The PAMAS-G1 (Pistolet Automatique de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, "Automatic Pistol of the Saint
Etienne Manufacture") is a modified Beretta 92F pistol used
by, and designed for, the French army. The PAMAS-G1 was
manufactured under licence from Beretta in France by GIAT.
However quite a few early ones were made in Italy by Beretta with
steel supplied by France.
There are small but relevant differences between the PAMAS-G1 and the Beretta 92F. Firstly, the PAMAS-G1 lacks a manual
safety and is only fitted with a decocking device. Secondly, the French made steel used to manufacture the slides contains Tellurium (Te) a rare earth that makes steel hard but brittle. This was done to save money on the slide steel,
therefore, like early American models of the pistol, the slides tended to fracture around the recess for the locking lug. This
caused the slide to fly off from the pistol and in some cases, hit the shooter in the face. This, however, was very rare, though
the "Armée de Terre" ordered all pistols to be recalled as an insurance against widespread
malfunctions during the service lives of the firearms. GIAT industries, the nationalised weapons company of France, recalled all
pistols, replacing the Tellurium-steel alloy slides with stainless steel ones. As of 2002, it would appear as though this problem
was remedied and a retention lug added for further protection.
Technical data
- Type: PAMAS-G1
- Trigger system: Single-action or double-action
- Caliber: 9 x 19 mm NATO
- Capacity: 10-15-17 rounds depending on magazine
- Frame material: Aluminium light alloy
- Slide and barrel material: Carbon steel
- Grip material: Plastic
- Barrel length: 125mm
- Length: 217mm
- Height: 137mm
- Width: 39mm
- Weight: 945g
- Safeties: Slide mounted decocking lever. Loaded chamber indicator. Firing-pin safety.
- Magazine release: Lower trigger guard, reversible.
- Production years: 1987 - present day.
- Production locations: Beretta Italy, GIAT France
See also
References
http://www.cybershooters.org/dgca/beretta_92fs.htm
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
