Beretta 92FS

Recently I rewatched “The Boondock Saints” (1999) and saw its long-awaited sequel, “The Boondock Saints II” (2009).  I’ll address both in a later blog.  For now, my focus is on a prominently featured pistol, the Berettta  92FS.

WWII.  In Infantry Weapons of WWII, Ian Hogg – as colorful as ever – describes yet another poorly made Italian weapon, the Breda 1930 machine gun.  Breda, which previously focused on making trains, tried its hand at assisting Il Duce’s war effort by making machine guns.  “With the utmost respect, they would have served the Italian Army better by remaining in the locomotive business exclusively.”

By contrast, the Beretta M1934 pistol and M1938A submachine gun both get high marks from him, even to the point where the Germans used the latter, a compliment considering the Germans’ obvious skill at firearms making.   Beretta has been around since 1526, so if their guns work well, it’s because they’ve had several centuries of practice by now. 

[Note: the Robert Blake character from the 1970s TV show was “Baretta”.   I never saw him use a Beretta.]

The Model 92 began in 1972.  In 1985 it replaced the .45 Colt 1911A1 as the M9, the US Army’s main handgun.   My current 92FS is a military contractor surplus model; the prior one I had, I had bought new from the gun store.  Both are identical.

The Boondock Saints.  The MacManus brothers, Conor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) both use the Beretta 92FS, albeit silenced, as their main weapons – up until halfway through “II”, at which point they upgrade to Desert Eagles.

Lethal Weapon.  Riggs (Mel Gibson) consistently uses a Beretta 92FS throughout the series, even prominently displayed on the movie poster.  His partner Murtaugh (Danny Glover), like most other movie/TV cops, carries a .38 revolver.  

Dimebag.  It turns out that Nathan Gale, the jerk who killed Darrell Abbott, aka “Dimebag Darrell”, of Pantera and Damageplan fame, used a Beretta 92FS.  Three 9mm’s at point blank range to the head is probably as lethal as two from behind on camera – minus the prayer.

[Update: 4/21/20.]  Tin Star.  I'm watching this TV series, about a Liverpool police detective, Jim Worth (Tim Roth), who relocates with his family to Alberta, Canada, expecting things to be less intense and troublesome than in a big city like Liverpool.  Certainly the scenery is much nicer - that includes Christina Hendricks, the buxom actress we recall from "Mad Men".  Unfortunately for him, the local Big Evil Company (North Stream Oil) tries to kill him and gets his young son instead.  Anyhow.  I noticed the gun he carries is.... a Beretta 92FS with wood grips.  Oh, in season 3 the Worths return to Liverpool and attempt to address the issues which forced him to relocate to Canada (eh).   

Despite being a 9mm, it’s a fairly large handgun – much bigger than a Browning HiPower, despite only carrying two more cartridges.  I suppose it’s ok for me, because I have big hands.  It feels good, it feels substantial, it feels strong and indestructible.  I can imagine the US military being impressed with it, and certainly Hollywood is.  Perhaps not for everyone, but I’d say its popularity is well earned.