Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta [ˈfabbrika ˈdarmi ˈpjɛtro beˈretta] is an Italian-based
multinational firearms 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.
Founded in the 1500s, Beretta is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world.
Their original products were arquebus barrels.
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 Trompia was paid 296 ducats for 185 arquebus barrels by the Arsenal of Venice.
The bills of sale for the order of those barrels are in the firm's archive.
In 1918, the Beretta Model 1918 was the second submachine gun the Italian army fielded.
Beretta manufactured rifles and pistols for the Italian military until the 1943 Armistice
between Italy and the Allied forces during World War II.
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 quality of the exterior finish of the weapons diminished and 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-boat in 1942.
After World War II, Beretta was actively involved in repairing the American M1 Garands given
to Italy by the U.S. Beretta modified the M1 into the Beretta BM-59 rifle, which is
similar to the M14 battle rifle; armourers consider the BM-59 rifle to be superior to
the M14 rifle in some ways, because it is more accurate under certain conditions.
After the war, Beretta continued to develop firearms for the Italian Army and police,
as well as the civilian market.
In the 1980s, Beretta enjoyed a renewal of popularity in North America after its Beretta
92 pistol was selected as the service handgun for the United States Army under the designation
of "M9 pistol".
In the seventies, Beretta also started a manufacturing plant in São Paulo, Brazil.
A contract between Beretta and the Brazilian government was signed, under which Beretta
produced Beretta 92s for the Brazilian Army until 1980.
Later this plant was sold to Taurus who continues to manufacture the Beretta 92 under the name
of PT92 using the same tools and labour which Beretta used without the need for a license
from Beretta since their design is based on the original Beretta 92.
Beretta acquired several domestic competitors and some foreign companies in the late eighties.
Overview Today, the company is owned and is run by
Ugo Gussalli Beretta 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; Ugo married
into the Beretta family and adopted the last name Beretta.
His sons are now direct descendents through their mother's side of the family.
Beretta is known for its broad range of firearms: side-by-side shotguns, over-and-under shotguns,
hunting rifles, express rifles, 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, Benelli, Franchi, SAKO,
Stoeger, Tikka, Uberti, and the Burris Optics company.
The model Beretta 92FS is the primary side arm of the United States Army, Marine Corps
and Air Force, designated the M9 pistol.
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.
Subsidiaries Beretta USA was founded in 1977 and based
in Accokeek, Maryland which manufactures military, police, and civilian pistols.
In May 2013 the company announced that, despite disagreements with the State of Maryland over
recently enacted changes to MD gun control laws, it would not relocate its Accokeek facility.
The facility employs around 400 workers.
In January 2014 Beretta announced the construction of a design and production facility in Gallatin,
Tennessee to expand its US operations.
The US$ 45 million facility is scheduled to be completed in 2014 and will employ another
300 workers.
CEO of Beretta Ugo Beretta personally visited the site and stated regarding the new facility,
"In return for our investment in jobs, facilities, and assistance to the local economy, we ask
for respect and a supportive business climate.
We deserve such respect.
We make the standard sidearm for the U.S. armed forces.
We also make firearms that police and consumers use to save their lives and the lives of others."
On July 22, 2014, in a reversal of their 2013 decision to keep some operations in Accokeek,
Beretta announced that it would move all manufacturing operations from Maryland to the new Gallatin
facility, which was originally expected to manufacture machinery and new products only.
Beretta stated that the decision was in response to further restrictions on firearms manufacturing
being considered by the Maryland Legislature.
Other divisions include: A. Uberti, Srl.
Uberti USA
Benelli Armi S.p.A.
Benelli USA
Luigi Franchi S.p.A.
SAKO Stoeger Industries
Product lines Semi-automatic pistols
Beretta M1915, M1919 and M1923 Beretta 418
Beretta M951 Beretta M 1934 / Beretta M 1935
Beretta M 1951 Beretta M-100
Beretta 70 series Beretta 76
Beretta Cheetah Beretta 81
Beretta 84 Beretta 85
Beretta 86 Beretta 87
Beretta 89
Beretta 8000 Beretta 8000 Cougar
Beretta 8045 Cougar Beretta Cougar Inox
Beretta Mini Cougar
Beretta 90 Beretta 9000
Beretta 9000S
Beretta 92 Beretta 90two
Beretta 92F Beretta 92F/FS
Beretta 92FS Inox Beretta 92FS Compact
Beretta 92FS Centurion Beretta 92FS Brigadier
Beretta 92FS Brigadier Inox
Beretta 92G Elite 1A Beretta 92G Elite II
Beretta 92S Beretta 92SB
Beretta 92SB-C
Beretta 92A1 M9 pistol
Beretta 96 Beretta 96A1
Beretta Px4 Storm Beretta Px4 Storm Compact
Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact
Beretta U22 Neos Beretta 418
Beretta 21 Bobcat Beretta 21A Bobcat
Beretta 3032 Tomcat Beretta 950 Jetfire
Beretta Nano Beretta Pico
Revolvers Beretta Stampede
Beretta Laramie Shotguns
Beretta 1201FP Beretta DT-10
Beretta Silver Pigeon Beretta AL391 Urika and Teknys
Beretta SO4, SO5 and SO6 Beretta Xtrema
Beretta Xtrema 2 Beretta Model A series
Beretta UGB25 Xcel Beretta Folder
Beretta Urika Beretta Urika 2
Beretta RS 202-M2 Beretta LTLX7000
Beretta Extrema2 Beretta Tx4
Beretta Tx4 Storm
Beretta A400 Beretta A400 Xcel
Beretta A400 Xtreme Unico Beretta A400 Xplor Action
Beretta A 300 Beretta LTLX7000
Beretta 470 Silver Hawk Beretta 682
Rifles and carbines Beretta BM-59
Beretta Cx4 Storm Beretta 501
Beretta Rx4 Storm Assault rifles
Beretta AR70/90 Beretta AS70/90
Beretta ARX 160 Beretta AR-70/223
Submachine guns Beretta Model 1918
Beretta Model 38 Beretta Model 38A
Beretta Model 38/42 Beretta Model 38/44
Beretta Model 3 – a postwar modification of the 38/42
Beretta M12 series Beretta Mx4 Storm
Machine Pistols Beretta 93R
Beretta 93R "Auto 9"
Launchers Beretta GLX-160
See also
List of modern armament manufacturers Notes
External links Official website
Beretta Defence Beretta USA
Beretta Australia Beretta Factory Tour - Efficiency, Tradition,
& Craftsmanship At Beretta's Plant In Italy on YouTube