Posted: 3/31/2004 9:35:56 AM EDT
|
I've seen a few M9's for sale on the web. Are these original gov't. issue surplus? Special additions to look like an M9 with similar markings as the gov't. Is there a place that lists all the special additions that Beretta has made for the public?? thanks, |
|
Sorry don't know of the place/link your looking to find, but here's a place where you can read up on "slide-failures" of the M9: www.thegunzone.com/m9-a.html, if your buying one you should be aware of these issues. Mike |
Your post really has nothing to do with my question but thanks for the article... from April 1991. |
|
There are actually a couple editions of M9 that are out in the public legally. The first was when Beretta made a special run of stock M9s that they sold to members of the reserves a few years after the gun was adopted. I think they just had a batch left over from the production run and simply made some money off them. They were 100% USGI M9s, just never bought by the government. They sold them to reservists for some reason (my memory is hazy on it, as it was long ago), but once sold they can be resold to anyone. They're the same thing you get issued, just not "United States Property". There was another batch that were commemratives. They were facied up, but again prodution line M9's. Usual commemrative gold, etc. There was another batch later that was the usual production M9 that came with a holster and some other gadgets. The only difference between a M9 and a Beretta 92FS is the finish and the markings. The M9 will have USGI part numbers and "M9" on the slide and frame. The finish seems a bit more matte on the M9, but that's it. It's only the markings really. I don't know if Beretta sells US made ones to the public here, or if it only sells Italian made ones to the public. No USGI M9's that were ever government porperty have ever been released for sale to the public. The ones you've seen are not govt issue surplus, at least legally. Personally I think the Italian 92FS is better made. I'd rather buy a used 92FS than pay extra for a new M9. The price difference is pretty big. I think there's a thread about the M9 where someone posted a pic of both their issue M9 and their personal 92FS. That will give you an idea of the different markings. Ross |
|
The slide failures were with the model 92F, the first M9 pistol that was adopted after the trials. To counter these problems Beretta came out with the model 92FS, this differed from the model 92F only cosmetically, IIRC one was a relief cut on the slide and they did something to the locking block. The pistol is just a anniversary/special edition pistol, it is not offical Military Issue. Just like Kimber came out with the Custom TLE II to replicate the Kimber Custom II that is LAPD issue only, Beretta is the same idea. |
|
The M9's you see are the special addition guns sold by Beretta. As someone above said there are very few issue M9's that made it to the civilian side. Something like 30 ( production overun ) or so were sold to members of the Army Reserve pistol team and possibly All Guard Team. Generals/Col's can still purchase an M9 when they retire. Anyway the main diff between an M9 and 92FS are the markings. The M9 will have visible drawing numbers on the frame/slide/hammer and bottom of barrel and will have a bar code ID sticker on left grip strap. Heres a pic , not the best, mil M9 on top 1997 production and a 98-99 made FS below.. Note the M9 has a " PM " stamp following the slide assy #, the special beretta issue civ M9's don't have that as I remember.. 
|
The differences between the M9 and the 92FS are: - markings - newer 92FS guns use a ploymer guide rod and safety lever while the M9 still uses metal for these parts. - the rear sight on the 92FS has two white dots while the M9 has a single white triangle. If you look at the sights on a 92FS you can see the triangle depression under the slot, it just isn't painted in. - M9 military guns must meet a standard of 8" 10-shot groups at 50m, while law enforcement and commercial guns are tested with 10 shots at 25yds. (This test is done after a proof load and magnaflux test, BTW) Other than the above differences, the M9 and the 92FS are identical and all come off the same production lines in Accokeek. |
Some more pics. Forgot about the rear sight dots ! It's been awhile since I have seen one of the commercial special addition M9's, I think they had a " B " prefix to the serial # while real Mil M9's have no serial prefix. the Special addition 9 probably has a " warning " statement on frame like regular FS's..  
|