Beretta

Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, known simply as Beretta, is an Italian company that makes firearms. It is based in Gardone Val Trompia, in the province of Brescia, and is considered one of the oldest family businesses in the world: it is a member of the Hénokiens, the association of family companies with at least two hundred years of history.

Since 1526

The founding date is based on a receipt from 1526, kept in the company archives: a payment from the Republic of Venice to the barrel maker Bartolomeo Beretta for a supply of arquebus barrels. Until the 17th century the Berettas were mainly arms merchants; then they bought their first forges in Gardone. The factory supplied the Republic of Venice and, after its fall, Napoleon's army.

In 1903 the company passed to Pietro Beretta, who renovated the factory and started large-scale production of hunting guns. After his death in 1957 his sons Giuseppe and Carlo continued its modernisation. Since 1995 the company has been part of the Beretta Holding group.

The 92 pistol

Its best-known product is the 92 semi-automatic pistol. In the 92FS version it has been the service weapon of the Italian armed forces and police since 1975; as the M9 it was the US Army's sidearm from 1985 to 2017, when it was replaced by a SIG Sauer model.

Sources

• Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta – Wikipedia
• Beretta – sito ufficiale