I have an old Beretta 92FS. I know that it is old because it has the mag release on the lower left grip panel side of the frame. Also, bought it from an older man who had retired and was moving out of state. It is currently my carry piece. My questions are: how can I find out how old the gun is? Is carrying it a wise decision or should I trade it in for a newer model? If I keep it, can you recommend some good 'smiths to give it a once over for reliability? I kind of want to keep it due to the fact that I got 4 15rd mags with it.
Old Beretta
- Thread starter ljhj45
- Start date
Probably a pre-FS 92. Boy are you going to have your email box full with offers to buy it or trade you a new one for your oldie.
If I remember correctly, it can be carried cocked and locked which is a godsend to those with small hands.
Can't remember if the safety was up/safe down /fire and hammer lowered manually, or up/safe, down/fire, even farther down/decock.
If not abused, it's a heavy duty proven firearm with rediculously high lifespan to wear it out, and should be highly reliable if properly maintained,
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No more for him lads, it's time he was on the wagon. Wouldn't be a proper hanging without the guest of honor.
If I remember correctly, it can be carried cocked and locked which is a godsend to those with small hands.
Can't remember if the safety was up/safe down /fire and hammer lowered manually, or up/safe, down/fire, even farther down/decock.
If not abused, it's a heavy duty proven firearm with rediculously high lifespan to wear it out, and should be highly reliable if properly maintained,
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No more for him lads, it's time he was on the wagon. Wouldn't be a proper hanging without the guest of honor.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ljhj45:
I have an old Beretta 92FS. I know that it is old because it has the mag release on the lower left grip panel side of the frame. [/quote]
I am not a Beretta expert by any stretch but I thought all 92 series new and old had the mag release on the left side of the grip where the trigger guard meets the frame? As opposed to a heel release? I am confused now.
I have an old Beretta 92FS. I know that it is old because it has the mag release on the lower left grip panel side of the frame. [/quote]
I am not a Beretta expert by any stretch but I thought all 92 series new and old had the mag release on the left side of the grip where the trigger guard meets the frame? As opposed to a heel release? I am confused now.
You don't have a Beretta 92FS. You've got a Beretta 92 (frame mounted safety). These were made between 1975 and 1976. Compared to the 92FS, very few 92s were imported. Tey hit the market before the Wondernine rage of the late 1980s. The placement of the mag release also was a strike against it. The 92 won't take 92FS mags as the mag well is slightly narrower. I've heard that Taurus PT mags function in a Beretta 92, but I've never tried this. I don't see why they shouldn't since the Taurus PT is a clone of the 92 (with modifications to the safety system).
Unless modified the 92 cannot be carried cocked and locked. Brazil requested this feature and Beretta obliged them. That's how the Taurus PT 92 came into existence. The safety on the 92 drops the hammer.
If you want the pistol inspected and worn springs and such replaced, your best bet is Beretta USA. I'd call them and schedule sending the pistol. Beretta has a spotty record of customer service so beware. Some have gotten excellent service and others gripe about problems.
If you like it and you've found leather for it, then keep on with the licensed carry. If it were NIB with all accessories then it would have collector value. Once fired a pistol loses much of its value. The 92 is a fine pistol and it should, properly cared for, give you years of usage.
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So many pistols, so little money.
[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited July 13, 2000).]
Unless modified the 92 cannot be carried cocked and locked. Brazil requested this feature and Beretta obliged them. That's how the Taurus PT 92 came into existence. The safety on the 92 drops the hammer.
If you want the pistol inspected and worn springs and such replaced, your best bet is Beretta USA. I'd call them and schedule sending the pistol. Beretta has a spotty record of customer service so beware. Some have gotten excellent service and others gripe about problems.
If you like it and you've found leather for it, then keep on with the licensed carry. If it were NIB with all accessories then it would have collector value. Once fired a pistol loses much of its value. The 92 is a fine pistol and it should, properly cared for, give you years of usage.
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So many pistols, so little money.
[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited July 13, 2000).]
The Italian proof marks should contain a date code. Gene Gangarosa's book on modern Beretta firearms contains some info that should help.
Personally, if it was my pistol, I'd try sending it to the Beretta service department in Maryland for any work that it needed. Hopefully, it would not be too old for them to service. But it might be a good idea to call first.
With the mag release in the lower grip, I think the pistol would not be a 92FS, but an earlier version of the 92. (BTW, some magazines for the later 92s with the new style mag release also have an additional cut at the lower end to accommodate the old style release.)
HTH.
Personally, if it was my pistol, I'd try sending it to the Beretta service department in Maryland for any work that it needed. Hopefully, it would not be too old for them to service. But it might be a good idea to call first.
With the mag release in the lower grip, I think the pistol would not be a 92FS, but an earlier version of the 92. (BTW, some magazines for the later 92s with the new style mag release also have an additional cut at the lower end to accommodate the old style release.)
HTH.
Mike Irwin
Staff
I've got the same gun.
It is NOT a 92FS, but a straight 92.
Mine was part of a contract made by Beretta for South Africa. The guy I used to work for imported 5,000 of them a few years ago, along with several thousand magazines.
I picked through nearly 250 to get the best one with the best trigger pull, and picked up 5 of the magazines, all Italian made. It doesn't look that good on the exterior, but it was almost brandnew on the inside. It didn't look as if it had been shot much at all, just carried.
The frame mounted safety operates just like that on the 1911 -- up for safe, down for fire.
You can carry it cocked and locked, or you can carry it with the hammer down, round in the chamber.
One note, there is no firing pin catch on these things, so in a worst case scenario dropping it on the muzzle COULD conceivably cause it to fire.
It has alternately been my house gun, my car gun, and just one of the pack that I take to the range occasionally.
If anyone out there is interested in buying it, let me know....
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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
It is NOT a 92FS, but a straight 92.
Mine was part of a contract made by Beretta for South Africa. The guy I used to work for imported 5,000 of them a few years ago, along with several thousand magazines.
I picked through nearly 250 to get the best one with the best trigger pull, and picked up 5 of the magazines, all Italian made. It doesn't look that good on the exterior, but it was almost brandnew on the inside. It didn't look as if it had been shot much at all, just carried.
The frame mounted safety operates just like that on the 1911 -- up for safe, down for fire.
You can carry it cocked and locked, or you can carry it with the hammer down, round in the chamber.
One note, there is no firing pin catch on these things, so in a worst case scenario dropping it on the muzzle COULD conceivably cause it to fire.
It has alternately been my house gun, my car gun, and just one of the pack that I take to the range occasionally.
If anyone out there is interested in buying it, let me know....
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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
Mike Irwin
Staff
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AndABeer:
I am not a Beretta expert by any stretch but I thought all 92 series new and old had the mag release on the left side of the grip where the trigger guard meets the frame? As opposed to a heel release? I am confused now.[/quote]
No. Most older Berettas, including the 951 (the Brigadier) single action single stack, had the mag. release button on the left grip pannel near the mag well, NOT behind the trigger a la Colt 1911.
I don't know for certian, but I suspect that one of the reasons for the change was the American market.
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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
I am not a Beretta expert by any stretch but I thought all 92 series new and old had the mag release on the left side of the grip where the trigger guard meets the frame? As opposed to a heel release? I am confused now.[/quote]
No. Most older Berettas, including the 951 (the Brigadier) single action single stack, had the mag. release button on the left grip pannel near the mag well, NOT behind the trigger a la Colt 1911.
I don't know for certian, but I suspect that one of the reasons for the change was the American market.
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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
Mike,
I just checked. I stand corrected. The 92 can be cocked and locked.
AndABeer,
Check out this site www.geocities.com/Yosemite/6144/ It's better than the official Beretta page.
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So many pistols, so little money.
I just checked. I stand corrected. The 92 can be cocked and locked.
AndABeer,
Check out this site www.geocities.com/Yosemite/6144/ It's better than the official Beretta page.
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So many pistols, so little money.