Glisenti Model 1910

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	Weapon: Glisenti Model 1910 Type: Semi-Automatic Pistol Country of Origin: Italy Year Adopted: 1910 Caliber: 9mm Glisenti Action: Short Recoil Overall Length (mm): 207.0 Weight (kg): 0.00 Effective Range (m): 50

The Glisenti Model 1910 was an Italian semi-automatic pistol designed by the Societa Siderurgica Glisenti for use by the Italian military. Chambered in 9mm Glisenti, it resembled the more powerful 9mm Parabellum but was loaded to lower pressures to accommodate the pistol's weaker design. The Model 1910 featured a simple blowback operation with a pivoting locking block to handle the modest recoil forces of its ammunition. Its ergonomic design, lightweight frame, and relatively compact size made it a practical sidearm for soldiers of the early 20th century.

Production of the Glisenti Model 1910 began shortly after its adoption and continued through World War I, with approximately 100,000 units produced. While intended as the standard-issue sidearm for the Italian Army, its complex manufacturing process and reliance on specialized ammunition limited its widespread deployment. The pistol was produced primarily at the Brescia Arsenal and saw service not only during World War I but also into World War II, as it remained in inventory despite being considered outdated by the 1940s.

The Glisenti Model 1910 gained a reputation for being underpowered and mechanically delicate compared to contemporary pistols like the Luger or Colt M1911. Its ammunition compatibility issues often caused confusion and misfeeds when 9mm Parabellum cartridges were inadvertently loaded. Nevertheless, it holds historical significance as one of Italy's first semi-automatic military pistols, and it represents the challenges of early self-loading pistol design. Collectors and historians value the Glisenti for its unique engineering and role in early 20th-century military history.