Origins
The Beretta Model 92 is a semi-automatic, hinged assisted locking breechblock design similar to that of the Walther P38. The design dates to the single-stack Beretta M1951, but the Model 92 was introduced in 1976, a key time in handgun history. The revolver was still massively popular, especially in the United States, but the advantages of a double-stack, semi-automatic 9mm were becoming undeniable.
The Model 92 found its way into military and law enforcement service across the U.S., in addition to becoming famous on movie and TV screens – not to mention being a popular import for the domestic market. But before its reign of dominance, the platform took quite the journey.
Introduction of the 92F
Shortly after Beretta introduced the Model 92, it was clear that it was going to be a popular choice for military and police contracts. This realization led Beretta to standardize all the parts and fitment, add a chrome lining to the bore, and improve the finish by adding a durable coating instead of the standard bluing finish. In 1984, this model was introduced as the Beretta 92F. The F stood for “Federale,” signifying the federal U.S. contracts that Beretta was chasing.
The 92F soon entered U.S. military handgun trials, as the United States was seeking to replace the M1911 after over 70 years in service. As a part of the handgun trials, the 92F went through hundreds of thousands of rounds and torture testing to see how the platform would hold up. The design was officially adopted in 1985 and was designated the M9, but for all intents and purposes, it was still the 92F design.
Related: July Warehouse Picks – Pair of High-Capacity Shotguns and a Beretta 92F
Slide Failure and Redesign
Shortly after its adoption, the 92F experienced catastrophic slide failure that caused the slide to crack or break in half, often sending the slide forcefully back toward the shooter. In total, there were 14 failures: 11 in testing and three during operational service with the Navy.
Upon discovering this issue, the military – specifically the Army – forced Beretta to revisit the design and fix the problem, maintaining that the issue was unacceptable by Army standards. In response, Beretta redesigned the slide with an oversized hammer pin that fit into a groove on the bottom of the slide.
This new design prevented the slide from flying off backward in the case of a catastrophic failure. The new model was introduced as the 92FS, with the F remaining for “Federale,” while the S signified both “Scivolo” for slide and “Sicurezza” for safe.
Ultimately, the 92FS became the most common version of the Beretta 92 series. The M9s commissioned after 1988 featured the 92FS slide enhancement, and the U.S. military forced Beretta to replace the slides for the nearly 150,000 handguns that had already been delivered for service.
Beretta Sues the Army
Having read the story up until now, you might think, “Wow, good thing the 92F didn’t last very long.” As it turns out, the 92F got a bad rap because the U.S. Army was actually at fault.
Worried the slide issue could jeopardize its brand-new, multi-million-dollar military contract, Beretta launched its own investigation into the 92F series. During that investigation, the slides were subjected to magnetic particle inspection to determine if design flaws in the strength of the slides caused the malfunctions. The investigation concluded that the U.S. military, specifically the Army, was at fault for using over-pressured ammunition that did not fit NATO specifications.
Upon these findings, Beretta sued the U.S. government for defamation. The lawsuit was ruled in favor of Beretta, awarding the company with a settlement and placing the U.S. taxpayer on the hook for paying for the slide upgrades to all M9s in service with the 92F slide. In another brilliant edition of how the government properly spends your tax dollars, Beretta continued with the upgraded slide design, with the 92F soon exiting production in favor of the 92FS.
Summary
Sadly, the Beretta 92F has fallen to the wayside as it was railroaded by the U.S. Army and the more modern 92FS production. However, it holds a special place in my heart, as the 92F was the prominent firearm in both “Lethal Weapon” and the world’s greatest Christmas movie, "Die Hard." In fact, the same model 92F was used for both films.
In reality, nothing was wrong with the Beretta 92F. While I wouldn’t call it a collector’s piece, it is a much rarer find than the M9 and 92FS models. While there is only a minor internal difference, the story behind the models is interesting (and as a taxpayer, frustrating).
