The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Beretta

Drawing of Gardone Val Trompia, with a river, a stone bridge and buildings beneath wooded slopes.
Drawing: Gardone Val Trompia in the Val Trompia.

Origins

In 1526 Bartolomeo Beretta of Gardone supplied barrels to the Venice Arsenal.1 The Arsenal paid 296 ducats for 185 arquebus barrels.3 The record of payment, dated 3 October 1526, survives in the State Archive of Venice.4 The Beretta family still owns the business.5

In 1832 Beretta registered its official name, Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta.6, 7 After the River Mella flooded in 1850, Beretta rebuilt and established its present production site at Gardone Val Trompia.8 In 1996 the company established Beretta Holding.2

Factories and partners

Beretta’s Gardone Val Trompia site dates from the rebuilding after the 1850 flood.8 The town also houses Beretta’s atelier, whose work includes firearm assembly.9, 10

Beretta USA began manufacturing in Accokeek in 1977.11 On 15 April 2016 it opened the Gallatin manufacturing and engineering centre, and it moved M9 production there.12, 13 Beretta describes the A300 Ultima as made in the USA.14

Beretta Holding’s brands include Beretta, Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, Chapuis Armes and Holland & Holland.15 Within the group, Benelli makes and the 828 U at Urbino.16 Stoeger makes semi-automatic and pump guns at its Istanbul factory.17 On 20 March 2019 Chapuis announced Beretta Holding’s strategic majority stake in the company.18

Timeline

1526

Bartolomeo Beretta supplies 185 arquebus barrels to the Venice Arsenal for 296 ducats.1

1832

Beretta registers its official name.6

1850

Beretta rebuilds after the Mella flood and establishes its present production site.8

1933

Beretta introduces the SO1.19

20 December 1949

Beretta adopts the three-arrow emblem as its official logo.20

1955

Beretta presents the S55.21

1977

Beretta USA begins manufacturing in Accokeek, Maryland.11

1979

Beretta introduces the S680 series of .22

1996

Beretta establishes Beretta Holding.2

2003

Beretta introduces the Silver Pigeon IV.23

2009

Beretta launches the A400 Xplor Unico.24

October 2011

Beretta launches the DT11 internationally in Cyprus.25

By July 2013

The 486 Parallelo appears as a new model.26

15 April 2016

Beretta USA opens its manufacturing and engineering centre in Gallatin, Tennessee.12

2018

Beretta introduces the SL3 at IWA.27

Families and models

Beretta’s earlier over-and-under range included the S55, presented in 1955.21 The S680 series followed in 1979.22 The Silver Pigeon range includes the 686 Silver Pigeon I, 687 Silver Pigeon III and 687 Silver Pigeon V.31

The DT11 was launched internationally in October 2011.32 The 486 Parallelo, a side-by-side, was new by July 2013.26 The SL3, a hunting over-and-under, followed in 2018.27

The A303 is gas-operated and keeps the A302’s basic mechanics.33 The A400 Xplor Unico was launched in 2009 as a semi-automatic field gun with the Blink .24 Beretta USA announced the A300 Ultima on 25 June 2021.34

Reading the names and numbers

In Beretta’s names, 686 goes with Silver Pigeon I, and 687 with Silver Pigeon III and V.31 Beretta describes Silver Pigeon III as an evolution of I with a superior wood finish.35 Silver Pigeon V comes in Hunting and Sporting versions.31 The 2003 range also included Silver Pigeon II, and Silver Pigeon IV was new that year.23

The Onyx has polished black barrels and receiver.36 The 687 EELL Sporting is a with .37 The SO10 EELL is a with sideplates.38 Beretta uses DT to mark a detachable unit.39

Marks

Beretta’s emblem shows three arrows striking three circles.40 Gabriele D’Annunzio conceived its motto, ‘Dare in Brocca’, in 1923.41 On 20 December 1949 Beretta adopted the emblem as its official logo.20 Italian commonly appear on the receiver or frame and on the barrel; the year stamp gives the year of proof.42

Drawing of the action of an over-and-under shotgun.
Drawing: Detail of an over-and-under action.

Sources

  1. Our History. Beretta Holding. maker website
  2. Beretta 500 years: timeline carousel, holding. Beretta. maker website
  3. Our History, recorded-sale. Beretta Holding. maker website
  4. 500 Years in Business: Beretta’s Staying Power. American Rifleman; John Zent, 2026-10-03. magazine
  5. 500 Years in Business: Beretta’s Staying Power, family-ownership. American Rifleman; John Zent, 2026-10-03. magazine
  6. Sustainability Report 2021, registered-name-date. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  7. Beretta from 1526 to the present, registered-name. Beretta. maker website
  8. Sustainability Report 2025. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  9. SO10 EELL, atelier. Pietro Beretta. maker website
  10. SO10 EELL, firearm-assembly. Pietro Beretta. maker website
  11. Beretta U.S.A. Opens New Gallatin, Tennessee Facility, accokeek-manufacturing. Beretta U.S.A.; release distributed by Harrington Communications through PRWeb, 2016-04-15. maker website
  12. Beretta U.S.A. Opens New Gallatin, Tennessee Facility. Beretta U.S.A.; release distributed by Harrington Communications through PRWeb, 2016-04-15. maker website
  13. Beretta U.S.A. Opens New Gallatin, Tennessee Facility, production-transfer. Beretta U.S.A.; release distributed by Harrington Communications through PRWeb, 2016-04-15. maker website
  14. Beretta USA Launches New A300 Ultima Semi-Auto Shotgun, origin. Beretta USA; release carried by The Shooting Wire, 2021-06-25. maker website
  15. Iconic brands. Beretta Holding. maker website
  16. Benelli: always a step ahead. Beretta Holding. maker website
  17. Stoeger: Every day tough. Beretta Holding. maker website
  18. Communiqué de presse: Beretta Holding and Chapuis Armes. Chapuis Armes, 2019-03-20. maker website
  19. Beretta 500 years: timeline carousel, so1. Beretta. maker website
  20. Beretta company history — D’Annunzio and the emblem, official-logo. Beretta. maker website
  21. Sustainability Report 2021, s55. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  22. Sustainability Report 2021, 680-series. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  23. Beretta USA annual catalogue 2003. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2003. maker catalogue
  24. Beretta A400 Xplor Unico. American Rifleman, 2009-10-30. magazine
  25. Beretta DT11: ten years on. Gunshot; New Zealand Clay Target Association, 2021-09. magazine
  26. Beretta 486 Parallelo — dated model name. all4shooters; Diego Mastroberardino, 2013-07-02. magazine
  27. Beretta SL3 over-under at IWA 2018, introduction. all4shooters, 2018-03-13. magazine
  28. Sustainability Report 2025, production-site-continued. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  29. Sustainability Report 2025, factory-rebuilding-year. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  30. Sustainability Report 2025, place. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. maker website
  31. Beretta Firearms Catalog 2024. Beretta; PDF hosted by Beretta Czech distributor, 2024. maker catalogue
  32. Beretta DT11: ten years on, international-introduction. Gunshot; New Zealand Clay Target Association, 2021-09. magazine
  33. Beretta A303 instruction manual. Beretta; scan hosted by BerettaWeb. manual
  34. Beretta USA Launches New A300 Ultima Semi-Auto Shotgun. Beretta USA; release carried by The Shooting Wire, 2021-06-25. maker website
  35. Beretta Firearms Catalog 2024 — Silver Pigeon descriptions. Beretta; PDF hosted by Beretta Czech distributor, 2024. maker catalogue
  36. Beretta USA annual catalogue 2003, onyx-finish. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2003. maker catalogue
  37. Precious cargo: Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon. Australian Shooter; PDF hosted by Beretta Australia. magazine
  38. SO10 EELL. Pietro Beretta. maker website
  39. Beretta DT11 brochure, detachable-trigger. Beretta / GMK. maker catalogue
  40. Beretta from 1526 to the present, three-arrow-mark. Beretta. maker website
  41. Beretta company history — D’Annunzio and the emblem, motto-and-emblem. Beretta. maker website
  42. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue

Revised 2026-10-14