Did you know the ATF will seemingly randomly remove guns from the NFA that qualify as curios and antiques? It’s an odd process that can be confusing, and the ATF doesn’t do it all that often, especially these days, but every so often, something surprises you. For example, I recently discovered that the ATF removed 27 Beretta 92SB models from the NFA.
What is the Beretta 92SB?
The 92SB predated the FS and is, for all intents and purposes, the same gun. The FS got a few final modifications as it was adopted for military service. Why would any model of the 92SB be on the NFA? Why would 27 of them be on the NFA and then be removed by the ATF? It’s because they were short-barreled rifles, specifically LAPD contract guns. The ATF must have deemed them rare and interesting enough to warrant NFA removal.
The 92SB – SB Doesn’t Stand For Short Barrel
These 27 ultra-rare Beretta 92SB short-barreled rifles were manufactured in 1984 for the LAPD. The LAPD ordered these guns for the 1984 Summer Olympics. Olympic events seem like an absolute nightmare for police forces. Too many people, too many languages, and too much crime. It’s prime for a terrorist attack, and it’s not like terrorist attacks haven’t famously occurred during the Olympics.
What’s odd to me is that they ordered twenty-five of these guns. Beretta reportedly kept two. What these guns were intended for is lost to time. It’s known that Beretta provided several Model 12 submachine guns for security in the Olympic Village. Forces from SEAL Team 6, the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, Delta Force, and two SWAT teams were on standby in the event of an attack.
Security was high. A stocked pistol would offer shooters a more stable platform overall. Throw a stock on a pistol and make shots at 50 yards is easy. Even at 100 yards, a competent shooter could make some shots. The stock offered greater stabilization and would make it easier to use the weapon with one hand.
The 92SB wasn’t known for its recoil. It’s a full-sized 9mm. A stock would tame that recoil even more. Overall, it would be easier to control. It’s not a bad idea, but how 25 would make a difference is unknown to me. If we had a little more information on who and why they ordered them.
The Stock
These Beretta 92SB SBRs have a notch cut into the grip to accommodate a folding stock. The stock was the same one from the Beretta 93R. One side folds over the other to create an extremely compact package. The stock could be carried in a back pocket if need be, and the Beretta 92SB would fit in a standard duty holster.
An officer wouldn’t be forced to use the stock and could easily deploy the system as needed. Again, it’s a cool idea that makes sense, but why were there only 25 ordered? Sadly, we don’t know, and the LAPD never got to field them.
The guns wouldn’t arrive in time for the 1984 Olympics, so the LAPD never got their hands on them. Beretta then sold the 25 models on the open market. The ATF eventually released the NFA boundaries on the weapons, and they are Title 1 guns. Title 1 guns that cost almost ten grand and are highly desirable amongst collectors.
A few have popped up at auctions every now and then, but whoever has them holds onto them. They are a slick design, and I’m a 92 fan, like any man of culture. This has to be the rarest Beretta 92 series, if not one of the rarest Berettas of all time.
