GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1)

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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 "L'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 nationalized 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.

[edit] 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