Different Beretta 92/96 Variations

[Higgins]

I've become interested in acquiring a Beretta 92. However, I can't seem to get a handle on all the different variations and what the differences are.

I'd appreciate anyone sharing with me all the different Beretta 92 variations and what they mean, or perhaps a link that explains them all, i.e. Brigadier, Centurian, Compact, Compact Type L, Compact Type M, Elite, Elite II, F v. FS v. D v. G v. SD, etc..... I'm particularly interested in the various compact variations.

Thanks.

 

[Handy]

Have you tried the Beretta website?

This is from a recent thread on the M:

http://products.berettausa.com/frame_tabellaprodotti_2002.asp?sgmt=22&Model=92#

Not everything is there, but that page has the compacts.

 

[Blueduck]

Just to add my little bit of trivia

"D" Models= Double action only, but you get a lighter spring for an easier trigger pull.

"G" Models= True Double action but the "safety" is really only a decocker (can't carry the gun on safe if you wanted to).

"F or FS"= True double action systems, you can carry either on safe or fire (the S just indicates an upgrade btw)

Centurion= The compact slide and bbl on a full length frame. Kind of like the Commander version of the full size 92. This gun is discontinued except for large purchases by government agencies. You do occasionally see the true "compact" model advertised as the "Compact Centurion". Think thats just to keep everbody on their toes

Brigadier= Heavier slide, some say it's for added strength, some say it's for reduced recoil- Don't think there were any Brigadier models of the smaller 92's or 96's but could be wrong.

Elite I's and II's...My thimble of knowledge runs out

 

[BerettaNut92]

Exit Blueduck, enter Skunk

The Elite has a G 'decock only' safety (G for Gendarme, at request of the French po-po). It has a stainless slide, extended mag release, circumsized barrel and skeletonized hammer and a stainless barrel. A half-baked Elite II, IMO.

The Elite II has all that plus a stainless slide and barrel, Novak sights, serrated frontstrap, beveled magwell and crowned barrel.

The Vertec has a circumsized barrel, tactical rail, vertical 1911-ish grip (but fits 92 mags) and some of the Elite II features but has a standard F safety.

The Vertec IA is what happened 9 months after a Vertec and Elite got carried away together after a Led Zeppelin concert. A Vertec lower and Elite upper, but thankfully for aesthetics sake, a black barrel.

There is the Stock and Combat which are single action target guns, checkered grip and adjustables, but are hard to find outside of Europe.

There's also the Billenium, which is the ultimate skunk configuration of Berettas--an all steel frame, carbon fiber grips and uberpimpness.

Finally the GSD is coming down the road-- a G-brigadier with a tactical rail.

 

[jimbo]

Don't forget the "Border Marshall".

 

[Albert Shear]

"F or FS"= True double action systems, you can carry either on safe or fire (the S just indicates an upgrade btw)


To extrapolate, the original pre-army adoption designation was 92sb. When changes were made at the behest of the govt. it was changed to 92F. After some well publicized slide breakages a passive safety device was added(round disc on left side of hammer pin which rides in cutout in slide) and the designation was changed to 92FS. The Compact L(13round),Compact M(8round) which both have shorter slides and frames. The Centurian models had the shorter compact slides on full size frames. The Elite, Elite II and Ia are full size 92 series with some cosmetic differences. The Brigadier models( which the Elites are) have a beefed up slide in the area of the locking lugs to help prevent breakage(unnecessay in my opinion). The Brigadiers will not fit in some tightly honed standard 92 holsters.