The rusty gun herd has thinned considerably at my local Sportsman's. I had noticed a Beretta 92 previously but hadn't paid it much attention. Today I finally realized it was a 92SB Compact.

It was marked at $519. I offered $450, pointing out the missing magazine and the PD case number etched into the grip frame. They took it, and with my GI Joe discount it was $422.50. Since I was buying a gun I was able to get two boxes of 9mm Blazer Brass for 18 bucks each. I have a good stash but I got them anyway.



Its in pretty decent shape compared to its buddies in the case.



A few dings here and there.



Sportsman's gets these guns from Century Arms, who apparently has bought a massive number of evidence guns. Hence the PD case number.



The magazine is an easy fix (Beretta still makes the 13 rd Compact mags) and the case number doesn't bother me.

Somehow, this one was still there. I bet 550 would get it. I'm set on snubby Ks, for now at least.

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Rule of law, not a man.

Damn good price for a 66 snub!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Their pricing is all over the place. Two guns over is a 4” Model 65 for $929!

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Rule of law, not a man.

Man, that 92 was a great deal, for sure. Every ONE of the Sportsman's in my town will NOT MOVE ON PRICE for these, no matter how much of beating they've taken. I had to send one back to S&W. Rear sideplate screw, and rear sight assembly were frozen in place. Hopefully, they can dupe the original satin finish, otherwise, I suspect they'll tell me satin matte only.

IF anyone reading this thread contemplates one from their local SW, you absolutely MUST get them to remove the grips for you. The rust under these that you can't see can be simply unnerving.

I found a 66-1 just like that one locally. They wouldn't budge on the price but it did ring up for 600. Same exact ding on the front sight and same DIRTY condition. Those grips are much nicer than mine though. I'd give a buffalo nickel to know the back story of these.

Mec-gar makes 15 rd mags for the compact

That 92SB is a real Cadillac! The first 9mm I ever shot much was a 92SB that I got from the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Long story short, they were being sued over trooper’s inability to use his correctly in a shooting situation and I was defending them. The Colonel gave me one of theirs and a 1000 round case of ammo and told me to just try to break it. And I certainly did try - dirt, rocks, drops, etc. Nothing. That was in the late-‘80’s and I’ve had a Beretta 92 of one type or another ever since. The Compact is a great piece. You’re gonna enjoy that one. Makes me jealous!

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Everybody could shoot

I hadn't been to my local Sportsmans Warehouse in AZ in about 6 months. I was shocked to see used S&W wheelguns when I was there last week. They had three 65-5's in 3 inch and a 2 inch model 10. Probably should have bought the model 10, but I passed.

They also had a 5906 & two 4006's in the $400+ range. I don't shoot 3rd gen auto's well, so I passed on those too.

Being a commercial chain, I didn't know they would deal on prices. Who do you talk to for that?

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Watch & Pray

My store has a nice and knowledgable young lady who is the “firearms manager”. She has to approve all offers.

This is the third used gun I’ve gotten from the same place. They all came from “corporate” rather than being bought from walk-ins. Corporate got a gazillion from Century Arms International, who must have made either one big purchase from a huge department, or has a standing set up to get them continually. This gun was made in 1983, and if I am deciphering the case number right, has been in lockdown since 1986.

Each time, she clacked away on a computer, made a little face, and took my offer, with one exception. That was an incredibly beat up 2 1/2” .38 Diamondback that must have been in the elements for quite a while. It has made its way down to $869, which is still double what its worth. I asked what she had to have for it, noting it had been there for four months. Clack, clack, little face, then: Sorry - I need 800.

The counter guys have zero dicker authority.

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Rule of law, not a man.

Thanks. I'll check out the inventory next time I'm in there & see if anything is worth dealing on.

My buddy is coming into town from CO next week and we're taking a gun shop road trip to Prescott. So I'm trying not to spend too much $$, just in case I find something on my travels.

But that didn't stop me from picking-up a new P99 last week though. Shoots like a dream.

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Watch & Pray

I had an FS for many years but never liked the decocker/safety. I do like the G however...and you can get one in a compact..

92G Elite LTT Compact

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I like my Type M (eight round single stack).

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and what his trumpet saith

In the NMSP, 2.5" M19's were for agents, pilots, and lieutenants/above. It wouldn't be shocking that those 66's are police administrator trade-ins.

Another member here called Century. He was told that they were all sourced from S. America. Save for the steppes in Peru, that's just one humid sweatbox, LOL. Would make sense for all of the corrosion. Yeah, the blued guns certainly got the worst of it.

None of them have import marks, which Century is not shy about prominently displaying. (At least none of the ones I’ve seen.)

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Rule of law, not a man.

A local gun shop has a bunch of these CAI marked Smiths & Colts. All exhibiting pitting and/or rust. The shop sales rep also seemed to think S. America. I wonder what a letter would reveal on one of these? I almost picked-up a 4" 65-2 for $399, but opted for the P99 shown above from another shop.

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Watch & Pray

sigp220.45, if you intend to tote that Beretta I can make you a deal on a Andrews Hi-Jacker holster.

Bear in mind this is like a small of the back holster for your front. No telling how many people have fallen flat on their face wearing this type of holster and busted every internal organ in their body. But if you are fearless and want to try it just holler at me.

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sigp220.45,

There is a seller on GB that regularly sells PD trade mags 5 mags starting @ $50 + $10 shipping. He has been putting up factory Beretta 92c mags lately.

Search "92C magazine" and they should pop up.

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Thread Killer.

You're right! That didn't occur to me. They usually park their :

C.A.I. Int'l

....somewhere on the gun. However, I've definitely seen it on the plain cardobard box labels, and their pamphlet is normally included inside the box.

Got my first Beretta a F Compact in 1988 and have been a "Accumulator" ever since. From SBs to Wilson Combat.... single stack Type -Ms to Elite IIs..... bright blue to Inox.

They've never been "popular" in W. Pa. and "used as new" guns were always popping up in LGSs.

My first Beretta was a Centurion model, years ago. Back then, if I remember correctly, it was the same as the FS full size but with a shorter barrel/slide. Nice gun that shot well, never fell in love with it though...