![]() ![]() They began firearms production in 1941 with a small revolver, and focused mainly on wheelguns in the decades between the 1940s and the 1980’s when they purchased the Beretta factory, and that emphasis on wheelguns continues today, though they produce many semi-auto pistols as well. Taurus, or Forjas Taurus S.A., began manufacturer of dies and tooling, they are today a conglomerate manufacturing guns, armor, metal products and plastics. 0 license, via Wikimedia Commons The Clone: Taurus That contract ended in the year of 1980, at which time Beretta sold that plant, along with tooling, machines, plans and so forth for the 92 to a small Brazilian manufacturer of firearms, known as Taurus… photo by Vitaly V. The 92 started showing up in action movies and on TV screens all over, and its distinctly and radically opened slide and Italian styling making it as much a star as the big name actors wielding it.Ī few years before, in the 1970’s, Beretta founded a factory in Sao Paulo, Brazil, under government contract to produce the model 92 for the Brazilian Army. Civilian sales skyrocketed in tandem with its regular issuance with police departments nationwide who reasoned that if the new pistol was good enough for the Army it was good enough for them. Military’s M9 pistol as a replacement for an increasingly ramshackle and aging fleet of 1911s that saw their popularity surge in the U.S.Ī saying goes, “As the Army goes so too do the police and the citizens” when it comes to guns. While their sporting arms have for a long time been hugely successful and their military weapons a constant presence on battlefields throughout the ages, including the 20th and 21st century, it was the adoption of their Model 92 as the U.S. A full description of their history and exploits would require a book, not even a separate article. ![]() Their products featured in every major war in Europe since the mid 17th century. They have equipped ancient wooden sailing navies with cannons and supplied armies. A living legend.įounded in the 16th century, in Gardone, Italy, Italian archives hold proof of receipt for primitive long gun barrels made by Beretta to be purchased by the Republic of Venice. photo credits: Tim Dobbelaere from Ieper, Belgium under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons The Original: Berettaīeretta (fully Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta, or Pietro Beretta Gun Factory) is the oldest continually operated and family owned firearms manufacturer in the world. But first, let’s meet the makers of our contestants. So the question is which of these handguns is better? Is one better, or are they two sides of the same coin? I have considerable experience with both pistols, and today in this article I will strive to answer that question. It lacks the widespread use and adoption of its distant relative, but there are few handguns that do measure up to the Big B’s service record. Made in a former Beretta factory in Brazil using former Beretta plans and blueprints, the PT92 should have all the chops to be a worthy competitor, and it is greatly liked by enthusiasts. In the other corner, Taurus’ PT92 is no mere bootleg copy. It is the image of a handgun for people who grew up in the 1980’s and early 1990’s and it remains a thoroughly reliable and competitive DA/SA handgun today thanks to constant upgrades. Military’s standard issue handgun, the 92 in one guise or another has seen combat on every continent except Antarctica (that we know of) and has further served dependably in the holsters of countless beat cops, security forces and armed citizenry. Our subjects today are the Beretta Model 92 FS, the original, and the Taurus Model PT92 AF, the clone.īeretta’s Model 92 is a classic, an iconic pistol, at turns greatly loved or greatly hated depending on who you talk to. Well, perhaps not, but I am at least going to throw some more wood on the pyre. But today, today we are talking about handguns, specifically double action (DA/SA) handguns, and one of the most enduring arguments in the pistol world will, perhaps, be settled here. I could name a dozen such rivalries right off the tip of my tongue. Two giants in their category squaring off, each with their diehard fans who will not accept that the other has even a scrap of merit. No matter what you are discussing, you can rest assured the topic will eventually turn toward a rivalry. I could keep going with the clichéd comparisons, but you already know where we are heading.
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