Beretta firearms accepted its first customer order on 3 October, 1526 by
Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta of Gardone, Italy. This makes Beretta the oldest
firearms manufacturer in the world.
Beretta is owned by Beretta Holding S.p.A., which also owns Benelli,
Franchi, Stoeger, Sako, Tikka, and Uberti Aldo & Company (a.k.a. Cimarron
Arms).
Articles on Beretta Pistols
The Beretta 87 Target is a heckuva gun. It's roughly twice the price of a
comparably equipped Neos, the "plastic" Beretta .22, but I think it's
more than twice the gun. Far more accurate, more "shootable" in many
respects, and with vastly more of the old-world artistry in metal that has made
q-u-a-l-i-t-y an optional spelling for B-e-r-e-t-t-a. Heck, I bought it, didn't
I?
Taking this hint, Beretta recently joined the ranks of major gun
manufacturers who offer a simple target pistol chambered for the .22 LR, ideal
for beginners and actually, even experts. The U-22 Neos is the inspired result
of combining top-notch Beretta reliability with the artistic and practical
talent of the Italian Giuguiro design firm. And, you can see it in the
compelling, out-of-the-ordinary design of this pistol.
Beretta has built steel frame pistols before. Beretta has built single
action semiautomatic pistols before. Beretta has built fancy guns before, some
of them strikingly beautiful. All of these concepts come together in their
latest, the Billennium.
If someone had told me 10 years ago that I would be carrying a Beretta M92
on a daily basis, I would have chuckled. Nevertheless, the good qualities of
the Beretta, both before and after custom work, are not easily dismissed. As a
fighting handgun, the Beretta makes the grade. With a few improvements from
Accurate Plating and Weaponry, it is a superb choice.
The racy, new Model 9000 is just the latest in a long line of respectable
mid-caliber pistols from the biggest name in Italy. When a cartridge becomes
popular, big gun companies don't just chamber one handgun for it.
Articles on Beretta Shotguns
There are some real pluses to being a gunmaking dynasty. Beretta now owns,
among other companies, Benelli, Franchi and Stoeger and has taken the
remarkable step of spreading Benelli's inertia drive technology across the
other brand lines.
Beretta Firearms Patents
Beretta Firearms Manuals
Beretta Pistol Manuals
Beretta Revolver Manuals
Beretta Shotgun Manuals
Beretta Carbine Manuals