Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is an
ItalianItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
firearmA firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s manufacturer. Their firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and military purposes. It is also known for manufacturing shooting clothes and accessories. Beretta is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world.
History
Beretta has been owned by the same family for some five hundred years. The Beretta company was established in 1526, when gunsmith Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta of
Gardone Val TrompiaGardone Val Trompia is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It is bounded by other communes of Marcheno and Sarezzo. It is located in the Trompia valley. It is well-known for being the base of the major small arms manufacturers FAMARS and Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta....
(
BresciaBrescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
,
LombardyLombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Italy) was paid 296
ducatThe ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s for 185
arquebusThe arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
barrels by the
Arsenal of VeniceThe Venetian Arsenal was a complex of state-owned shipyards and armories clustered together in Venice in northern Italy. It was responsible for the bulk of Venice's naval power during the middle part of the second millennium AD...
. The bills of sale for the order of those firearms are in the firm's archives.
In 1918, the
Beretta Model 1918The Beretta Model 1918 was a submachine gun that entered service in 1918 with the Italian armed forces and came with an overhead inserted magazine. Another variant was the Model 1918/30 with the magazine inserted underneath and came with a bayonet...
was the second
submachine gunA submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
the Italian army fielded. Beretta manufactured
rifleA rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s and
pistolWhen distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
s for the Italian military until the
1943 Armistice between Italy and the Allied forcesThe Armistice with Italy was an armistice signed on September 3 and publicly declared on September 8, 1943, during World War II, between Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were then occupying the southern end of the country, entailing the capitulation of Italy...
during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With the Wehrmacht's control of northern Italy, the Germans seized Beretta and continued producing arms until the 1945 German surrender in Italy. In that time, the exterior finish of the weapons was much inferior to both the pre-war and mid-war weapons, but their operation remained excellent. The last shipment of Type I rifles left Venice for Japan in a
U-boatU-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
in 1942.
After World War II, Beretta was actively involved in repairing the American
M1 GarandThe M1 Garand , was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S...
s given to Italy by the U.S. Beretta modified the M1 into the Beretta BM-59 rifle, which is similar to the
M14The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S...
battle rifleA battle rifle is a military service rifle that fires a full power rifle cartridge, such as 7.62x51mm NATO. While the designation of battle rifle is usually given to post-World War II select fire infantry rifles such as the H&K G3, the FN FAL or the M14, this term can also apply to older military...
; armourers consider the BM-59 rifle to be superior, in some ways, to the M14 rifle, because it is more accurate under certain conditions.
After the war, Beretta continued to develop firearms for Italian army and police and for civilian market.
In the eighties, Beretta enjoyed a renewal of popularity in North America after its
Beretta 92The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
pistol was selected as service handgun for the
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
under the designation "
M9 pistolThe Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS....
".
Beretta acquired several domestic competitors (notably
BenelliBenelli Armi SpA is an Italian firearm manufacturer founded in 1967, located in Urbino, Italy, best known for high quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Particularly famous is the Benelli M3 12 gauge, used extensively by American SWAT teams...
and
FranchiLuigi Franchi S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of firearms, most notably various shotguns.Notable Franchi products include the military SPAS-12 and SPAS-15 and the sporting-type long-recoil action AL-48. Franchi are renowned for their semi-automatic shotguns and are a division of Benelli...
) and some foreign companies (notably in
FinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) in the late eighties.
Overview
Today, the company is owned and is run by Ugo Gussalli Beretta (a direct descendant of Bartolomeo) and his sons, Franco and Pietro. (The traditional father-to-son Beretta dynasty was interrupted when Ugo Gussalli Beretta assumed the firm's control; uncles Carlo and Giuseppe Beretta were childless; Carlo adopted Ugo, son of sister Giuseppina Gussalli, and named him a Beretta.)
Beretta is known for its broad range of fire arms: side-by-side shotguns, over-and-under shotguns, hunting rifles,
express rifleThe term express was first applied to hunting rifles and ammunition beginning in the middle 19th century, to indicate a rifle or ammunition capable of higher than typical velocities. The early express cartridges used a heavy charge of black powder to propel a lightweight, often hollow point...
s, assault rifles, submachine guns, lever and bolt-action rifles, single and double action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The parent company; Beretta Holding, also owns Beretta USA,
BenelliBenelli Armi SpA is an Italian firearm manufacturer founded in 1967, located in Urbino, Italy, best known for high quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Particularly famous is the Benelli M3 12 gauge, used extensively by American SWAT teams...
,
FranchiLuigi Franchi S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of firearms, most notably various shotguns.Notable Franchi products include the military SPAS-12 and SPAS-15 and the sporting-type long-recoil action AL-48. Franchi are renowned for their semi-automatic shotguns and are a division of Benelli...
,
SAKOSAKO, Limited is a Finnish firearm manufacturer located in Riihimäki....
,
StoegerStoeger Industries is a manufacturer and importer of firearms into the United States.The company's Stoeger Publishing division also publishes books and videos about firearms, hunting and fishing....
,
TikkaTikka may refer to:* Tikka , a type of Indian food * Tikka , a mark made on the forehead by Hindu Indians...
,
UbertiA. Uberti, Srl. is an Italian manufacturer of replica American firearms.Uberti produces high quality replicas of American percussion revolvers, cartridge revolvers, single-shot, and lever-action rifles....
, and the Burris Optics company.
The model Beretta 92FS is the primary
side armA side arm is a weapon, usually a pistol but can be a dagger, as used in pre-modern times, which is worn on the body in a holster to permit immediate access and use. A side arm is typically required equipment for military personnel and sometimes carried by law enforcement personnel...
of the
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
,
Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, and
Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, designated the
M9 pistolThe Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS....
. In 1985, Beretta was chosen after a controversial competition to produce the M9, winning a contract for 500,000 pistols. A condition of the original agreement was domestic fabrication of the M9. The Beretta USA factory, in
Accokeek, MarylandAccokeek is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located about 8.5 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. The population was 7,349 at the 2000 census. It is home to Piscataway Park....
, manufactures military, police, and civilian pistols.
Semi-automatic pistols
- Beretta M1915
- Beretta M 1934 / Beretta M 1935
- Beretta M 1951
The M 1951 is a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, developed during the late 1940s and early 1950s by Pietro Beretta S.p.A. of Italy. The pistol was produced strictly for military use and was introduced into service with the Italian Army and security forces as the Modello 1951 , replacing the 9 mm...
- Beretta M-100
- Beretta 70 series (Jaguar)
- Beretta Cheetah
- Beretta 8000 Cougar
The Beretta 8000 series pistols are manufactured by Beretta of Italy.They first appeared on the market in 1994 as a more compact alternative to the full-sized Beretta 92 service pistol in order to offer a compromise between concealability, ease of carry, accuracy and firepower.It was originally...
- Beretta 90
- Beretta 9000
- Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
- Beretta 90two
- M9 pistol
The Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS....
- Beretta 93R
The Beretta Model 93R is a selective-fire machine pistol, designed and manufactured by the Italian Beretta company in the 1970s for police and military use, that is derived from their semi-automatic Model 92...
- Beretta 96A1
- Beretta Px4 Storm
The Beretta Px4 Storm is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Beretta of Italy and intended for personal defense and law enforcement use. The Px4 uses the same short-recoil, rotating barrel lock as the Beretta 8000 Models and uses the same operating system as the M9/92/96 series, while being...
- Beretta U22 Neos
thumb|right|Firing the U22 Neos 6.0 InoxThe U22 Neos is a .22 LR semi-automatic, single-action-only pistol made in the USA or Italy by Beretta. The barrel is available in 4.5", 6", and 7.5" lengths. A rail on top of the barrel telescopes back over the bolt and incorporates adjustable sights and a...
- Beretta 418
The Beretta M418 is a 6.35 mm easily concealed Italian "pocket pistol". The earliest examples were made between 1919 and 1922. There are several versions, including the 1920 , 1926, 1926 - 31 , 1934, 318, and 418 models....
- Beretta 21 Bobcat
The Beretta 21A Bobcat is a small pocket-sized semi-automatic pistol designed by Beretta in Italy. Production began in late 1984, solely in the Beretta U.S.A. facility in Accokeek, Maryland. It is a further development of the Beretta Model 20, whose production ended in 1985.-Design:The Beretta 21A...
- Beretta 3032 Tomcat
The Beretta 3032 Tomcat and Beretta 3032 Tomcat Inox are semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta. They are chambered in .32 ACP and are small pistols, designed for concealed-carry and use as backup weapons.-History:...
- Beretta 950 Jetfire
The Beretta 950 Jetfire is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by Beretta since 1952. It builds on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols manufactured by Beretta for self-defense...
- Beretta Nano
The Beretta BU-9 Nano is a semi-automatic, striker fired, micro compact pistol line manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The initial design was created for a .40 S&W round but the initial release is chambered in 9mm. It will be available October 2011. -Design:...
Shotguns
- Beretta 1201FP
The Beretta 1201 FP is a semi-automatic shotgun, developed in the late 1980s or early 1990s by the Italian arms manufacturing company Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta. It was an upgrade to the preceding model, the Beretta 1200...
- Beretta DT-10
The Beretta DT10 is an over and under shotgun. It is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy. It is one of the few Beretta shotguns that has a trigger unit that is detachable in the field, DT standing for detachable trigger...
- Beretta Silver Pigeon
The Beretta Silver Pigeon is a double-barreled shotgun. It is an "over and under" gun, with one barrel above the other. It is most often used for hunting birds and for clay target games such as trap and skeet...
- Beretta AL391 Urika and Teknys
The Beretta AL391 is a semi-automatic shotgun. It is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy....
- Beretta SO4, SO5 and SO6
- Beretta Xtrema
- Beretta Xtrema 2
The Beretta AL391-Xtrema2 is a semi-automatic shotgun developed and produced by Italian firearm manufacturer Beretta. It is currently used by hunters and target shooters, mainly in the United States. The shotgun is commonly referred to simply as the Xtrema2...
- Beretta Model A series
- Beretta UGB25 Xcel
- Beretta Urika
- Beretta Urika 2
- Beretta RS 202-M2
- Beretta LTLX7000
- Beretta Extrema2
- Beretta Tx4
- Beretta A400
- Beretta A 300
Rifles and carbines
- Beretta BM-59
- Beretta Cx4 Storm
The Beretta Cx4 Storm is a pistol-caliber carbine aimed at the sporting, personal defense and law enforcement markets. Seven different models accept full-size Beretta magazines from the 92/96, Cougar, and Px4 series pistols in 9x21 IMI , 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.The Beretta Cx4 Storm...
- Beretta Rx4 Storm
The Beretta Rx4 is a rifle developed and manufactured by the Beretta Holding of Italy.-Details:The action is a Gas-operated, rotating bolt, using the Auto-Regulated Gas-Operated system patented by Benelli. The rifle uses STANAG magazines and can feature either a fixed stock or an adjustable stock...
- Beretta 501 (sporting rifle)
Submachine guns
- Beretta Model 1918
The Beretta Model 1918 was a submachine gun that entered service in 1918 with the Italian armed forces and came with an overhead inserted magazine. Another variant was the Model 1918/30 with the magazine inserted underneath and came with a bayonet...
- Beretta Model 38
- Beretta Model 3
The Beretta Model 3 was an Italian submachine gun produced from 1956 to 1959. It was essentially the World War II-era Beretta 38/42 redesigned for more efficient production. The wooden stock of the 38/42 was replaced with a steel folding stock...
– a postwar modification of the 38/42
- Beretta M12 series
Subsidiaries
- Benelli Armi S.p.A.
Benelli Armi SpA is an Italian firearm manufacturer founded in 1967, located in Urbino, Italy, best known for high quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Particularly famous is the Benelli M3 12 gauge, used extensively by American SWAT teams...
- Luigi Franchi S.p.A.
- SAKO
SAKO, Limited is a Finnish firearm manufacturer located in Riihimäki....
- Stoeger Industries
Stoeger Industries is a manufacturer and importer of firearms into the United States.The company's Stoeger Publishing division also publishes books and videos about firearms, hunting and fishing....
External links