beretta 950BS

Question
A friend gave me this little handgun earlier today. I removed the clip and drew back the slide and it is stuck in the open position. Barrel is also flipped open. The slide "lifted up" about a 1/4 inch on the front and appears to be held up by two spring arms, one on either side of the slide. The hammer is of course fully cocked.

I can't get the slide back forward and am concerned that I broke the gun or it was already broken when my friend gave it to me.

Any words of wisdom?

Answer
I used to have one years ago - they are a pain in the neck. When I first looked at in the gun store, I, like you, had thought that I broke it. I didn't, and I'm almost certain you didn't either (can't be sure without seeing it).

I would try these things in this order:

1) Go to your local gunshop (a REAL gunshop, not a big box that happens to sell guns), and tell them your woes, and ask if they can show you how to properly disassemble and reassemble it. Then buy some ammunition and targets from them. Be sure to tell that you were GIVEN the gun. Most little shops are getting cranking, because people go buy their guns at Walmart, the staff of which knowns nothing about guns, then when they have a problem or the guns don't work, bring them to Main Street Guns. This has led to many gunshops telling people, "If you didn't buy it here, get lost." So make sure you tell them it was given, buy some other stuff from them, and they will be more than glad to help. Having someone show you first hand is the best way to go.

2) Second best way to go is to get the book Automatic Pistol Assembly/Disassembly by JB Wood (available at Amazon). It will have more than your gun in it, but it should have your gun in it. It will also tell you how to disassemble it down the last pin and spring, which is more than what you want,but the book is an excellent reference, and will tell you tricks and difficult things to look out for.

3) Last way I'd try to go to Beretta's site and get a manual. It will help some, but no gun company will admit that there is anything "difficult" about their design, so it will probably be the least helpful of all your options.

Good luck.