Help Identitfy This Pistol

[markdh720]

My buddy recently picked this little pistol for, what seemed to be, a good deal. It is marked "Pistola Sata 22 Cal Corto-Gardone V.T./Made in Italy". We researched the internet and found almost nothing. It might be a pistol from the 1940s made during a partnership between Sabatti and Tanfoglio called SATA, which closed shop around 1960. At the rear of the frame are some proof marks including "XV", what appears to be crossed rifles with a star over it and "PSF" with a star over it.

From the pictures and our trial, you can see that 22 short is a bit too short and 22 LR is too long. I suspect, through process of elimination this pistol may use 22 long, which almost nobody makes besides CCI.

My buddy doesn't plan to sell this pistol, or even shoot it much. It's more of a collection piece and we are looking for age and maybe a replacement magazine. Any info or leads are greatly appreciated.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e101/markdh720/IMG_0069.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e101/markdh720/IMG_0067.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e101/markdh720/IMG_0066.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e101/markdh720/IMG_0065.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e101/markdh720/IMG_0063.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e101/markdh720/IMG_0061.jpg

[xpd54]

It's a Bernadelli pistol of some sort. Not sure of the model number. Looks like the pistol in this thread:

http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=5&f=36&t=97554

[Tombstone]

Here you go
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?235078-SATA-–-Italian-25-acp-pocket-Pistol-(Sabatti-and-Tanfoglio)

It is chambered in 22 Short -- "Corto" means 'short'. The action is designed around a .25 acp, so the 'short' is the only round with about the same OAL. Same as with Beretta's 950 Minx pistols.
Tom

[markdh720]

Thanks, Tombstone. That post that you linked to is one of the few bits of information we had originally found. My buddy confirmed what we figured when the previous owner have him one of the original ivory-colored grips marked "Sata". Now, we are in the hunt for a replacement magazine. The follower looks like it was chewed up by a dog.

[Tombstone]

A spare mag may be a scarce find. Can you try to dissassemble the mag and blend out the follower with sandpaper? Can't hurt to try and see if it will cycle consistantly.
TOM