doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What does "bis" stand for on Beretta SxS guns?

This is a Model number suffix that follows some Beretta Model 409s and 309s - such as Model 409 bis. It was typically the lowest price gun in a series. Does anyone know what the letters "bis" stand for? (likely something in Italian)

Thanks, Jim

That is in italian - in English it translates to P.O S!

Small Bore...drop just a few more bread crumbs if you would :-) thanks, Jim

I think in Italian it means 'additional' such as a more deluxe version of a particular model. Such as gold plating, etc.

BIS is Latin. It usually means "twice" but can also have other meanings in Latin. In Italian it translates to "due volte", twice.

It is common to apply it to a model that is a step up in Italian. It is also a way of a saying it is between two existing things.

Pete

pete...does your wisdom know no bounds?? thanks much, Jim

Also seen in French, and means the same thing.

BI is twice in Latin and the S must mean barrels

From Cassell's Latin Dictionary

bis, adv. twice, in two ways; bisterque, Cic.; bis t'Tvo, Cic.; twice or thrice; bis die, Cic. ; bis consul, a man who has been consul twice (iternm consul, a man who is consul for the second time), Cic.; bis tanto or tantum, twice as great, Plaut.; with distributive numerals, bis bina, Cic.; with cardinal numerals, only in poet., bis quinque viri

Pete

The terms 'bis' and 'ter' are used, particularly in Europe and particularly in formal documents, to mean 'second' and 'third' .

In addition, if an extra item has to be added to a numbered list, e.g. between existing items 15 and 16, the new item would be called 15bis. Again, this is for use in formal documents e.g. law texts.

Nigel.