doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Beretta ASEL

These are pretty much universally regarded as excellent guns and the box lock brothers of the SO series guns. Question is……..What does ASEL or ASE or ASELL stand for in Italian? Was it just an alphabetical designation or an abbreviation? Same with the SOS……what does that mean?

Anyone actually know or have a reference for those fine Berettas? Thanks.

Here's a guess:

Azione Sovrapposto Extra Lusso

OWD

Are you referring to the ASE guns from the 50s and 60s or the later target guns from the 80s-90s (replaced by the DT-10)?

Ken

I’m talking about the 50s and 60s guns.

Regarding the SO guns, as OWD stated, the "S" stands for Sovrapposto, which translates to superimposed or superposed. The "O" is just used for nomenclature and does not represent a formal word. The numbers after SO refer to different gun configurations (target and field) over the eras (Beretta began making O/U guns in the 1600's and SO model guns in 1932). Both ASE and SO guns were/are made in Beretta's Due factory, which produces their premium-grade guns. EL and EELL models have more bling (i.e., "extra luxury") and put a bigger dent in your credit card.