Beretta Cheetah 85BB just arrived

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BigAlShooter

BigAlShooter

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I've been waiting for Classic to put the Beretta 85BB on sale and they did. I always wanted the Cheetah pistol since I was a youngster. This one is a 8 rounder with nice blue steel, perfect size for concealed carry and fun range time. Mine is 2020 production with some normal wear, but it excellent condition. Hard to beat the price.

Just got it today, so haven't shot it yet, but, from what I've read, it should be pleasant to shoot. I have the Taurus PT-101 40S&W and I love shooting it at the range, but just too big to EDC. This is my first 380 and it might become my concealed carry pistol. Fits and points good in my hands and I like DA/SA, which is what I am used to.
20210614_211755_resized.jpg
 
Nice grab BAS, nice shooters and the usual Beretta quality. I have the 81, the 32 version and enjoy it a lot. And nice eye candy.
 
Lucky you!

Uncle had one, used it as his off duty carry. I loved shooting it. They don’t make pistols like that anymore, it has class and character.

Lefty
 
BigAlShooter said:
I've been waiting for Classic to put the Beretta 85BB on sale and they did. I always wanted the Cheetah pistol since I was a youngster. This one is a 8 rounder with nice blue steel, perfect size for concealed carry and fun range time. Mine is 2020 production with some normal wear, but it excellent condition. Hard to beat the price.

Just got it today, so haven't shot it yet, but, from what I've read, it should be pleasant to shoot. I have the Taurus PT-101 40S&W and I love shooting it at the range, but just too big to EDC. This is my first 380 and it might become my concealed carry pistol. Fits and points good in my hands and I like DA/SA, which is what I am used to.
View attachment 1005016
Click to expand...

You said its a 2020 production and the price is hard to beat. What was the price ? All I have seen around here is running $700 and up which is really stupid in my opinion. What was your price ?
 
Classic still has them in stock for $350. Hard to pass up. From the condition of mine and from other reviewers posting pictures, most seem to be very good to excellent condition. It has some wear on the slide, a few very minor scratches, not really any holster wear. I guess this is normal for one year or less in service.
 
I had one years ago; bought it off a friend of mine who needed the cash. Very well made but for me a little too big for a .380.
 
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BigAlShooter said:
I've been waiting for Classic to put the Beretta 85BB on sale and they did. I always wanted the Cheetah pistol since I was a youngster. This one is a 8 rounder with nice blue steel, perfect size for concealed carry and fun range time. Mine is 2020 production with some normal wear, but it excellent condition. Hard to beat the price.

Just got it today, so haven't shot it yet, but, from what I've read, it should be pleasant to shoot. I have the Taurus PT-101 40S&W and I love shooting it at the range, but just too big to EDC. This is my first 380 and it might become my concealed carry pistol. Fits and points good in my hands and I like DA/SA, which is what I am used to.
View attachment 1005016
Click to expand...

I interesting that you say the gun was maded in 2020. The 85BB was introduced in 1982 and discontinued in 1988 when the introduced the 85F.

EDIT: This is from the Beretta forum.

Here's what really happened. That pistol was manufactured in the 1982-1990 time frame, probably toward the earlier part. Because it was made for an Italian M or P organization (the unique Y-prefix SN tells us this) it did not have to be proofed by the civilian proof house, and was not.

It was issued to the Guardia di Finanza, which kept it until they replaced their 85BBs with newer model handguns and traded (probably) or sold it (not likely) as part of that transition. It's new owner acquired it to sell on the civilian market. Before that could happen it had to be proofed by the civilian proof house, which happened in 2020 when it was marked "CZ".

This same sequence of events, with a different Italian government organization, happened with your 81BB in this thread where you also wrote "Makes sense considering other govt. agencies in Italy that have gotten runs of guns that were discontinued."

Proof dates are not manufacture dates (see the bottom half of this Reference Library entry), and Italian agencies don't get special runs of discontinued firearms.

This also happened with some of the 92S that came into the country a few years ago. This does not take anything away from your very nice pistol. It however it was not made in 2020 but was proofed for US commercial sale in 2020.
 
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WVsig said:
I interesting that you say the gun was maded in 2020. The 85BB was introduced in 1982 and discontinued in 1988 when the introduced the 85F.

EDIT: This is from the Beretta forum.

Here's what really happened. That pistol was manufactured in the 1982-1990 time frame, probably toward the earlier part. Because it was made for an Italian M or P organization (the unique Y-prefix SN tells us this) it did not have to be proofed by the civilian proof house, and was not.

It was issued to the Guardia di Finanza, which kept it until they replaced their 85BBs with newer model handguns and traded (probably) or sold it (not likely) as part of that transition. It's new owner acquired it to sell on the civilian market. Before that could happen it had to be proofed by the civilian proof house, which happened in 2020 when it was marked "CZ".

This same sequence of events, with a different Italian government organization, happened with your 81BB in this thread where you also wrote "Makes sense considering other govt. agencies in Italy that have gotten runs of guns that were discontinued."

Proof dates are not manufacture dates (see the bottom half of this Reference Library entry), and Italian agencies don't get special runs of discontinued firearms.

This also happened with some of the 92S that came into the country a few years ago. This does not take anything away from your very nice pistol. It however it was not made in 2020 but was proofed for US commercial sale in 2020.
Click to expand...

A good explanation. Considering how some of the bluing on the gun has gone plum colored I was thinking the gun was much older than a 2020 manufacturing date, too.

It still is a fine looking Beretta, which tempts me to purchase one for myself just because it's a classic metal framed pistol.
 
chicharrones said:
A good explanation. Considering how some of the bluing on the gun has gone plum colored I was thinking the gun was much older than a 2020 manufacturing date, too.

It still is a fine looking Beretta, which tempts me to purchase one for myself just because it's a classic metal framed pistol.
Click to expand...

If I did not already have a 85B I would be buying!
 
Here's a photo of the proof marks. Thanks for the research on this, WVsig. Makes sense, as the gun seems to be much older, like early 80's, but probably only used a few years and then stored for many years.
Yeah, some of the parts, such as safety, trigger, and slide release have a different bluing (notice the plum color of some to the parts in the photo). Maybe these were old stock parts, replaced parts, or just they aged differently. Or, was this normal? Looks cool to me. Better than the gold that Taurus used on their versions, although I really like the Taurus version guns and I have and really like my PT-101.
Anyway, I like the older, all metal guns and find this a bargain that will hold its value.
20210616_133547_resized.jpg
 
BigAlShooter said:
Here's a photo of the proof marks. Thanks for the research on this, WVsig. Makes sense, as the gun seems to be much older, like early 80's, but probably only used a few years and then stored for many years.
Yeah, some of the parts, such as safety, trigger, and slide release have a different bluing (notice the plum color of some to the parts in the photo). Maybe these were old stock parts, replaced parts, or just they aged differently. Or, was this normal? Looks cool to me. Better than the gold that Taurus used on their versions, although I really like the Taurus version guns and I have and really like my PT-101.
Anyway, I like the older, all metal guns and find this a bargain that will hold its value.
View attachment 1005401
Click to expand...

What happens is that Beretta has sold these guns to Italian agency's and the proof marks are not needed. When they get surplused they have to apply the marks in order to export them to the US. You can also see the modern serial number starting with CHE009820. The plumed parts are due to the hardness, heat treatment and metallurgy of the steel used. It is very common for some steels which are blued to become plum as they age. This is also a tell for the age of the pistol. I believe these guns were purchased as part of a contract in the late 1980's but not used for very long. Many many not have ever been issued.

The same thing happened with the 92S a few years back. Here is my unissued example. It also had a more recent date code and had the upgraded 92FS locking block. This is the 3 or 4th time I have seen this with surplus Berettas. Enjoy that fine pistol.

wrbPqKW.gif

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That is a very nice pistol. I think plum-colored parts make a gun more interesting and better-looking. :)
 
My 85 has a couple of plum colored parts. I kind of like it. None of my other guns, 81, 84, and Browning BDA 308 have them. My 85 came in shockingly great condition. I can't find the pic, but between the oil shine, the flash reflections, and the crappy cell phone camera I had back when I got it, it looks pretty bad, but I would say it looks every bit as good as the OP's gun does in "real life". My 84 is the best of the bunch, sold as "85%", but I don't think it's a bit under 90%.
 
Classic looks , excellent quality ...
Anyone who criticizes that little Beretta is plum crazy!
 
BigAlShooter said:
I've been waiting for Classic to put the Beretta 85BB on sale and they did. I always wanted the Cheetah pistol since I was a youngster. This one is a 8 rounder with nice blue steel, perfect size for concealed carry and fun range time. Mine is 2020 production with some normal wear, but it excellent condition. Hard to beat the price.

Just got it today, so haven't shot it yet, but, from what I've read, it should be pleasant to shoot. I have the Taurus PT-101 40S&W and I love shooting it at the range, but just too big to EDC. This is my first 380 and it might become my concealed carry pistol. Fits and points good in my hands and I like DA/SA, which is what I am used to.
View attachment 1005016
Click to expand...
2020 production. What does that mean?
 
Shot a friend's 86FS almost 30 years ago and said if I ever see one for sale.......
FF to finding this thread and while this 85BB isn't tip up, I figured the price was fair and said aw what the heck.
You can guess the rest of the story.
 
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