Entrants in the first trials included the Beretta 92S-1, Colt SSP, FN DA, FN FA, FN GP, Heckler & Koch P9S, Heckler & Koch VP70, Smith & Wesson 459 and Star M28 alongside the existing M1911A1. Air Force originally selected to lead the selection process. The trials would begin in 1979 and continue into 1983 with the U.S. Their first major program involved the search for a new 9x19mm Parabellum pistol to replace existing M1911A1 handguns. The Joint Service Small Arms Program, abbreviated JSSAP, was created to coordinate weapon standardization between the various U.S. These pistols have become a hot collector's item as they are quite rare. New surface coating on the slide called Bruniton, which allegedly provides better corrosion resistance than the previous plain blued finish.Hard chromed the barrel bore to protect it from corrosion and to reduce wear.Recurved the forward base of the grip to aid aiming. Modified the front of the trigger guard so that one could use finger support for easier aiming.

Design of all the parts to make them 100% interchangeable to simplify maintenance for large government organizations.

Government federal testing) and, later, the 92G for French Government testing, by making the following changes: It is distinguished from the 92FS by its flat magazine base plates and round trigger guard, which would be later made to be squared on the Beretta 92F and 92FS models.īeretta modified the model 92SB slightly in 1981 to create the 92SB-F (the 'F' added to denote entry of the model in U.S. The 92SB became the official sidearm of the United States Air Force and the 92SBC was offered to the Austrian Military, but lost to the Austrian Glock. The Beretta 92SB is an Italian combat pistol manufactured by Beretta, upgraded from the previous Beretta 92S to be fully ambidextrous and with an easier magazine release.

Beretta model 92sb