Beretta

About

Beretta Firearms Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta, commonly known as just Beretta, is the oldest and longest-operating firearms manufacturer globally. Europe has an incredibly rich history in the realm of firearms, probably born out of necessity from the sheer volume of wars that European nations have waged, whether from global conquest (or global response) or regional foe. A Storied and Long Tradition Beretta has an attribute that no other firearm company in the world can equal: longevity. Having first come into existence in the 16th century, Beretta has been manufacturing firearms or firearm components for around 500 years. No, that is not a misprint; Beretta has been at it for five centuries. In the 1500s, their inaugural products were barrels for percussion rifles used by the Italian army in the 16th century. Beretta has provided arms in one form or another for all European wars since the 17th century. The Beretta company's great part is that it had remained in the same family's ownership ever since its inception centuries ago. Beretta not only has a strong history but also has remained at the edge of technological advancements. In 1918, Beretta designed and manufactured the Model 1918, one of the first submachine guns ever produced. After World War II, Beretta was involved in a project which would arm the Italian army with the BM-59 battle rifle. If it looked familiar, it was expected; the BM-59 was an adaptation of the M1 Garand battle rifle, of which a number were given to post-war Italy. In appearance, the BM-59 very closely resembled the M14 and was functionally very similar as well. They were re-chambered in the NATO standard 7.62x51mm, with a 20-round capacity detachable box magazine and other accessories. Beretta's Big Break In the early 1980s, the U.S. military was looking for a replacement standard sidearm for the venerable Colt M1911 , which has been the standard sidearm for seven decades. The 1911 platform is still a cult-favorite pistol, but it was ge