Sights, dust cover and backstrap, markings
Beretta M9 special edition
- Thread starter red_star
- Start date
Sights, dust cover and backstrap, markings
Here's a recent Beretta M9 Special Edition from 1998 which I plan to build as an M9 clone and I have almost completed finding all of the USGI M9 parts. Not yet installed but it's going to be soon...
This early production of the M9SE is the best candidate for the M9 clone as it was pulled out by Beretta on the same assembly line when they were manufacturing USGI M9s for the US Armed Forces.
The pros of doing it that way: it nearly cost them nothing to produce these pistols for civilian market; and most of proof markings / Beretta assembly numbers ("65490" suffix) for the army.
Early 1### serial M9SE with straight/non-radiused backstrap (milspec) as opposed to radiused one as found on commercial 92FS:
Proof-marked M9 barrel with assy numbers:
Proof-marked generation 1 locking block:
Early M9 slide where evident at the bottom is an "FS cut" (to accommodate the large hammer pin so the rear portion of slide won't fly and hit the operator's face if it breaks in half. This was done later by Beretta and marked these slides with a "B":
Hammer, which is quite tough to find as some will be sold in a parts lot:
Checkmate 10/15 rnd mag:
RH grip with assy numbers:
...the LH panel (with assy numbers as well) is in the mail and is truly the hardest part to find.
The parts:
This early production of the M9SE is the best candidate for the M9 clone as it was pulled out by Beretta on the same assembly line when they were manufacturing USGI M9s for the US Armed Forces.
The pros of doing it that way: it nearly cost them nothing to produce these pistols for civilian market; and most of proof markings / Beretta assembly numbers ("65490" suffix) for the army.
Early 1### serial M9SE with straight/non-radiused backstrap (milspec) as opposed to radiused one as found on commercial 92FS:
Proof-marked M9 barrel with assy numbers:
Proof-marked generation 1 locking block:
Early M9 slide where evident at the bottom is an "FS cut" (to accommodate the large hammer pin so the rear portion of slide won't fly and hit the operator's face if it breaks in half. This was done later by Beretta and marked these slides with a "B":
Hammer, which is quite tough to find as some will be sold in a parts lot:
Checkmate 10/15 rnd mag:
RH grip with assy numbers:
...the LH panel (with assy numbers as well) is in the mail and is truly the hardest part to find.
The parts:
strider007
CGN frequent flyer
Nice job, bud...hope everything works out the way you have planned.
I love this stuff...makes me wanna' start another 10 project builds!!!
I love this stuff...makes me wanna' start another 10 project builds!!!
Here's the completed M9 clone build.
This hammer is quite tough to find as I was really looking for a NOS.
This barrel is really nice as it has a dark brown finish as compared to a graylike parkerized finish on the M9 special edition.
I was really impressed with the crown, very strong lines where the finish ends with the bare metal.
It came with a gen 1 PM marked LB.
PM on left
PB on right.
There seem to be a slight/faint shadow markings above the locking block's plunger roll pin.
I've seen some contract barrels where these area have stamped markings. Would appreciate it if anyone can provide more info on those markings.
The assembly number on its bottom
I'm not sure what these stampings are. But the other barrel in another forum with markings above the LB plunger roll pin at the left didn't have these marks on the bottom.
An early M9 slide where the FS cut was added later by Beretta and added the "B" mark thereafter:
Notice the factory paint/finish added to cover the bare metal after milling the FS cut which is evident at the rear of the slide as well. I didn't bother to stake the extractor's retaining pin (not seen) as I have no plans of shooting this for now as I have another range M9 to enjoy.
The grips which are really the difficult part to find. Some are in pairs and some are not. I even came across only for a left grip panel but without FS hammer pin provision. There was even a mint contract grips on ebay which are the in the best condition I saw but the bid closed at almost $100 and it was ridiculous!
But I was able to snag a decent one at a good price.
Minimal wear on the mag well:
Strong and sharp frame lines on this early M9 Special Edition production.
The M9 clone...
[URL=http://s6.photobucket.com/user/ybrik_5/media/M9leftside_zps0354d907.jpg.html]
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This hammer is quite tough to find as I was really looking for a NOS.
This barrel is really nice as it has a dark brown finish as compared to a graylike parkerized finish on the M9 special edition.
I was really impressed with the crown, very strong lines where the finish ends with the bare metal.
It came with a gen 1 PM marked LB.
PM on left
PB on right.
There seem to be a slight/faint shadow markings above the locking block's plunger roll pin.
I've seen some contract barrels where these area have stamped markings. Would appreciate it if anyone can provide more info on those markings.
The assembly number on its bottom
I'm not sure what these stampings are. But the other barrel in another forum with markings above the LB plunger roll pin at the left didn't have these marks on the bottom.
An early M9 slide where the FS cut was added later by Beretta and added the "B" mark thereafter:
Notice the factory paint/finish added to cover the bare metal after milling the FS cut which is evident at the rear of the slide as well. I didn't bother to stake the extractor's retaining pin (not seen) as I have no plans of shooting this for now as I have another range M9 to enjoy.
The grips which are really the difficult part to find. Some are in pairs and some are not. I even came across only for a left grip panel but without FS hammer pin provision. There was even a mint contract grips on ebay which are the in the best condition I saw but the bid closed at almost $100 and it was ridiculous!
But I was able to snag a decent one at a good price.
Minimal wear on the mag well:
Strong and sharp frame lines on this early M9 Special Edition production.
The M9 clone...
[URL=http://s6.photobucket.com/user/ybrik_5/media/M9leftside_zps0354d907.jpg.html]
I was able to source out a USGI firing pin block, not the stampings on the upper portion of this part:
And also a gen3 locking block with PM-stamped:
These LBs are the latest generation and is much durable than the gen1, gen2a and gen2b. This has a much thinner LB plunger channel as can be seen on the channel and plunger itself.
And also a gen3 locking block with PM-stamped:
These LBs are the latest generation and is much durable than the gen1, gen2a and gen2b. This has a much thinner LB plunger channel as can be seen on the channel and plunger itself.
love it, I've been looking at M9A1 for a little while and I'm itching for one but your stuff is in a class of its own.
I have yet to even shoot a beretta but I like the history so I'm pretty sure I'll end up with one.
the reason behind the A1 is that I'm thinking building me a "MARSOC" M4A1 block II and it would be nice to have a matching pistol. I enjoy my "SEAL" MK18/MK25 duo very much but you know how it is, there is always something else.
I have yet to even shoot a beretta but I like the history so I'm pretty sure I'll end up with one.
the reason behind the A1 is that I'm thinking building me a "MARSOC" M4A1 block II and it would be nice to have a matching pistol. I enjoy my "SEAL" MK18/MK25 duo very much but you know how it is, there is always something else.
Thanks. Reason I jumped into this project is that it has lots of markings just like the M1911 and M1911A1 pistols.
The fun part is finding the marked parts. This 1998 special editions are the same frames which were pulled out from USGI production frames. Is the Colt M45A1 also a correct pistol to match MARSOC M4A1 block II?
The fun part is finding the marked parts. This 1998 special editions are the same frames which were pulled out from USGI production frames. Is the Colt M45A1 also a correct pistol to match MARSOC M4A1 block II?
Innercity, I would love to see pics of that classic '96, if you could post pics here.
It probably is even more accurate, but I've got the M9 itchand I'm a 9mm fanboy.
I'm pretty sure I saw one of these green box M9 in the EE a while back (years maybe).
After the Colt M1911 & M1911A1 repro projects that I have completed, I wasn't really in the market of building another pistol until I found out about these M9s. They are fun to build, and even more fun to shoot. It's pistol actions are like they are rolling on bearing, smoooooth as butter.
I put a D-spring and swiss bianco recoil buffer. I haven't really tested it though, but will do this spring/summer.
Yup, I haven't even seen these green box M9SE in the EE, so I had quite a time finding one with the non-radioused backstrap on online auctions.
Note that not all M9SEs in green boxes are true to the issued M9. Later serials from M9-25XX (per my observations) would have the radiused backstrap which is same as those found on the frames of 92FS.
Didn't know that. So it's only Wolff that did this config? What's the advantage of this setup than Beretta's original design?
I got most of them from eBAY. Some parts were a straight swap from beretta forum members.
If you're looking for an specific part, shoot me a PM as I might still have the contacts where I got them, depending on availability.
@innercity, I just noticed the front view pic, a tight slide to barrel clearance on your 92fs.
These classic 92's that you and PJ is a real keeper. Straight dust cover, non-radiused backstrap plus all metal parts. I believe the current 92fs productions has the polymer coated parts. Take note, these parts are also used on issued M9s. Not only they are much cheaper to produce but it also has increased lubricity.
These classic 92's that you and PJ is a real keeper. Straight dust cover, non-radiused backstrap plus all metal parts. I believe the current 92fs productions has the polymer coated parts. Take note, these parts are also used on issued M9s. Not only they are much cheaper to produce but it also has increased lubricity.
