Hello and Merry Christmas! I have been a member for years now, but generally don’t post, preferring to lurk and learn from the more experienced members of the forum. I am not an armed professional, an operator or any sort of expert. I am, however, an avid shooter and firearms enthusiast and have been for 25 years. I was in high school in rural New Hampshire in the mid to late 80’s which puts me squarely in the generation which came of age during the DA/SA 9mm auto explosion (Die Hard, Lethal Weapon etc.). My father was a police officer and I remember when his department transitioned from 6" S&W Mdl 66’s to S&W 5906’s. About the same time my mother bought my dad a brand new Beretta 92F for Christmas. At the time I remember overhearing that that pistol cost over $500.00 (over 20 years ago!). Now, time moves on and things evolve. Over the years I have followed the trends and the inevitable march of progress and I now own and enjoy Glocks, M&P’s and H&K polymer framed autos right along side my metal framed S&W 3rd gens, Sigs, Beretta’s, 1911’s, HK’s etc. Most recently I’ve acquired a Walther PPQ. I am not a luddite by any means, but I have always retained a fondness for and a proficiency with TDA metal framed autos. Now to my point. Buds has new Beretta 92A1’s for $593.00. Cheaper Than Dirt lists them for $550.00! These pistols have integrated Picatinny rails and dovetailed sights updating a couple of the antiquated features previously saddling the aging 92 platform. If one is comfortable with the TDA operating system, I feel that this represents a fantastic deal. The Walther I just bought was $500.00 and Glocks cost about the same and these are polymer framed guns with a significantly lower cost of manufacture. At the same time, the Cohenistas over at Sig have managed to cheapen and degrade a previously very fine pistol line while simultaneously increasing their prices to the point that a new, basic P226 runs $800.00! ( not to mention the prices on the ridiculous “Diamond Plate”, “Rainbow” or whatever editions they’re hawking). The era of the metal framed auto is definately waning, but to some of us who still enjoy and employ these pistols it seems that the new Beretta’s ( both the 92/96A1 Series and the M9A1) offer a very attractive price point that hasn’t increased to near the same level as other manufacturers offerings.
I got my first Beretta, a 92A1 a few months ago. It is a really accurate, smooth shooting pistol
I’d always wanted to own one but locally they were getting to be around 675.00. I just didn’t want to spend that much. But, a few months ago the prices seemed to drop across the board. I got my 92A1 for 576.00 OTD. The Bud’s price seems high considering you still have to pay for a transfer.
I guess I’m older, but I really don’t see the metal frame disappearing any time soon. Lately it looks like a resurgence in my area of the 3rd Generation S&W (I still carry my 3913 daily).
I don’t think you’d regret the 92A1. Parts are easy to come by and holsters are starting to turn up now. I just got the DeSantis Speed Scabbard for mine.
http://www.desantisholster.com/store/SEARCH-BY-HOLSTER-OR-ACCESSORY/BELT-HOLSTERS/Speed-Scabbard/Beretta/92-A1
And a Merry Christmas to you too!
Dave
I actually already own a 96A1, (2) 92FS and a 92FS Compact and have owned one 92 Series pistol or another for over 20 years. I love them all. My point was that it seems that Beretta has been able to keep the prices down on this series to within $100.00 of the more popular polymer makes. They must not be making much of a profit margin given the material/ machining costs involved with producing aluminum frames.
By the way, I occassionally carry a S&W 3953. Great little guns.
I’m guessing that the government contracts are helping with their profit margin.
Kind of like Glock and the S&W M&P working to capture the law enforcement markets. I know that prices on both have come down here. Last year both were generally over 500.00 now Glocks are around 480.00 and M&P 475.00. I know that’s not as large a drop as I saw with Beretta but it’s a trend I’ve seen in all the shops I go into.
Dave