Post by Fobos on Nov 27, 2005 5:31:13 GMT -5
A friend of mine once told me that I'm too fickle to be a gun enthusiast. There was a lot of truth that remark. I've traded and sold more firearms than I can remember. It's taken a lot of trial-and-error (and $$$) to get my collection and tastes where they're at, and it doesn’t appear to be over yet. For the time being, the most unique item gracing my gun safe is a direct result of my trial-and-error mentality, and the outcome of a lengthy process.
Having seen the Beretta 92/96 in Lethal Weapon and a slew of other movies in my youth, I became a big fan of it before having fired a single round through one in my days in the Marine Corps. I bought my first Beretta, a model 96 Vertec, a few years after I became a civilian. The plan was to use the weapon during my next official GSA qualification so that I could carry it as my personal duty sidearm at work. Due to my lack of experience in buying firearms, I bought a defective handgun. The Vertec had a few issues, so I returned it to the store within the 30-day return period and exchanged it for another model. Lack of trust in the Vertec compelled me to walk out the door with a model 96. Unfortunately we were soon issued new sidearms at work, and we were no longer allowed to carry our personal weapons while on duty.
Over the next several months, I had a falling out with the .40 cartridge. I sold the model 96 to the first person who looked at it, and for more than I thought I’d get. Then I went about looking for a model 92FS Brigadier Inox. A friend at a local gun store cut me a great deal on one, only to find out upon receiving the gun from his supplier that it didn’t resemble the picture that was used in the add. That’s when I learned the difference between the Italian and American frames. It was an issue, but I figured that if I could develop a taste for Glocks, I could develop a soft spot for the somewhat ugly frame on the American 92FS. I bought the gun and took it home. And I tried to love it. I really did. Here’s a pic:
One day while perusing my buddy’s gun store again, I noticed he had a newly acquired used Beretta in stock. It was a sexy Italian 92FS, and it was very cheap. It was in great shape, and it had the desired frame. It became the impulse buy of the day. I took it home and lined it up next to the ugly American model. And I got an idea.
Scouring the internet for any information pertaining to the swapping of parts between American and Italian berettas, I was unsuccessful in finding anything of use. I consulted members of the Beretta forums, but to little avail. No one could give me a rock solid answer. The common advice was, “it shouldn’t hurt anything…. I think.”
I took a chance. I examined all of the parts closely, measuring and checking for fit. I eventually took the American Brigadier Inox slide assembly (minus the plastic guide rod) and slapping it on the Italian frame. I also transferred the grip panel screws. The ensuing range tests were very good.
Here is the result of my experimentation: (The one pictured on the bottom is the Italian frame with the American Brigadier slide.)
This gave me the desired heavy slide/barrel that I wanted in a target handgun, with the added two-tone effect and desired frame. That two-toned finish is very nice, and resembles an unmarked Beretta Elite. After falling in love with my new hybrid Italian Beretta, I decided to sell the other one back to the gun store. I got in return exactly what I had paid for the Italian gun, which essentially made the upgrade a free one.
The store-owner gave that gun to his daughter, who I’m told has improved her pistol qualification score in the Army since receiving the gift.
Anyway, here is the completed hybrid as it is today:
Having seen the Beretta 92/96 in Lethal Weapon and a slew of other movies in my youth, I became a big fan of it before having fired a single round through one in my days in the Marine Corps. I bought my first Beretta, a model 96 Vertec, a few years after I became a civilian. The plan was to use the weapon during my next official GSA qualification so that I could carry it as my personal duty sidearm at work. Due to my lack of experience in buying firearms, I bought a defective handgun. The Vertec had a few issues, so I returned it to the store within the 30-day return period and exchanged it for another model. Lack of trust in the Vertec compelled me to walk out the door with a model 96. Unfortunately we were soon issued new sidearms at work, and we were no longer allowed to carry our personal weapons while on duty.
Over the next several months, I had a falling out with the .40 cartridge. I sold the model 96 to the first person who looked at it, and for more than I thought I’d get. Then I went about looking for a model 92FS Brigadier Inox. A friend at a local gun store cut me a great deal on one, only to find out upon receiving the gun from his supplier that it didn’t resemble the picture that was used in the add. That’s when I learned the difference between the Italian and American frames. It was an issue, but I figured that if I could develop a taste for Glocks, I could develop a soft spot for the somewhat ugly frame on the American 92FS. I bought the gun and took it home. And I tried to love it. I really did. Here’s a pic:
One day while perusing my buddy’s gun store again, I noticed he had a newly acquired used Beretta in stock. It was a sexy Italian 92FS, and it was very cheap. It was in great shape, and it had the desired frame. It became the impulse buy of the day. I took it home and lined it up next to the ugly American model. And I got an idea.
Scouring the internet for any information pertaining to the swapping of parts between American and Italian berettas, I was unsuccessful in finding anything of use. I consulted members of the Beretta forums, but to little avail. No one could give me a rock solid answer. The common advice was, “it shouldn’t hurt anything…. I think.”
I took a chance. I examined all of the parts closely, measuring and checking for fit. I eventually took the American Brigadier Inox slide assembly (minus the plastic guide rod) and slapping it on the Italian frame. I also transferred the grip panel screws. The ensuing range tests were very good.
Here is the result of my experimentation: (The one pictured on the bottom is the Italian frame with the American Brigadier slide.)
This gave me the desired heavy slide/barrel that I wanted in a target handgun, with the added two-tone effect and desired frame. That two-toned finish is very nice, and resembles an unmarked Beretta Elite. After falling in love with my new hybrid Italian Beretta, I decided to sell the other one back to the gun store. I got in return exactly what I had paid for the Italian gun, which essentially made the upgrade a free one.
The store-owner gave that gun to his daughter, who I’m told has improved her pistol qualification score in the Army since receiving the gift.
Anyway, here is the completed hybrid as it is today:
