On October 3, 1526, a payment of 296 ducats to Bartolomeo Beretta marked the first documented transaction in Beretta’s history. Five centuries later, that moment lives on in the 92FS Ducato, a limited edition of just 296 handguns combining one of Beretta’s most iconic designs with a tribute to the origins of the world’s oldest industrial dynasty.
Inspired by the design of the legendary Beretta 92 platform, the 92FS Ducato combines a steel frame and DLC finish with premium grip panels made from ancient Abonos bog oak.
Details on the frame and slide pay tribute to Beretta’s extraordinary anniversary. A gold 500 Years logo on the rear of the slide, the gold spark motif accompanied by the commemorative “500 Years Anniversary” engraving on the frame, and a dedicated serial number make the 92FS Ducato a genuine collector’s piece, expressing a heritage that continues to shape the future while celebrating an exceptional past.
Beretta 92FS Ducato: 296 pistols worldwide
Presented in an elegant handcrafted case, the 92FS Ducato preserves the memory of the first documented transaction in Beretta’s history. The story of that historic moment is embroidered inside the lid, while an authentic 16th-century Venetian ducat is displayed beside the pistol. Completing the tribute, two gold inserts set into the grip panels faithfully reproduce the obverse and reverse of the coin that inspired the pistol’s name.
“The 92 Ducato is a tribute to the moment when it all began“ - said Irene Ferlito, Product Manager PB Selection – “The coin that inspired this limited edition represents more than monetary value; it is the first tangible sign of a story destined to endure for five centuries. Today, that symbol lives on in a creation conceived for collectors who recognize the true value of time, rarity, and memory.”
The grip panels of the 92FS Ducato are made from ancient Abonos bog oak, a rare fossilized oak wood derived from Quercus robur and Quercus petraea, estimated to be between 2,000 and 5,000 years old and recovered from ancient sediments of the Sava River between Slovenia and Serbia. Hidden for centuries beneath layers of water and earth, the wood was preserved by exceptional natural conditions.
Over time, the combined action of minerals, water and pressure slowly transformed the wood, giving it its characteristic dark tones and exceptionally refined texture. Every grain pattern, variation in color and natural marking tells a story written over centuries, making each pair of grip panels absolutely unique.
Two gold inserts set into the grips reproduce the obverse and reverse of a 16th-century Venetian ducat, the same type of coin received by Bartolomeo Beretta as payment for a supply of arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of the Republic of Venice in 1526. The document recording that transaction is what allowed Beretta’s origins to be traced back more than five centuries.
The 92FS Ducato is delivered in an elegant wooden presentation case, handcrafted at the PB Selection Case Atelier in Gardone Val Trompia. The case is made from dark wood selected to echo the distinctive grip panels of the pistol.
Inside the lid, a reproduction of the original 1526 manuscript has been embroidered onto the red lining, paying tribute to the document that records the transaction from which Beretta traces the beginning of its history. A metal insert bearing the 500 Years logo is positioned at the center of the case, completing the tribute to five centuries of craftsmanship.
Inside the case, next to the pistol, is an authentic Venetian ducat dating from the 1500s. A symbol of the wealth and influence of the Republic of Venice, the coin provides a tangible link to the historical setting in which Beretta’s story began.
The presentation case also includes:
- a certificate of authenticity for the Venetian ducat, issued by the renowned Bolaffi auction house;
- a certificate confirming the age, authenticity and provenance of the ancient Abonos bog oak used for the grip panels;
- a document providing access to the digital certificate for the individual 500 Years Limited Edition pistol.
Price and availability in the US has still not been announced.
For more information on the 92FS Ducato and the other models created to celebrate Beretta’s 500th anniversary, visit the dedicated Beretta website.
