Ever looked at the gold-plated Beretta 92FS, Admiral General Aladeen’s main sidearm in the movie The Dictator, and wished that luxury firearms were real? There’s no need to wish because luxury firearms have long been a thing, and the Beretta APX Falco you see here is one such example.
It was created as part of a series of bespoke, non-production concept pieces celebrating Beretta’s 500th anniversary. Yes. Five. Hundred. Years. It is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world.
And for a company with five centuries of experience, Beretta certainly knows how to make something special.
The APX Falco, named after the Italian word for falcon, takes the familiar APX pistol and transforms it into something that could comfortably sit alongside luxury watches and fine jewelry. But beneath the elaborate craftsmanship is some genuinely interesting engineering.
The headline feature is a red-dot sight developed with American optics specialist Burris, which is also part of the Beretta Group. Unlike conventional pistol optics that are mounted separately, the Falco’s red-dot housing and slide are machined from a single block of steel.
Beretta claims this patented, monolithic construction is a world’s first, offering a lower sight position, improved alignment, and better long-term stability.
The changes don’t stop there. Instead of the APX’s conventional polymer frame, the Falco features a skeletonized steel frame finished in Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), complete with a precision-machined magazine well integrated into the structure.
It also boasts a lightweight ported slide with an integrated compensator, a shorter pre-tensioned barrel, and refined trigger components housed within an integrated chassis. According to Beretta, these modifications improve stability, recoil control, and overall precision.
Of course, this being a luxury creation, aesthetics are equally important.
The pistol’s flowing, tapered profile takes inspiration from a falcon in flight. Look closely, and you’ll notice that the magazine release forms the bird’s eye, while intricate feather-like engravings extend across the grip and slide.
Hand-engraved gold inlays provide the finishing touches, accompanied by commemorative gold medallions celebrating Beretta’s extraordinary milestone. It’s a fascinating combination of modern manufacturing and centuries-old Italian craftsmanship.
Even the presentation case gets special attention. Machined from a solid block of aluminum, it features a handcrafted black Alcantara interior by the Pietro Beretta Atelier in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy, along with the golden 500th anniversary logo.
As for conventional specifications, the one-off is reportedly chambered in 9 mm Luger, although Beretta has not published complete figures for its dimensions, weight, barrel length, or magazine capacity.
And before you reach for your wallet, there’s one important detail: the Beretta APX Falco is a one-of-one creation, not a production model. No retail price or general availability has been announced. I don’t think there would be.
Which is a pity, because even Admiral General Aladeen might have approved of this one. Or maybe it was for him? 😂
Images: Pietro Beretta.