98 fs factory sights, have these been painted by the previous owner?

simo · March 30, 2020, 04:04 AM

Hi guys, a question about my beretta 98fs in 9x21, it was produced in 1993 (that's why it has m9 sights on it). I bought it used, like new. It is one of the older models without the slanted frame, it's the straight one. While cleaning it i noticed that the white painting on the front and on the rear sights is pretty imprecise and gross, more than on my 84fs, which by the way is much newer (i bought it new 2 years ago). On my 92fs the painting is a bit more bright and, in the fromt soghts dot, there is a sort of little hole, maybe due to a bubble. Is this difference due to different painting procedure by beretta throughout the years or do you think the previous owner painted the sights? plus, both the front sight dot and the rear sight hafmoon are decenteres but this is because the incisions where the paint should go are decentered too. I can't see any sort of old painting under the new one on its sides. I'll post some pics from my gun. Please reply only if you have a direct experience with these pistols.
Thank you very much in advance

P.S.: i posted a similar thread on another forum, i'm asking here for further investigation since i didn't find anyone with a 1993 92fs/m9 to compare.

i'm having problems posting pics, i'll try to figure out how to do so

mk70ss · March 30, 2020, 09:31 AM

Looks like the previous owner touched the sights up with some white paint/nail polish. They did come with a white “sort of square with a rounded bottom thing” on the rear and a white “dot” on the front sight post.

Hal · March 30, 2020, 09:48 AM

Might be White Out - - try some WD40 on a Q-tip and see if it comes off.

It might be nail polish too - as mentioned.
Acetone will remove that - or nail polish remover (same thing as acetone)

Jim Watson · March 30, 2020, 09:51 AM

I agree, looks like the previous owner repainted them. I have seen the dots simply fall out of their pocket in the sight.

simo · March 30, 2020, 10:20 AM

Thanks for the answers. Just to be sure, why do you think they were repainted? do you have any 92fs or m9 to compare or it's just your impression? thanks again, i appreciate your help very much.

Jim Watson · March 30, 2020, 11:19 AM

The reason I think they were repainted is because they are so sloppy, factory spots are smooth and color within the lines.
The reason I think they needed to be repainted is because the paint simply fell out or got dirty with smoke and gun oil.

Pahoo · March 30, 2020, 11:37 AM

Quote:

The reason I think they needed to be repainted is because the paint simply fell out or got dirty with smoke and gun oil.

That would be my SWAG on this as I have see this happen before. The Paint job is even, smooth and sound. It when they beak loose, it's little pieces, at a time. They also discolor and turn more into an ivory color vs. white. Now then, it may be something new but have never seen this pattern. It's not a big job to repaint. I use appliance touch-up and apply with a toothpick. …

Be Safe !!!

simo · March 30, 2020, 12:24 PM

exactly, it is the too bright white that made me suspect it sas repainted, even more than the imprecision of the paint job. thanks for the replies however!

Hal · March 30, 2020, 12:40 PM

Ditto for Jim Watson's "too sloppy".
I'm not a Beretta fan -but - from the examples I've handled - they don't do anything that sloppy.

Kreyzhorse · March 30, 2020, 08:47 PM

As said, repainted. Pretty sloppy job at that.

Forte S+W · March 30, 2020, 10:34 PM

To me it almost looks as if the whole gun has been painted.

Seriously, I'm used to Beretta's Bruniton Finish being much smoother looking than the surface of that particular gun.

**JohnKSa** · March 31, 2020, 01:06 AM

Agree that it looks like the whole gun has been repainted--poorly. That's why they had to retouch the dots on the sights--poorly.

simo · March 31, 2020, 04:57 AM

thanks for the answers. anyway, the pistol has not been refinished, that's for sure. the pics are a bit misleading due to the light and the LCP on the gun. The finish on early berettas 98fs was textured like that ad the pics are really very near to the gun. plus the sights have a totally different finish from the slide. as for the sights, i think you are right, even if beretta used to paint military sights on m9s in a sloppy awy itself, these one seems repainte to me. it would be great if you had an m9 from that period to compare!

TunnelRat · March 31, 2020, 08:00 AM

You said you bought it used, so how are you positive it hasn’t been refinished? I’ve seen Berettas from the 90s, and Berettas from before that as well. I’d still agree with John that it looks refinished. That again explains the repainting of the sights. I’ve seen imports that have been refinished and the result is very similar. You say Beretta used to paint the sights on M9s in a sloppy way. I’ve never seen one that sloppy. Hobbyists can do better.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

simo · March 31, 2020, 09:24 AM

i'm positive it has not been refinished because i have seen many many 98fs here in italy and the finish is exactly identical to my pistol's one. It's just the paint in the sight that i didn't ever considered, just didn't never pay attention to them.

March 30, 2020, 04:04 AM	#1
simo Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Posts: 19	98 fs factory sights, have these been painted by the previous owner? Hi guys, a question about my beretta 98fs in 9x21, it was produced in 1993 (that's why it has m9 sights on it). I bought it used, like new. It is one of the older models without the slanted frame, it's the straight one. While cleaning it i noticed that the white painting on the front and on the rear sights is pretty imprecise and gross, more than on my 84fs, which by the way is much newer (i bought it new 2 years ago). On my 92fs the painting is a bit more bright and, in the fromt soghts dot, there is a sort of little hole, maybe due to a bubble. Is this difference due to different painting procedure by beretta throughout the years or do you think the previous owner painted the sights? plus, both the front sight dot and the rear sight hafmoon are decenteres but this is because the incisions where the paint should go are decentered too. I can't see any sort of old painting under the new one on its sides. I'll post some pics from my gun. Please reply only if you have a direct experience with these pistols. Thank you very much in advance P.S.: i posted a similar thread on another forum, i'm asking here for further investigation since i didn't find anyone with a 1993 92fs/m9 to compare. i'm having problems posting pics, i'll try to figure out how to do so Last edited by simo; March 30, 2020 at 04:07 AM. Reason: pics

March 30, 2020, 09:31 AM	#2
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,597	Looks like the previous owner touched the sights up with some white paint/nail polish. They did come with a white “sort of square with a rounded bottom thing” on the rear and a white “dot” on the front sight post. __________________ Say when.....

March 30, 2020, 08:47 PM	#10
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	As said, repainted. Pretty sloppy job at that. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

March 30, 2020, 10:34 PM	#11
Forte S+W Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2019 Posts: 819	To me it almost looks as if the whole gun has been painted. Seriously, I'm used to Beretta's Bruniton Finish being much smoother looking than the surface of that particular gun. __________________ Conspiracy theorists are the greatest political spin-doctors of all time. Only they can make the absolute worst political blunders sound like spectacular feats of ingenuity.

March 31, 2020, 01:06 AM	#12
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,967	Agree that it looks like the whole gun has been repainted--poorly. That's why they had to retouch the dots on the sights--poorly. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

March 30, 2020, 09:48 AM	#3
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Might be White Out - - try some WD40 on a Q-tip and see if it comes off. It might be nail polish too - as mentioned. Acetone will remove that - or nail polish remover (same thing as acetone)

March 30, 2020, 09:51 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	I agree, looks like the previous owner repainted them. I have seen the dots simply fall out of their pocket in the sight.

March 30, 2020, 10:20 AM	#5
simo Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Posts: 19	Thanks for the answers. Just to be sure, why do you think they were repainted? do you have any 92fs or m9 to compare or it's just your impression? thanks again, i appreciate your help very much.

March 30, 2020, 11:19 AM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	The reason I think they were repainted is because they are so sloppy, factory spots are smooth and color within the lines. The reason I think they needed to be repainted is because the paint simply fell out or got dirty with smoke and gun oil.

March 30, 2020, 12:24 PM	#8
simo Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Posts: 19	exactly, it is the too bright white that made me suspect it sas repainted, even more than the imprecision of the paint job. thanks for the replies however!

March 30, 2020, 12:40 PM	#9
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Ditto for Jim Watson's "too sloppy". I'm not a Beretta fan -but - from the examples I've handled - they don't do anything that sloppy.

March 31, 2020, 04:57 AM	#13
simo Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Posts: 19	thanks for the answers. anyway, the pistol has not been refinished, that's for sure. the pics are a bit misleading due to the light and the LCP on the gun. The finish on early berettas 98fs was textured like that ad the pics are really very near to the gun. plus the sights have a totally different finish from the slide. as for the sights, i think you are right, even if beretta used to paint military sights on m9s in a sloppy awy itself, these one seems repainte to me. it would be great if you had an m9 from that period to compare!

March 31, 2020, 08:00 AM	#14
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,205	98 fs factory sights, have these been painted by the previous owner? You said you bought it used, so how are you positive it hasn’t been refinished? I’ve seen Berettas from the 90s, and Berettas from before that as well. I’d still agree with John that it looks refinished. That again explains the repainting of the sights. I’ve seen imports that have been refinished and the result is very similar. You say Beretta used to paint the sights on M9s in a sloppy way. I’ve never seen one that sloppy. Hobbyists can do better. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

March 31, 2020, 09:24 AM	#15
simo Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Posts: 19	i'm positive it has not been refinished because i have seen many many 98fs here in italy and the finish is exactly identical to my pistol's one. It's just the paint in the sight that i didn't ever considered, just didn't never pay attention to them.

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