Samurai Edge (M92Fカスタムハンドガン M92F kasutamu handogan) is a series of customised Beretta 92Fs produced by Joseph Kendo on behalf of the Kendo Gun Shop in Raccoon City. The Samurai Edges were purpose-built for the Special Tactics and Rescue Service, and inspired later lines of modified Beretta 92s.
They first appeared in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis as they were not established as part of the lore in the original Resident Evil. The remake of the game later adjusted the story and gameplay to include them because of the retcon.
History
Designing
First commissioned in December 1996 as the "M92F S.T.A.R.S. Special",[1] the handguns were built at the request of the R.P.D. during the formation of the S.T.A.R.S. unit. After almost a year of experiments and trials, Police Chief Brian Irons approved the concept in Feburary of 1998. The prototypes were tested by select S.T.A.R.S. members, namely Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Barry Burton and Albert Wesker. After receiving a few further adjustments, Robert Kendo sent a fax to the S.T.A.R.S office notifying them that the models had been completed and that Joe had dubbed them as the "Samurai Edge".[2] He derived the name from how the wide, black angled slide and white rounded barrel resembles a katakana.[3] They were first issued in June.
Use
On the 23rd & 24th of July 1998, in the events leading up to and during the Mansion Incident, S.T.A.R.S Bravo and Alpha brought their Samurai Edge weapons with them when they were dispatched respectively. None of the members who died on the mission had their weapons salvaged, with Chris presumably losing his on his way to the Spencer Mansion.
Later, on September 27th during the Raccoon City outbreak, Jill brought her Samurai Edge with her as she escaped the city. After the destruction of Raccoon City, most of the Samurai Edges were presumably lost or destroyed. With the remaining S.T.A.R.S. team disbanded, these uniquely modified weapons would have no longer been utilized by any paramilitary group.
Wesker points the Samurai Edge at Chris.
In 2009, during the Kijuju Autonomous Zone Incident, Wesker was seen still using his own variant. He had saved it so that he could kill his old comrade, Chris, who recognized the gun when aimed upon by it and gave Wesker an angry stare, remembering his treachery.[4] Wesker lost his Samurai Edge in the cargo bay of his bomber and it is presumed that he did not retrieve it before the bomber crashed into the volcano, so therefore it is assumed to be lost or destroyed.
The current locations of Jill's and Rebecca's models are unknown, as they were both known not to have lost their variants.
Legacy
During the wake of the 2004 Abduction of the President's Daughter, Leon Kennedy requested Joe Kendo to make a customized handgun for him, in which Joe offered to build an entirely new gun from scratch. When Leon came to pick it up, Joe described the gun as "absolutely a new Samurai Edge" and Leon named it "Silver Ghost".[5]
After the formation of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, Quint Cetcham had created a new weapon for Jill called the "Samurai Edge A1 Jill Valentine Model" which was based on her old Samurai Edge but was built upon the more modern M9A1 frame instead of the M92F. After hearing about his work, Barry Burton asked for a new weapon as well, which Quint crafted and dubbed the "Samurai Edge Barry Burton Model Ver. II".
Throughout 2012, while Red Umbrella were conducting experiments and testing equipment, they equipped some of their subjects with replicas of both the regular Samurai Edge and Wesker's variant.[note 1]
Before his death, Albert Wesker had used the namesake and aesthetics of the old weapon to design the "Samurai Edge - AW Model-01" handgun, a anti-BOW weapon. The design was further developed by Blue Umbrella and eventually used in 2017 during the Dulvey incident by Chris Redfield and briefly by Ethan Winters.
Design and variations
The Samurai Edge was built under a very strict set of requirements:
- As the regular R.P.D.'s standard issue Beretta 92F, it had to be chambered for the same 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge.
- It had to have a magazine capacity of at least 15 rounds.
- It had to have fixed sights and dotted posts.
- It had to be capable of producing at least a 2-inch grouping within 25 yards, with no variation after 3,000 rounds.
- It had to be capable of double-action fire.
- It had to be ambidextrous.
- When unloaded, its weight could not exceed 35 ounces.
The final version of the Samurai Edge hosted a wide range of features not present on the standard 92F. The wraparound grip panels were enlarged and extended below the magazine foot, and consisted of wood with synthetic recoil-absorbing inserts on the side panels and backstrap. This grip design also required replacing the hammer spring cap (which normally would have a lanyard ring on the end). Further modifications include a heavier Brigadier slide (allowing it to withstand the use of higher pressure rounds), target sights, an extended slide catch, and a stainless steel barrel. Kendo also emblazoned each handgun with the S.T.A.R.S. logo, placed upon the left side of the slide below the ejection port and on a medallion in the center of each grip panel.
Members of S.T.A.R.S. added further customizations based on their personal preferences and their time in S.T.A.R.S.[6]
Chris Model
Tokyo Marui Chris model
Chris' Samurai Edge had been upgraded with a blued finish slide and a silver trigger. In addition, minor internal modifications were done to make it a competition-capable weapon, such as a medium-weight slide and adjusted trigger pull.
Jill Model
Jill's Samurai Edge has been upgraded with a standard sized slide-stop lever and the logo on the grip is a much brighter shade of blue.
Tokyo Marui Jill model
Barry Model
Tokyo Marui Barry model
Barry Burton had a heavily customized version of the "Samurai Edge." It fired .40 S&W caliber bullets and featured a longer barrel and compensator for increased accuracy and stability. This Samurai Edge is not based on a 92FS like the other versions of the weapon, but rather a 96F.
Wesker Model
Albert Wesker's custom Samurai Edge
Albert Wesker's weapon is the most heavily modified Samurai Edge. Wesker's Samurai Edge has the lower frame and takedown lever replaced with Inox (stainless steel) parts, in addition to a skeleton hammer and Brigadier sights. Interestingly, Wesker is seen using this design throughout both the remake and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, with the exception to the opening cutscene to "The Mansion Incident" and during the player's first encounter with Sergei Vladimir. Wesker's handgun also features either an integrated Vertec style accessory rail on the bottom of the frame, as well as a beavertail horn—a feature that was introduced on the 92 platform (during the
design stages of the 92 Combat), but never put into production.
The Samurai Edge manual also mentions that "a large removable silencer [which mutes sound sufficiently] can be mounted directly to the frame in a one-touch motion. The silencer type installs directly into the barrel, but accuracy doesn't worsen because a brake is not used on shorter recoil." Wesker used this feature in Dark Legacy (Silenced Handgun).
In Resident Evil 5, Wesker's Samurai Edge is seen with a Laser Aiming Module (LAM) unit attached to the frame. Wesker's Samurai Edge is also seen in cutscenes as he points the gun to Chris.
Rebecca Model
Rebecca's Samurai Edge in RE0.
Modified gun.
Rebecca Chambers' Samurai Edge is unmodified past the original Kendo design. This is probably due to her having been in S.T.A.R.S. for less time than her teammates.[note 2]
Other S.T.A.R.S. Members
It is presumed that the rest of the S.T.A.R.S. members also used unmodified Samurai Edges. During Bravo team's search in the Raccoon City forest they all had lights attached to the frame of their Samurai Edges where as Alpha Team did not use those attachments.[7][8] Albert Wesker instead used handheld flashlight even though his Samurai Edge is one of the two in the series that has a rail.
Gameplay
In many of the Resident Evil games, the Samurai Edge is a weapon that players can use.
In Resident Evil 5, Wesker sometimes uses it during his fight with Chris and Sheva on the takeoff platform.[note 3]
Other appearances
The only mention or use of the Samurai Edge in the Resident Evil films is in the most recent film, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. In the final climax of the film, Wesker is seen using his iconic gun as he holds Claire Redfield hostage, and although it is only shown for a few seconds at a time it is used a lot in the final moments of the film and is handled by multiple characters such as Claire Redfield and Dr. Alexander Isaacs.
Placeholder Models
During the first trailer released for Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Claire and Leon can be seen wielding Samurai Edges.
Also, during Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles the Samurai Edges used by Chris, Jill, Rebecca, Wesker and Richard are incorrectly modeled as standard 92FS handguns with Samurai Edge textures. This is incorrect, as the Samurai Edge should feature the heavier Brigadier slide. The slides also feature forward serrations in this game, as well as a slight hump where the brigadier's hump is located, only not as pronounced.
During the E3 demo of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Leon is seen holding a Samurai Edge, However, he uses a Desert Eagle in the final version of the game.
Lost Planet 2
When Albert Wesker was initially announced as a bonus character in Lost Planet 2, his Samurai Edge was also announced as a weapon to go with him. However, the gun was eventually removed from the final game. The Revolvers from the same game appear to be based on Barry's model.
Marvel vs. Capcom 3/Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Albert Wesker uses his Samurai Edge as an attack in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and it's update: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Like Wesker himself, its model is based off its appearance in Resident Evil 5.
Merchandise
- Tokyo Marui, an airsoft company, produces a licensed "BioHazard" line based on Resident Evil that included various Samurai Edges that come with manuals that include in-universe styled information about the weapon. They also have published various articles that also have Samurai Edges as the subject. The general grip design of their Samurai Edges has also been widely copied by other airsoft manufacturers, most notably by HFC for their "M190" pistol series.
- Another airsoft company, CYMA, also released several Samurai Edge airsoft replicas. One is a full sized, spring powered handgun that includes a plethora of accessories (many of which were never featured in Resident Evil), while the other is a "Super Deformed" version. Both are of notoriously poor quality.
- A new company (according to most online retailers, HK; others, WE) made full-metal Samurai Edge replicas of good quality and lower cost than Tokyo Marui's offerings. They have all the correct markings; with slight difference in the blue color in the logo on the grip panels. A silver-slide version is available as well as the normal unmodified Samurai Edge. Externally, the metallic slide (assumed to be aluminum until proven to be zinc alloy) and frame makes them superior to the Tokyo Marui standard Samurai Edge. They are also 100% compatible with Tokyo Marui parts, making it possible to install new parts to replicate the custom versions of Samurai Edge, or simply make the gun more reliable.
- Wesker's Samurai Edge with the Laser Aiming Module accessory is on the Samurai Edge that comes with Hot Toys' 12-inch figure release of Wesker.
Gallery
Gameplay
Other media
Merchandise
Sources
- notes
- ↑ It is not explicitly stated they did, this is only seen during the The Vanished and the New & Where it All Began stages and implied the weapon is given during the latter, also supported by to heavy use of gameplay & story integration.
- ↑ However, as only seen during gameplay, it is possible for the player to modify Rebecca's Samurai Edge with handgun parts.
- ↑ Wesker also uses his variant in the Lost in Nightmares scenario, but only during gameplay and not during cutscenes.
- references
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