🇮🇹 Scarface – Beretta 81: Tony Montana’s Other Little Friend
Everyone remembers “Say hello to my little friend” — but what about the other little friend?
Before Tony Montana lit up his mansion with an M16/M203, he made quieter, more personal moves with a sleek Italian pistol tucked into the small of his back: the Beretta 81. Small, elegant, and chambered in a caliber many overlook today, it’s a gun that helped shape one of the film’s most defining moments.
Let’s break down the Beretta 81’s real-world legacy, why it was chosen for Scarface, and how accurately it was portrayed on screen.
🔫 What Is the Beretta 81?
The Beretta 81 is part of the Cheetah series launched in 1976. Unlike the more commonly known Beretta 84 (.380 ACP), the 81 is chambered in .32 ACP (7.65mm Browning) and features:
- 12+1 capacity
- Double/single-action trigger
- Open slide design
- Non-tilting barrel for reliability
Originally, the .32 ACP wasn’t viewed as underpowered — it was widely adopted by European police and military forces for decades.
The Cheetah line mirrors the look and feel of the full-size Beretta 92, but in a more compact, concealable form — perfect for backup carry or a discreet draw. In fact, Tony carries his tucked inside his waistband at the back — no holster, no nonsense.
🎬 Why It Was Chosen for Scarface
Legend has it that screenwriter Oliver Stone wrote a specific note in red ink on the Scarface script — requesting an Italian Beretta as a tribute to the original 1932 film and its Italian mobster roots.
Whether that’s true or not, it’s a fitting nod. The Beretta 81, with its understated design and European pedigree, adds a touch of authenticity and style to the Scarface arsenal.
There’s also a practical side: .32 ACP blanks were more reliable and easier to source during filming, which may have influenced the choice for safety and performance.
🧩 The Movie Gun vs. My Model
On-screen, Tony’s Beretta 81 features Pachmayr grips with a full backstrap, giving it a slightly bulkier, more tactical look. Your example (with period-correct Pachmayrs but missing the backstrap) matches the movie gun almost exactly otherwise.
Side-by-side with a 1981 Beretta 81 and a 1982 Beretta 92, the family resemblance is clear — making the 81 a fitting, low-profile cousin to its military-grade sibling.
Bonus trivia? The Browning BDA, a lesser-known sibling of the Cheetah series, was also based on this platform and co-branded by FN and Beretta — possibly the only gun to carry three brand marks from three nations. You even bring that one out for comparison in your episode.
🔥 How It’s Used in the Film
The Beretta 81 shows up in several key scenes:
- Hector the Toad Drug Deal – Tony loses the pistol early, confiscated before things go south.
- Babylon Club Hit – Tony pulls the 81 from his waistband and returns fire during an assassination attempt.
- Frank Lopez Payback – Tony uses it (with a suppressor) to execute Mel Bernstein.
Across these scenes, the action is surprisingly grounded:
- 12–13 rounds fired in the club scene — right on point for a 12+1 pistol.
- No reloads — but Tony escapes instead.
- Suppressed execution scenes are tight, brutal, and up-close — ideal for a concealable pistol.
🎞 Other Appearances of the Beretta Cheetah Series
While the Beretta 81 didn’t dominate Hollywood like the 92FS, its .380 siblings in the Cheetah line certainly did:
- Charles Bronson – Death Wish 2
- Jack Nicholson – The Departed
- Andy Garcia – The Godfather Part III (81) & Internal Affairs (84)
- Bruce Willis – The Jackal (84, suppressed)
- Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) – The Matrix with dual 84FS pistols
From cult classics to cyberpunk icons, the Cheetah’s compact frame and clean lines made it a favorite for actors and armorers alike — especially in female-lead roles, where the gun’s smaller size fit the character’s frame and fight style.
🧢 Final Thoughts
The Beretta 81 may not have the explosive rep of Tony Montana’s M203, but in Scarface, it serves its role with deadly poise. A sleek, capable sidearm that reflects the character’s evolution from street-level thug to icy professional.
Today, Beretta has revived the Cheetah line with modern touches — but collectors and purists still love the original. Simple. Elegant. Deadly.
🎥 Watch the full breakdown and accuracy scoring in our video here:
