A Look Back: Beretta, Beretta 92 and Its 500-Year-Old Tradition

Most well-known American gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Remington and Colt were established around 150 years ago. Beretta surpasses them by three centuries. Its first recorded contract occurred on October 3, 1526, when master gunmaker Bartolomeo Beretta agreed to produce and sell 185 arquebus barrels to the Republic of Venice. Despite revolutions, wars, economic turmoil and the revolutionary changes firearms experienced through the past 500 years, Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta has survived and remains the oldest gun manufacturer in the world.

From early arquebus barrels to modern semi-automatic pistols, Beretta’s legacy has been shaped by service, reliability and adaptation. That long tradition culminated in one of the most recognizable military sidearms of the modern era — the Beretta service pistol, known to generations of American service members as the Beretta M9 and to civilians as the Beretta 92FS.

The First Four Centuries of Beretta

The Berrettas, like the other craftsmen families in Val Trompia located in northern Italy, relied on the iron ores to forge gun barrels. During the 16th century, Bartolomeo Beretta produced arquebuses for the now-defunct Republic of Venice. The family surpassed the other barrel masters in the region due to their superior and innovative products. By the end of the 17th century, the Berettas were listed second in barrel production among the 33 other master barrel makers in Gardone. They manufactured more than 10 percent of the barrels produced in 1698. Even with economic decline in the region and French conquest in the latter part of the 18th century, Beretta avoided extinction due to its stellar reputation for producing the finest quality products.

Pietro Antonio Beretta, the 10th Beretta leading the company, brought it into the modern age during the early 19th century. He established relationships and connections with importers, wholesalers and retailers throughout Italy. In 1832, he officially adopted the name Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta for the firm. His eldest son, Giuseppe Antonio Beretta, pushed to make the company self-sufficient by completing the production of the guns from start to finish in-house, rather than relying on outside suppliers. He believed that only by improving and extending the manufacturing and utilizing the best and most recent technology would Beretta be able to offer the finest products to its customers.

The 20th Century

Giuseppe Antonio Beretta’s eldest son, Pietro Beretta, propelled the company to even greater levels during his 54 years as president. He took over the company when his father died in 1903. Ugo Gussali Beretta recalled that his grandfather “was the person who took the talents from the artisan side and made the company into the large-scale operation that it became on the industrial side.” He began to modernize Beretta’s manufacturing methods and expand its industrial capacity and facilities. For instance, he constructed a hydroelectric plant on the Mella River so that it could rely on its own source of energy. With inventor and gun designer Tullio Marengoni, he produced some of the most well-known shotguns (for hunting, sport and self-defense), pistols and submachine guns in Beretta’s history.

Beretta’s long tradition of supplying military arms in times of war continued during the First and Second World Wars. By 1918, Beretta was producing 4,200 of its Model 1915 9mm automatic pistols per month. The same year, Beretta manufactured a semi-auto machine gun, known as the Model 1918 automatic carbine. At the start of the Second World War, Beretta produced the Model 1934 automatic pistol and the MAB38A automatic rifle for the Italian Army. When German SS troops occupied the Beretta plant, they placed Pietro under arrest, but Italian partisans rescued him. The company managed to recover in the postwar years by using machinery that had been hidden away to resume shotgun production.

This long-standing relationship with military institutions established Beretta’s reputation as a company capable of producing durable, reliable firearms at scale — a reputation that would later play a critical role in U.S. military adoption.

Beretta M9

When Pietro passed away at the age of 87 in 1957, his sons Pier Giuseppe and Carlo assumed control of the company. The brothers paid special attention to the production of civilian and military small arms and focused their marketing efforts on international customers. While Giuseppe believed the U.S. market was unique and difficult, he felt it was ripe for Beretta. He personally tested some hunting shotguns intended only for the American market. His son, Ugo Gussalli Beretta, was vital in establishing Beretta USA in 1977 and for obtaining the U.S. Army’s M9 contract.

In 1975, Beretta introduced its highly successful Beretta Model 92 based on the improved version of the Model 1951. It included a double-action trigger, staggered-column magazine, manual safety release and other enhancements. As militaries around the world began transitioning from single-action pistols, the Beretta 92 quickly gained attention.

During the 1980s, the U.S. government awarded Beretta a contract to produce 400,000 9mm 92 SB-Fs (M9s) to replace the Army’s aging .45 Colt Model 1911. The Colt had been in service as the U.S. Army’s official sidearm since 1911, but Army officials recognized the 92’s quality and superiority as a handgun. More than 2 million Beretta Model 92s have been produced since the mid-1970s.

Why the U.S. Military Chose the Beretta M9

The adoption of the Beretta M9 was not simply a matter of capacity or modernization. Army officials recognized the Beretta platform as a well-built, accurate and reliable Beretta military pistol capable of meeting demanding service requirements.

The establishment of Beretta USA in 1977 further strengthened the company’s position, allowing domestic production and logistical support. The M9 provided higher capacity, modern safety features and durability suited for global deployment.

For decades, the Beretta M9 served as a primary sidearm for U.S. forces, later evolving into updated variants such as the M9A1.

From Service to Civilian Life: Why Soldiers Stay with Beretta

Beretta’s influence did not end when service members left the military. Many soldiers, sailors and Marines chose to purchase Beretta 92FS pistols after returning to civilian life — not out of nostalgia, but familiarity.

Former service members often cite the Beretta’s manual of arms, reliability and accuracy as reasons for staying with the platform. Years of training build confidence, and that confidence carries over into civilian ownership.

In extensive training environments alongside Glock, SIG and Smith & Wesson pistols, Berettas consistently demonstrated reliability. When issues did arise, they were typically linked to worn springs in high-round-count guns or corrosive surplus ammunition — not design flaws.

The Beretta 92FS

The Beretta 92FS has long been regarded as one of the more accurate service pistols available. Benchrest testing consistently shows strong accuracy, aided by the pistol’s longer barrel and excellent single-action trigger.

Despite its size, recoil is manageable, even with +P ammunition, and muzzle flip remains controllable. The open-slide design contributes to reliable cycling and consistent performance.

For those considering a Beretta service handgun today, these characteristics remain relevant — particularly for shooters who value precision and shootability over compact dimensions.

Carry, Home Defense and Modern Use

While the Beretta 92FS is not a compact pistol, it is lighter than many expect and can be carried comfortably with the right holster. Compact variants, such as the 92C and 9C, offer improved concealability while maintaining much of the platform’s accuracy.

Rail-equipped models further enhance the pistol’s role in home defense, allowing the use of weapon-mounted lights. The combination of accuracy, reliability and capacity makes the Beretta 92FS a viable defensive handgun for those willing to accommodate its size.

A Service Pistol Legacy That Endures

From a 16th-century barrel maker to the producer of one of the most recognizable Beretta service pistols in history, Beretta’s story is one of continuity and adaptation. Beginning with master barrel maker Bartolomeo Beretta over 500 years ago, 16 generations of Berrettas have consecutively managed the firm.

The Italian gun manufacturer is rightfully proud of its long tradition. “Certain lessons have been handed down over all these years,” Ugo Gussalli Beretta told the International Herald Tribune in 1987. “We have developed an understanding of quality, and we have learned how to make progress sweetly, always on a steady course, not with big, quick steps.”

The Beretta M9’s decades of military service and the continued popularity of the Beretta 92FS among civilians underscore the platform’s enduring relevance. For many shooters — especially those with military experience — Beretta represents more than a firearm. It represents trust earned through service, training and proven performance. Beretta is a name that embodies the finest, highest quality craftsmanship in the gun world.

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This article is a compilation of previous blog posts authored by Bob Campbell and Frank Jastrzembski.

Further Reading

Wilson, Robert L. The World of Beretta: An International Legend. New York: Random House, 2000.

*About the logo seen above:

Pier Giuseppe Beretta adopted the iconic three-arrow logo from a stone engraving located at the entrance to general and poet Gabriele d’Annunzio’s estate on Lake Garda. He replaced the words “Dare in Brocca” (“shoot straight” or “hit the bullseye”) with “PB” — his father’s initials.