P. Beretta 86 Cheetah .380 ACP Tip-Up Barrel, DA/SA, 4.4 in Blued, Made in Italy, BP Date Code (2001)
This Italian-made P. Beretta Model 86 Cheetah stands out as the tip-up barrel variant of the Cheetah series, pairing a longer 111 mm (approx. 4.37 in) carbon-steel barrel with DA/SA blowback operation. Proofed in 2001 (BP date code) and imported by BERETTA USA CORP., ACKK., MD, it features a blued finish over an aluminum-alloy frame, checkered wood grips with Beretta medallions, and an open-top slide. Its single-column configuration delivers a 7+1 capacity in .380 ACP.
Condition
Overall Condition: Excellent condition, showing only faint signs of any prior use or handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The pistol is in great shape with mild signs of prior use.
What’s Included
- Original case
- One factory Beretta 7-round steel magazine marked 'P.B. CAL. 9 CORTO/.380 AUTO MADE IN ITALY'
The Model 86 is the unique tip-up barrel offering within the Cheetah series. Its tip-up design allows the chamber to be loaded and unloaded without retracting the slide, and the Model 86 omits a mechanical extractor by design. The barrel length is 111 mm (approx. 4.37 in), longer than other .380 Cheetah variants, contributing to this model’s distinct profile.
Construction highlights include a carbon-steel barrel, an aluminum-alloy frame, and a blued finish. Operation is semi-automatic blowback with a DA/SA trigger and an exposed hammer. Safety features include a frame-mounted manual safety and a firing-pin block, and the slide uses Beretta’s open-top configuration.
Sights are straightforward and durable: a fixed front blade integral to the barrel and a drift-adjustable rear notch set in a dovetail. The pistol uses a single-column magazine for a 7+1 capacity. Checkered wood grips with Beretta medallions provide a classic Cheetah-series feel.
Markings and provenance details include Italian proof marks, the BP date code indicating 2001 proof year, and the importer mark BERETTA USA CORP. ACKK., MD. Rollmarks include "PIETRO BERETTA GARDONE V.T. - MADE IN ITALY," and the frame is marked CAT.6454. The Model 86 was discontinued in the early 2000s, further underscoring the appeal of clean, well-kept examples like this one.