Help date this Italian Beretta 92F?

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msmp5

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58205B7B-CFDD-4E0C-BBEF-5F70034A2767.jpeg 0B161D2E-001C-4984-AD98-F0F05282127B.jpeg 73742F43-A240-403D-802E-50EF11EAC326.jpeg 2551E248-035A-4178-841A-DB798B4CE8D7.jpeg Due to recent events, I have temporarily shelved my usual EDC gun - my S&W model 3913 - and taken to carrying my best shooting 9mm Beretta: an Italian mfg 92F (not FS), plus a spare 15 rd mag. I bought this gun used almost 30 years ago, and somebody had put an aftermarket adjustable rear sight and a replacement front sight on it. For some reason, it’s the most accurate Beretta 92 series pistol I have ever shot; and I’ve shot quite a few of them, as the Beretta 92FS was my department issue gun for the last 22 years of my LE career. But this one, this particular Italian 92F, with the adjustable sights, is by far the most accurate of any of them. Almost makes me wonder if someone somehow “accurized“ this gun, though I’ve not heard of that being done on Beretta 92 series pistols. (For the really knowledgeable folks, is there anything that could’ve been done internally to accurize this gun that I could look for?)

Anyway, enough of the preamble. Is there anyone here that can help me pin down a date of manufacture for this gun? No real reason, other than curiosity; I have no intention to sell it. I’d also appreciate info on the markings on the right side of the forward portion of the trigger guard. The serial number is C829xxZ. Many thanks!
 
Bought mine new in 1987. Serial number starts with 938. Replaced locking block and recoil spring and still shoots great. Really like your sights.
 
Go here and type in your serial number for "as shipped" information from Beretta on production date, etc.

https://www.berettasupport.com/applications/tech_data/schematics_search_new.htm

I did that and it came back as a 1986 mfg - which makes sense - but It also showed 92FS as the model. And it is clearly marked a 92F on the slide. And it has the Berben Corp import marking also on the slide. When was Beretta USA established? Does that website cover back into Italian mfg guns, or only for the time period of Beretta USA guns? Is it possible I have an actual 92FS frame that someone put a slide from a Berben Corp imported 92F on? Thoughts?
 
Accuracy is probably at least partly due to those sites.I have Millett sites (the rear looks exactly the same) on a Norinco 1911 and it shoots very accurately. I do admit the size of the sights detracts from the guns visual appeal, but those big sights really work.
 
Accuracy is probably at least partly due to those sites.I have Millett sites (the rear looks exactly the same) on a Norinco 1911 and it shoots very accurately. I do admit the size of the sights detracts from the guns visual appeal, but those big sights really work.

The sights have made it difficult for me to find an IWB holster that fits it correctly too. But dang, that thing is accurate! I’m still wondering why the Beretta website shows that gun’s serial number is a 92FS while the slide is clearly marked 92F..... maybe someone took a 92F slide, put the adjustable sights on it and fitted it to the 92FS frame?
 
The FS is the Beretta response to reports of slide breakage by super duper tier 1 operator guys shooting super duper ammo.
It has an action pin with large head running in a groove in the slide to trap the back half if it separates and heads for your head.
 
How is the trigger?

It’s possible the gun was built for EIC leg matches or bullseye
 
If it is an FS gun, the hammer pin will have a very large circular head that actually sticks up above the rear grip on the lefthand side of the frame. In the picture below, you can see it as a black arc poking up out of the left side grip below the hammer and just in back of the two pins that go through the rear slide rail.
https://www.beretta.com/en-us/92-fs-inox/
Enhanced_Images_hotspot_alluminum_alloy_frame_92FS_Inox1.jpg
There is a matching machine cut on the underside of the slide on the lefthand side to accommodate the head of the hammer pin. But it doesn't run very far along the underside of the slide. The idea is that if the slide were to separate, the rear part of the slide would go as far as the machine cut allowed, then bind on the oversize head of the hammer pin. That would prevent it from coming off the rear of the gun and potentially injuring the shooter.

In the picture below, you can see the very back of the machine cut on the slide. It's right next to the hammer. A small square cut on the very back end of the left side of the slide that is the opening of the channel. You can also see the hammer pin in this view and it should be fairly obvious that the top arc of the pin is riding in the machine cut.

Because of the way the machine cut is made, it breaks through into the cut in the slide made to accommodate the swing of the swing of the safety lever on the left side. There's a small hole beween the channel for the hammer pin head and the cut in the slide for the safety lever.
Enhanced_Images_safety_decocker_92FS_Inox1.jpg

If your gun has the hammer pin with the large head and the machine cut in the bottom of the slide, it's a 92FS.

Keep in mind that the original 'S' mod was being performed as a modification to existing guns during the general timeframe that your gun was made. It's possible that they had a slide that was already stamped as an 'F' that received the 'S' mod to make it an 'FS' before it left the factory.
 
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