Beretta 21A Bobcat grips
Beretta 21A Bobcat grips
The Beretta 21A Bobcat is an iconic ultra-compact pocket pistol renowned for its tip-up barrel design and deep concealment
The lineage traces to the Beretta 950 Jetfire (early 1950s), a single-action .22 Short/.25 ACP pocket pistol with tip-up barrel for easy chamber loading. The Model 20 (1968) introduced double-action/single-action (DA/SA) for safer carry
With Beretta USA established in 1972 (Accokeek, Maryland plant operational by early 1980s), Beretta adapted the concept for the U.S. market amid rising .22 LR ammo popularity (e.g., CCI Mini-Mag/Stinger) and post-Gun Control Act domestic production needs
The 21A Bobcat debuted in late 1984—designed in Italy but produced exclusively at Beretta U.S.A. in Accokeek (later Gallatin, TN)—as a direct evolution of the Model 20 (ended 1985). It featured DA/SA trigger, frame-mounted safety (cocked-and-locked capable), 2.4" barrel, blowback operation, aluminum alloy frame, steel slide, and 7+1 capacity in .22 LR or .25 ACP (6.35mm)
Key innovation: the signature tip-up barrel lever allows direct chamber loading/unloading without racking the slide—ideal for small hands or limited strength
Priced affordably and ultra-reliable, it became a pocket pistol benchmark. The Inox stainless version arrived ~2000; recent revivals include Covert threaded-barrel models (2020+) for suppressors
Over 40 years, the Beretta 21A Bobcat endures as a user-friendly, snag-free classic for concealed carry and backup