Beretta 92FS Grips by Vu Kim Son

In March of 2007, a Vietnamese business man appeared on an internet gun forum* that I moderate looking for assistance in finding a market for handgun grips. Kim Son Vu had a burgeoning business of making eyeglass frames, jewelry and accessories from natural materials. He was looking into expansion towards handgun grips. He had a problem though. In Vietnam, he is not allowed to own a firearm, not even a demilled frame of a gun to use as a guide.

As a result, Kim Son Vu hand crafts his grips without the benefit of a firearm to fit them to. Meticulously making a copy of a grip sent to him, he uses materials as varied as buffalo horn to abalone.

Kim Son uses the thick, compact tip of the buffalo horn for his grips. This results in a grip that is stable and does not shrink or warp. Once the grips are roughed in and drilled for screws, each screw hole receives a brass washer at it's base to prevent stress on the grip.

When questioned about the instability of horn grips, Kim Son responded

"You seen serious problem:
Horn will shrinkage or deform at the part which you produce!They produce cheaper prices because they not use tip horn to do , the hollow part of horn will shrinkage or deform!Because they press it to big part and produce grips!

1. Your items buy form Philippines made from don't use tip.
2. My grips produce as correct every detail,special in two hole!It will not shrinkage or deform!"

To test this theory, unbeknownst to Kim Son, after I reviewed his Dust of Life horn grips, I removed them and hung them on the wall in my unheated garage, just to see if the changes in heat and humidity affected the grips. I forgot about them. They hung on finishing nails through the heat and humidity of two Louisiana Summers and the cold of a wet Winter and a half. I took them down to try on a pistol for this review. In the year and a half since I last reviewed Kim Son's horn grips, they are as stable as ever. Today, they drop on the pistol's bushings as easily as the day I received them.

1911 grips are relatively easy to manufacture. The sides are straight, and the curvature not too crucial. The reverse side is flat. The design is forgiving. Beretta 92FS grips are another matter. The compound curves and angles of the Beretta grips are complex. With a trigger bar that moves underneath the grip and an enlarged hammer pin head that fits into a circular recess, the possibilities for ill fitting slabs of horn are increased exponentially.

When Kim Son decided to manufacture Beretta grips, I started to caution against it. I should have known better. With an uncanny ability to manufacture grips to fit a pistol half a world away, Kim Son again sent me polished slabs of buffalo horn that dropped right onto the bushings of my pistol.

The Beretta grips I received were the black buffalo horn with "vein". Even before I screwed the grips down, they would not wiggle on the Beretta bushings.

The grips were beautiful. The polish highly reflective, and the texture of the horn, the vein, showed through with a depth that is usually seen with layers and layers of lacquer. Yet there was no lacquer. The horn was simply, and expertly polished.

With the grips screwed snugly to the frame of the Beretta, everything functioned as it should. The trigger's draw bar did not bind, the slide reciprocated without impedance, the slide stop worked perfectly, and the magazine release had adequate clearance.

The width of the grips felt right. There seemed to be no extra material added to the Beretta grip frame's already corpulent girth. The magazine release could have benefited from a relief depression behind it, to allow the thumb to depress it easier. It was still manageable for me though.

I began to think how difficult it must be to build a grip for a pistol you have never held, let alone shot. Under those circumstances, little things such as a magazine button depression can be overlooked.

On the right side of the pistol, the upper rear of the grip failed to cover the recess for the draw bar. There was approximately a 1mm area where dirt and grit could enter the mechanism of the gun. Realistically, debris could also enter the front, underneath the trigger bar, so the point is moot except for cosmetics.

Of course, cosmetics is everything for a pair of grips marketed and purchased for their beauty. I sent Kim Son an email and a photo of the area. I feel fairly certain that the needed material was removed in the polishing process. The polisher and the craftsman probably had no idea what the grips covered.

Now, here's the rub....... I don't like slickery handles on my hog legs. In fact, I eschew decorative grips, medallions and the entire presto change-o Barbie doll thing some people do with grips. I tend to find a set of grips I like to shoot the weapon with, and they stay with the gun thereafter. Very few of them are smooth.

I own a 1911 or two with smooth grips, stag or ivory; but my working guns wear checkered rubber. My concealed carry guns either wear checkered rubber or checkered hardwood. I want my front straps smooth and I count on my lateral squeeze to control the gun. Under fire, I did not like the way the Beretta performed with these grips. The chunky grip frame just did not feel secure in my hands. Out of curiosity, I measured the girth with the original grips attached. Five and three quarters inches at it's smallest point. With Kim Son's grips, in the same area, the gun measured 5 and 5/8 inches. His grips were actually less bulky! The difference had to be the lack of checkering on the buffalo horn grips. For me, that just did not work. It didn't feel right, and I will be putting the original grips back on my Beretta 92FS.

That really doesn't surprise me. When my Beretta was new, I ordered a set of the genuine Beretta walnut grips for it. They were scarce back then, and I waited three or four months for them to arrive. I shot the pistol a few times with the smooth wood, and then sold them at the next gun show.

If, however, you are the kind of shooter that likes smooth grips, and especially if you have an Inox Beretta 92FS, then these grips may be the chipotle in your taco. They are beautifully crafted, and will no doubt be as durable as the grips that weathered the temperature extremes in my garage for a year and a half.

Kim Son Vu also sent me some polished buffalo horn 1911 grips with a mother of pearl Maltese cross inset into each side. The workmanship on these grips is exquisite. Watching the video below of the mother of pearl being cut and realizing that it is a inset chunk, not an overlay, the precision of his handiwork is amazing.

In the forum thread I linked above, you will find that Kim Son has received a couple of grips and then failed to manufacture the sender his replacements. In particular, one set for a S&W 39-2, and another set for a SIG P225/P6. I make no excuses for him, but I do realize that the more esoteric a grip is, the less the businessman stands to profit by making replacements. I hope that the originals are returned back to their owners soon, with lagniappe for their trouble.




* After The High Road became two forums, the thread concerning Kim Son's grips became two threads. Another version of the thread can be found here, at THR.us. Kim Son is participating and adressing issues in both threads.

Update It seems as if Kim Son has disappeared and has stiffed several people who helped him, never sending them the grips he promised. Caveat emptor.

Shooting the Beretta 92FS

Let's face it. Young gunnies are influenced by guns in the movies. Back when I was a young gunnie, 9mm double stack pistols were the happening thing, and the sexiest one of all was the pistol that Mel Gibson carried as L.A.P.D. Detective Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon.

Of course, the pistol performed incredible feats along with it's handler, one of which was engaging a sniper armed with a rifle, while a unlit cigarette dangles from his lips. Hardcore macho stuff. In a sequel, the Beretta Riggs carried had a laser sight added. That made for great visuals on the silver screen, since the viewer could see exactly where the loose cannon detective was aiming.

Polymer was seen as a passing fad, and combined with the fact that the US military had just adopted the Italian pistol, the large capacity Beretta 92FS was the pistol to have among young gunnies. I bought one as soon as I left the military. Sadly, like many young gunnies, I paid a pretty penny for an image and a dream.

I found that the seductive black pistol did not bestow unerring accuracy upon me. Hollywood lied. Even though the heavy double action trigger was smooth, it was difficult to manage. The Beretta did have one thing going for it besides it's looks. In the right hands, it was sufficiently accurate, and it was always reliable. I've always held on to it, as the first significant item I purchased after I returned home, and Heaven help me, my first misguided concealed carry weapon.

I still use it as an instructional tool for new shooters. It is an illustration of my own folly. I later screwed on some Crimson Trace laser grips. I learned that even though a red dot on the chest may help a bad guy make an informed decision, I still had to control that darned trigger. With the laser, it becomes a valuable tool to demonstrate to new shooters how minor flaws in sight alignment can cause inaccuracies at greater distances. The laser also helps a shooter understand just how much the muzzle of the gun moves while the trigger is being pulled.

QJ had the Beretta at the range today, and he was impressed with the dampened recoil of a service sized 9mm pistol. I let him fire several magazines through the big black gun before I showed him how to turn on the laser.

His accuracy had suffered with the DA/SA Beretta. When he illuminated his target with the laser he instantly saw why. The red dot was dancing all over the target as though a cat were chasing it. "The laser doesn't help much," QJ told me.

"Right. You still have to keep the sights aligned while pulling the trigger. There is no magic panacea to marksmanship. The bullets do not follow the laser. The laser simply indicates where they will strike the target. You still have to do your part," I replied. "When you choose a handgun, your ability to operate the trigger is paramount." QJ turned off the laser and went back to the sights. Concentrating on the smoothness and the rate of his trigger pull, his shooting improved.

QJ liked the security of the decocker, he liked being able to hit the slide release with his thumb, and the capacity held a definite appeal to him. After we left the range, we talked a while about the choices that people make in a personal protection or concealed carry firearm. We discussed how many people take a journey of self discovery until they find the firearm that is most appropriate for their needs, how that choice is not always apparent at first and how different people make different choices, all correct for themselves.

I told QJ that with a little good fortune, if he wanted a Beretta, we could probably find one used for under $400 without much trouble. QJ decided to wait and try a few more handguns before making up his mind. Good choice Q.

More informtion on the evolution of the Beretta 92FS

Pawn Shop Circuit: Laser Beretta

After work today, I drove over to Dave's pawn shop to see what was on the racks. A good amount of deer rifles lined the wall. I thought about perhaps buying one, scavenging the Leupold scope off it for a Ruger 10/22, and then reselling the scopeless rifle for more than I paid this in September. That was how I scoped all my Rugers, but I have nine Ruger 10/22s that I built, modified or adopted. I simply could not justify another one, even if the scope was free.

I peered into the handgun case, and the pickings were pretty slim. There was a Beretta 92FS with Crimson Trace laser grips. It was in pretty good shape, and the laser worked. I did not care for the laser activation button placement, but then, I do not care for laser sights either. In my way of thinking, if I have time to paint a red dot on a target, I have the time to line up irons. Every time I have shot with laser sights, it seemed as though I shot slower, and less accurately. I suppose someone could say it was a lack of practice, but I wonder just how much practice one needs........I figure I've used them enough to know I shoot better with real sights. I would rather concentrate on avoidance, tactics, and the use of cover and concealment, as well as shooting a threat if need be. For the person who wonders "What if you are injured and can not physically align your sights?" Well, what if your battery goes dead when you need it most? We can "what if" ourselves to death.

Back in 1992, in the panic right before the assault weapons ban, I purchased a new Beretta 92FS for $560. I still have it. Since there would still be military and law enforcement full capacity magazines available, it seemed like a safe bet. Who would have thought there would be the dreaded "Law Enforcement Only" magazine selling for ten bucks a pop a decade later? I was fortunate enough to purchase a couple of full capacity mags at fair prices, and I also converted a two heel release 92S magazines to use with the 92FS.

Back then, the Italian wondernine had supplanted the venerable 1911 as the US military's sidearm. There were a lot of people who decried the change, who sought to find anything wrong with the Beretta possible, as though enough complaints would change the course of events. The Beretta grip was too fat. The round was anemic. The open slide fouled with sand. You name it. The truth is, bad press from hard head old gun writers and bad magazines plagued the M9. Yes, the slide cracked the back of it gave a SEAL a nose job while firing umpteenthousand hot rounds incessantly through the pistol. The pistol was redesigned to be stronger as a result. The locking blocks on the M9 eventually needed replacement. Newer pistols in the Beretta 92 series have plastic composite crap parts added now. I'm glad I got my Beretta 92FS when I did. It still shoots as reliably as ever. With the rising cost of ammunition, I may find myself shooting it more.

Dave was wanting $400 for his laser Beretta. I decided to pass.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Gun Economics

After work today, I drove over to Kenny's pawn shop to see what was available. A grin crossed Kenny's face as I entered the shop, and he met me at the gun counter. Under his glass, Kenny had a couple of plastic pistols, but also a Beretta 92FS. The 92FS is a pistol that has not increased in price in the market. Back in 1991, when I purchased mine, they sold for about $550 new. They were the hot ticket item twenty years ago. Gun owners were facing the unknown realities of the Clinton Assault Weapon Ban, and the market for full capacity semi-automatic pistols was nuts with angst and trepidation. The Beretta 92FS still sells for about $550 new, but today there are also many used examples on the market for about $350 each.

Kenny's Beretta wore aftermarket Hogue grips with finger grooves, a definite minus for me. It was in good shape, it was early enough to have the metal trigger, safety, and guide rod. the action worked as slick as any Beretta, like oiled glass. Kenny did not have the box or the original grips. I saw he had it priced at $349. If I did not still have the Beretta 92FS that I purchased right after Lethal Weapon for $560, I might buy this one. Instead, I take my lesson on the realities of gun economics.

My Go Get'em Guns

After a few comments on my Go Get'em Gun piece, I thought I would post a couple or four of my own "Go Get'em" Guns. Seems some folks don't get the joke........And, since I purchased a new better camera, I've been updating some of my gun pics to a higher quality photo anyway......And, it's time for some gun pics, after all it's Sunday....

At left is my two Heckler & Koch USPs. Both are in .40S&W, so I do not shoot them much anymore. Because the fullsize pistol has a light, I still train with it and use it as a bedside pistol.

I once carried the USP Compact, but the butt kept sticking out farther than my own butt. I went to a 1911 for carry shortly afterwards. I still keep the USPc in hopes that some Tactical Tommy will inherit his Grandpa's WWI vintage M1911 and want to "upgrade" to a "Go Get'em" gun, specifically one with a "hostile environment" finish and Big Dot 24/7 nuclear powered sights.

Both USPs have night sights, LEM triggers, and neutered 10 round magazines. Both are utterly reliable. The only failure I have ever had with either was a Wolff ammunition case rupture causing a failure.

For a while I collected Beretta handguns. In addition to the Mini-Cougar and 92FS at right, I own a M1932, a M1951, and a M21A. The Beretta 92FS was the first handgun I purchased when I returned home from the US Navy in October 1991. Wondernines were the rage then, and the 92FS was at the top of the heap. I actually carried the thing concealed for a bit. It's a good one, all metal, unlike the ones produced today. I installed an 18 pound 1911 mainspring in it to lighten up the trigger. It works. I have yet to get a light-strike as a result. My Beretta 92FS will stay in my inventory. It was the first substantial item I purchased, within two days of leaving the military. It has never had a failure, with many, many rounds down the pipe.

The Mini-Cougar is a gun I like. I enjoy the rotating barrel action. It's a smooth shooting pistol. I really like the design of the contoured magazine to lengthen the abbreviated grip if desired. The Mini-Cougar is an accurate pistol, but I am unable to shoot accurately with it. The shorter grip only makes it worse. I carried this pistol for a time as well.

I still appreciate Beretta handguns. They are some very smooth, accurate, reliable firearms. "Fine ordnance" as Uncle Lester would say. I just don't pursue Berettas as I once did. They failed to keep my interest. HK pistols were the same. Glocks were too. As a collector, 1911s and old revolvers continue to hold my interest. They make pretty darned good defensive weapons as well. They are accurate, reliable, and a heck of a lot of fun at the range too.

Style

Style? What is style?

I used to be a young buck a few years back, and I packed the latest tactical hardware. Back then, it was called Beretta. Mel Gibson carried it in Lethal Weapon, and the military had finally wisened up and gotten rid of that obsolete WW1 pistol for a modern Beretta. I had one too. Glock and HK were the dark force in polymer avant-guard in those days.

I would see the old fogies chomping cigars and shooting their six guns at the range. I would scare my targets half to death with hails of ammo peppering the entire area of the paper. I left no 4X4 inch area unshot. Dadgum I was good! I didn't want to talk about those old men targets. Heck, all they could do was shoot one hole. They were wasting a heck of a lot of target out there. They chomped cigars. I sprayed and prayed. I was, however, in style, at least as depicted in Hollywood.

Over time, I learned to love that old WW1 pistol the military had eschewed. Then I learned to love wide, empty spaces of unshot target and single holes in the center. The next thing I knew, I was fondling a blued S&W P&R sixgun. My fate was sealed. I had grey in my beard. I haven't started to smoke cigars though. After all, I don't want to be "in style"!

Beretta Mini-Cougar Range Report

The Beretta Mini-Cougar was perhaps a pistol ahead of it's time. The Cougar line was well received in Europe, but in the United States it never really took off. Perhaps this was due to the incredible popularity of the Beretta 92/96 series in the States, perhaps it was something else. The Cougar line of pistols (also known as Series 8000) were developed for the .40S&W cartridge, and later were produced in 9mm, .357Sig, and .45ACP. They first appeared on the market in 1994. Importation into the U.S. ceased in January, 2005.

I purchased my Beretta Cougar used in 1999 for $350. It is an 8040F, meaning it shoots .40S&W and is a "Mini-Cougar". The controls of the pistol are set up almost exactly like the Beretta 92FS. I suppose the boys in Gardone Val Trompia feel they have an ergonomic winner there. Like the 92/96 Series, the 8000 Series guns use a double stack magazine. Cougars were also available as DAO guns, with a spurless hammer and no decocking device.

Cougar pistols incorporate an idiosyncratic rotating barrel locking system, in which the barrel rotates on recoil to unlock itself from the slide. The rotating motion of the barrel is controlled by a groove on its bottom, which follows the a stud cam in a steel frame insert. To decrease peak recoil and stress to the frame, the insert is mounted on the recoil spring and is buffered. The Cougar frame is made from lightweight aluminum alloy. The system works well. The Cougar slide deviates from the typical Beretta open top slide design. This same locking system was used again on Beretta's new polymer framed PX4.

One brilliant design element of the 8040F is the ability to decrease the grip length by an entire inch simply by changing the magazine. The extended magazine carries 11 rounds, the shorter magazine holds eight. This design is one that other handgun or even magazine manufacturers could incorporate to increase flexibility of short gripped handguns. The polymer piece on the extended magazine blends the extended grip seamlessly together in your hand. It does not feel like you are holding a pistol with an exended magazine, but rather a pistol with a longer grip.

I have kept this pistol because I like the peculiar rotating barrel design, as well as it's not so subtle Dick Tracyesque blocky profile. It's a pistol that exudes serious business. If the truth be known however, back in 1999, I could not hit squat with it. With it's rotating barrel locking system, the 8000 Series is inherently accurate, but I did not possess the ability to harness that accuracy. The heavy, double action Beretta trigger was unmanageable for me. Since that time, I have been honing my skills on the Smith & Wesson double action revolvers, so when the 8040F rose to the top of the pile in my safe, I decided to try it again, six years later.

I went to the range with a Value Pack of 165 grain Winchester White Box ammo. I shot the 8040F at ten yards with both the extended and the short magazine. The extended magazine fit my hand well, while the short mag forced me to curl my pinky finger underneath the grip. I rediscovered why I left the DA/SA wonder guns behind in favor of the 1911, and why I left the .40S&W behind in favor of the .45ACP. The Beretta trigger was heavy with pronounced stacking. Every time I fired the pistol double action, the muzzle was pulled low as I increased pressure on the trigger. Single action shots were somewhat better, but the trigger was still heavy and creepy. I have been shooting 1911s and Smith & Wesson revolvers for half a decade now. I know the difference. The difference is demonstrated on the concentric circles of the target. The width of the Beretta grip and the performance of the Beretta trigger do not enhance my shooting. Some might describe this as acceptable combat accuracy, with the implication that demanding greater accuracy is preparing for target shooting, not combat. I disagree. In combat, precision is needed to prevent injury to friendlies, and to get the job done with minimal expenditure of time and ammo. Accuracy is a good thing. Excuses are not. To confirm that I was not just having a bad day, I unholstered my carry 1911 and placed eight rounds in the black.

I reholstered my 1911 dinosaur gun, boxed up the Beretta, and went home. I was done.

Mad Ogre's Mini-Cougar Review