A seller local to me has an Italian 92FS and I have a couple of questions. Is there a website where I can find the manufacture date by serial number and what would you think would be a fair price for it?
Italian Beretta 92FS Questions
- Thread starter Thiokol
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Nice! What is the difference between a 92 FS and a 92 F?
Larry
Larry
OP
The "S" in "92FS" signifies either "Scivolo" (meaning "slide") or "Sicurezza" (meaning "patent" or "safe") in Italian, due to the design's improved and safer slide in case of a catastrophic failure. This was in response to reported defective slides during U.S. military testing.
For the record, for the brief time (a long time ago) that I was at Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) in Tampa, Florida, I frequented an indoor gun range about 5 miles due north of MacDill. I knew about the complaints about the M-9 and, lo and behold, I rented just such a gun from that range, you can be sure it was well used, and while I was shooting the slide and, IIRC, the barrel as well, cracked wide open.
That didn't stop me years later from buying this Beretta; I'm just reporting the facts as they occurred way back when.
Beretta 92 S Italian
VaTom
Member
Italian made Berettas used to have a date code stamped on the right side of the trigger guard inside a square box. It is a two digit alpha. Then you can look it up on line. My 92f made in Italy has an AN code which is 1985. If you enlarge my photo you can see it
Check yours. I enlarged the OPs photo and didn't see the code on the trigger guard. Maybe they moved it or discontinued the practice.
Check yours. I enlarged the OPs photo and didn't see the code on the trigger guard. Maybe they moved it or discontinued the practice.
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Ματθιας;142156166 said:
Please let us all know where to find a NIB Italian made 92FS for $400.00. I'm sure that a lot of us would be willing to buy several at that price.
The "S" in 92FS refers to the oversized washer for the hammer pivot pin that rides in a groove in the rear of the slide that prevents the rear portion of the slide from flying backwards from the gun if the slide should separate as a very few did in the military tests with very hot ammo. The problem was traced to one lot of defective steel but the washer remained part of the final design. It is easily seen. A close up pic of the left side of the slide would show it if it's on the gun in question. I think the Italian guns would command a little higher price than the US made guns. I have three 92FS guns, one Italian ,and the overall fit and finish is slightly better. As to value, more than $400 easily.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
The slide cracking was supposedly confined to the original Italian made M9 pistols…Beretta used leftover steel from a French contract rather than that specified by the US and the steel couldn't stand up to the stiff NATO spec ammunition.
US made M9 pistols don't have that issue.
US made M9 pistols don't have that issue.
Seriously!?
You, obviously, don't haggle.
Of course, I know it's not going to be sold for $400. Did you notice I said "haggle"? That's a starting point for negations. Haggle from there. But whatever.
Any more than $550 cash OTD, I'm walking away. At the end of the day, I don't care where it was made, it's just one of who knows how many used Beretta 92FSs floating around.
Pay whatever you want.
I remember reading somewhere that the FS variant was exactly like the M-9, while the F variant was not quite an M-9 clone.
VaTom
Member
The 92F model was the original one the US Military chose in 1985 as the new service pistol after all the testing and evaluation was done. It has all the original required government spec features including the chrome lined barrel. See my earlier post with pictures. The military redesignated it the M9. As I understand it the slide issue appeared in several pistols during extensive Seal training using hot NATO SMG 9mm ammunition. The military then required the modification of the oversized washer mentioned in an earlier post. The new model designation was then the 92FS. I recall that Beretta recommends the locking block on the barrel be replaced after 20,000 rounds.
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The 92F models were being made long before the M9 came about.
The sights are different from the M9 to the 92FS models. Color too. Aside from that, nothing else I can recall.
I love my Berettas, I have 5-6 of them. I have one of the last Inox models (stainless steel) made with no plastic parts. Aslo have the Inox compact, which is not common.
I carry my blued Compact in rotation. They're just wonderful guns! Any Beretta 92 model will beat the daylights out of any Smith auto except for the models 52 & 41. I mean, it's not even close.
I still have the original locking block on my first FS model. I am adamant on changing my recoil spring, so I never had the locking block problem. Nor do I shoot +P ammo out of it.
The NIB Italian made 92FS should be priced at no less than $600 in my opinion.
The 92FS has evolved some since first released. It is said to be the most tested handgun ever. Beretta says slide life is 80,000 rds which exceeds the expected frame life and updated locking block design life of 30,000 rds. The open top slide and almost straight line feeding means one failure to function every 30,000 rds on average according to Beretta. Much ado was made by critics of the few cracked slides but the gun was one of the few 9mm designs that was also chambered in the .40 S&W with no changes from the original design. It has always been priced below some of the almighty imported guns that bear the three letter brand name so cherished because "everybody knew" they just had to be better because they cost more.
Pretty hard to beat the 92FS if you want a full size auto.- Joined
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I certainly understand the problems with the early M9's has caused many to shy away from full-size Berettas, but I think that's a mistake. The smoothest action I've ever felt in close to 40 years of shooting was a Beretta 92S. Pulling back the slide was like sliding a soft stick of butter across a pool of olive oil, there was no felt movement at all, or sound. Absolutely beautiful. Remember Sofia Loren? Each style and/or manufacturer has their good points and bad points. But no one beats an early full-size Beretta, IMO.
C'iao!
C'iao!
Don't forget the variants;
1. Compact, Centurions, D, G, Elite, Elite II, Inox's.
2. 92,92S,92SB, 92F,92FS
3. Wilson Combat and Langdon Tactical semi-custom guns.
4. In polished Blue, matt and stainless [Inox]
To name a few!
1. Compact, Centurions, D, G, Elite, Elite II, Inox's.
2. 92,92S,92SB, 92F,92FS
3. Wilson Combat and Langdon Tactical semi-custom guns.
4. In polished Blue, matt and stainless [Inox]
To name a few!
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