and so on.

In 1972, King Faisal’s right-hand-man and commander of guards, Major General Tayb Tunisi, informed Beretta that the King expressed a desire to have a number of very special M 12’s to give to his guests, and to his armed body guards in replacement of their standard M 12’s.

Back at Gardone, Sir Beretta wasn’t convinced, but considering the client, gave his approval to prepare two prototypes. A short time later, General Tunisi placed an order for twenty-five M 12 special editions that were subsequently delivered in 1975. During a business trip the year after, the General was asked if the King was satisfied with the firearms. The reply was a bit vague but it seemed that the King was not very impressed with the price and consequently its value!!

After the murder of King Faisal by his nephew, all traces were lost of the precious M 12’s. Today one remains at the Beretta museum and is the one photographed for this article.

I remember that Beretta had already started to sell silver or gold-plated pistols that far back. Even today, by special order, one can have the famous 98 F De Luxe edition gold or silver-plated and richly engraved by hand. However, apart from King Faisal’s order, gold-plated long firearms were never in demand, and consequently never built.

The M 12 special edition was gold-plated by an electrolytic process: prior to applying a coat of 24K gold, one had to firstly copper-plate it and then apply 10-12 microns of nickel; the finishing touch was a ¼ - 1/5 micron coat of gold.

The cost of a standard M 12 is calculated by adding the cost of the phosphatizing to the base cost. Due to the substitution of the phosphatizing for gold plating, the cost of the M 12 special edition was naturally more expensive – by about 30-40 times.

And for King Faisal, it still wasn’t expensive enough!!!