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OLIAR15
02-06-20, 05:19
Bought it at a bankruptcy forced auction back in 1999; as per Swiss law the auction was organized by the local police, as you need a permit for all weapons, and a special permit for full-auto weapons. I have a second magazine and the original box too (though cardboard, not worth showing). Needless to say I was ecstatic to acquire it, and still very happy to have it in my collection.

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2710.jpg

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2711.jpg

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2712.jpg

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2713.jpg

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2714.jpg

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2715.jpg

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_2716.jpg


Actually I can share the story of how this Beretta 93 R came in my possession.

So back in June 1999, a good friend and shooting buddy sends me a fax (yes a TELEFAX) with the copy of a newspaper ad for a forced auction after a private bankruptcy.


http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_4523.jpg


I wrote to the bankruptcy office and asked for a detailed list of the guns offered for sale.


http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_4524.jpg


When I saw the Beretta 93 R, having already a 92 F from 1986 which I adored (and still have), I knew I should try to buy it.

I asked the LGS what price would be reasonable, in order words where do I stop bidding. He told me that the normal value was abt. 1000.- Swiss francs (abt 670.- $ back then), but that would have been if you could have bought one new from Beretta. However they sold in very limited quantities, mostly to police and/or counter terrorism forces, and only in batches (like 10 guns or so).

So finding one in the private market was extremely rare and a price of upto 3000.- Swiss francs (2000.- $) would be reasonable. I went to the bank and created a dent in my savings account, took 3 grand out.

Despite the listing number, they sold the special objects (full auto) last (the Beretta 12 MG, the 93 R and the 1928 A1 Thompson). It was the main event.

At first Tom Dick and Harry were happily bidding, increments of CHF 100.-. After a while, nearing two grand we were only two left truly interested in this gun (others were saving their pennies for the Tommy gun or spent them on the 12 MG). We kept increasing by 100.-, 2200, 2300, 2400, when the other guy showed he was running out of oxygen: he started bidding by 5.- increments, like 2405.-. So I kept increasing by 100.- to discourage him. At 2605 I decided to slow down, offered 2650.- (US$ 1770.-). He gave up, lot number 37 was mine. :D

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/img_4525.jpg
OLIAR15
02-06-20, 05:20
Recently I saw three being sold locally at abt. 5000.- CHF (about the same in US$ today). Another LGS sold one for 6'000.- a couple of years ago.

A few recent pictures

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/8e6bc03034ba4dbc475241b9a675651a.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/2d4292a82a0ee8325f3ed42729668d77.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/a6bf0f4f91c42627624337759b976eaf.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/5c0864306b0fa47a0ff9135a8b26db10.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/d77ab9836b60c3317551f13bf17981e6.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/2b7dc7a66a4f9961086dc82b349e5ac5.jpg

And I dug out the original box

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/3e144d51aa1b35f358ec126e8793e3c8.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/9ebf6abc9ee690a488e6a25dd9df71a2.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/00b785d88636f87ca9fd60b50b4e4193.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190706/f987a549e10cdd45e1a509848903feee.jpg
yoni
02-06-20, 06:10
I have shot the 93R just once.

It was a hoot, so much fun in a small package.

I don't think it or the Glock 18 is very practical for real life.

Unless real life is a day on the range where you seek to put the biggest smiles on peoples faces.
MegademiC
02-06-20, 07:06
Howdy,
Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking gun. Any video of it in action?
Circle_10
02-06-20, 07:19
That’s awesome, back in 1999 I was 18, and the 93R was one of those guns I was mildly “obsessed” with at the time. Closest I ever got to one was a cheap-ass airsoft version.
VARIABLE9
02-06-20, 07:40
Awesome! Absolutely beautiful piece with a good story behind your acquisition.
OLIAR15
02-06-20, 08:13
I don't think it or the Glock 18 is very practical for real life.

Unless real life is a day on the range where you seek to put the biggest smiles on peoples faces.

You nailed it on the head
WickedWillis
02-06-20, 11:10
Double post
WickedWillis
02-06-20, 11:10
Howdy,
Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking gun. Any video of it in action?

Howdy,

We once knew a member here that carried it in combat in Iraq and on Mars.

The 93R is one of my favorite unobtanium guns in history. I would love to be able to shoot one someday
hotrodder636
02-06-20, 18:13
Oh...My....Gosh! This is by far the best of all of your recent posts. This is my #1 Unircorn. I would love to shoot let alone have one of these. You are a very lucky man to have one in your collection. Take care of it, shoot and enjoy the heck out of it!!
opngrnd
02-06-20, 18:43
Howdy,

We once knew a member here that carried it in combat in Iraq and on Mars.

The 93R is one of my favorite unobtanium guns in history. I would love to be able to shoot one someday

That's who immediately came to mind when I saw the title of this post!

OP-excellent post, and thank you for sharing.
SeriousStudent
02-06-20, 21:06
Howdy,
Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking gun. Any video of it in action?

I saw what you did there.

Chortle.
thebarracuda
02-07-20, 07:51
Howdy,

We once knew a member here that carried it in combat in Iraq and on Mars.

Yes. Yes he did. I believe he had a very credible photograph to prove it. Hero of the Mars campaign.
OLIAR15
02-07-20, 08:36
Howdy,
Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking gun. Any video of it in action?

Thanks

Unfortunately no video yet, will have to work on that

Those were shot in semi auto at 25 meters

The trigger is a little stiff, thankfully I guess

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200207/c3e8d9031d6bb7424f72dcd6e543b629.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200207/f3f579eb594084ee683268840bec0797.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200207/a996e60bea6563f4e5d033402bbb778b.jpg
OLIAR15
02-07-20, 08:39
Howdy,

We once knew a member here that carried it in combat in Iraq and on Mars.

The 93R is one of my favorite unobtanium guns in history. I would love to be able to shoot one someday


That's who immediately came to mind when I saw the title of this post!

OP-excellent post, and thank you for sharing.


Yes. Yes he did. I believe he had a very credible photograph to prove it. Hero of the Mars campaign.

Sound like a character, guess it was before my time.
yoni
02-07-20, 09:13
If I had the chance to carry one for real or a Glock 18 for real, I would do it. Not because I think a full auto pistol is a good tool, it just is cool to have . Carry it in semi auto.

I just remembered a guy from my youth, a Phalangist who had a full auto only Hi Power. I tried to talk him out of it, showed him it was basically worthless. He then smiled, replying "Jew, you think too much. This pistol is about pussy, our girls are turned on by it".
Eurodriver
02-07-20, 09:39
Howdy,
Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking gun. Any video of it in action?

I got this reference, and it made me lol
OLIAR15
02-07-20, 12:45
Here is Larry Vickers’ video on it

https://youtu.be/JALH0gQa8gY
Arik
02-07-20, 17:02
Howdy,
Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking gun. Any video of it in action?Been waiting for that. Thought it would come much sooner
RHINOWSO
02-07-20, 17:21
Wow, that is a real gem.

As a child of the 80s and 90s, the Beretta 92 series and variants have always been very interesting to me, owning several.

But the 93R is a special example indeed.

Bravo!
JPB
02-08-20, 11:30
Mack Bolan. One of my favorite book series when I was growing up. He frequently used a Beretta 93. Put that gun on the map for me!
RHINOWSO
02-08-20, 12:05
Mack Bolan. One of my favorite book series when I was growing up.

Oh yeah, I haven't heard that name for a long time.
JediGuy
02-08-20, 14:10
Probably top of my list for unobtainium. Random picture I’ve had on my phone for a long time (not mine):

https://i.imgur.com/tMmpkYy.jpg
TED
02-09-20, 15:54
Back in the day, when time was young and so was I, Richie Solberg, the future president of Milkor USA (with the 40mm rotary grenade launcher contract for the Marines) was a local to me sales rep for a gun company or two and a class 3 dealer. He held a range day event and told me that if I brought my own ammo I could play with the toys. I shot both a 93R and a G18 for the first time (but not the last) that day. IT WAS AWESOME!

The 93R has that folding front grip and the purpose of the extra large trigger guard is not actually for gloves (though it also really helps with that) it is actually intended that you hook your support hand thumb through the trigger guard so you can apply a more useful downward torque. This saved me from the possibility of shooting my fingers off when the folding grip came lose!! That was a small scale oh shit moment. Fortunately, no harm no foul, it was readily solved and we were able to keep rocking.

I think the G18 is significantly superior, however the 93R has that 70's/80's old school cool about it.

I think I need a mustache, a neck chain, an open shirt, and some chest hair next time I shoot one!


TED