In 1526, Bartolomeo Beretta supplied 185 high-quality arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of Venice. That single order is widely treated as the starting point for what is still recognised as the world’s oldest active firearms manufacturer: Beretta.
1526: the first recorded sale
The earliest Beretta story is grounded in function: barrels made to a high standard, supplied to a serious customer, in a region with deep metalworking skill. Over the centuries that followed, Beretta’s reputation became closely tied to consistent build quality and Italian design, while the business itself remained in the same family line.
The Mayflower connection
Beretta’s long history has gathered some remarkable footnotes. One of the most talked-about is the so-called “Mayflower Gun”, a Beretta firearm associated with the Mayflower’s Atlantic crossing. That “Mayflower Gun” is described as being on display at the NRA’s museum in Fairfax, Virginia.
Fifteen generations, and industrial-scale production
Beretta is still described as family-owned after 15 generations, and in more recent years, the business has been in the hands of Ugo Gussalli Beretta and his sons, Pietro and Franco. What started as a craft enterprise now operates on a modern scale: the Northern Italy factory is reported to produce around 1,500 firearms per day.
That mix of continuity and output helps explain how Beretta became a supplier to military and police forces in numerous countries, while also remaining a familiar name to sportsmen and sportswomen across the shooting world.
Competition and Olympic success
Beretta’s reputation is not only built on age. The brand is also closely linked with competitive shooting, where performance is measured in results, not claims. In the history covered in this article, Beretta is noted for an Olympic gold medal in clay pigeon shooting at Melbourne in 1956, followed by further medal success across many later Olympic Games.
The list of Games below matters because it shows the story is not based on one standout year. It points to sustained success over time, across different athletes and eras, as the sport, standards, and equipment expectations changed. The London Olympics in 2012 are cited as an extreme example, with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded for Beretta competition shotguns.
The Olympic Games are mentioned here.
- Melbourne (1956)
- Rome (1960)
- Munich (1972)
- Montreal (1976)
- Moscow (1980)
- Los Angeles (1984)
- Seoul (1988)
- Barcelona (1992)
- Atlanta (1996)
- Sydney (2000)
- Athens (2004)
- Beijing (2008)
- London (2012)
Why Beretta moved into shooting clothing and accessories
In the early 1990s, Beretta expanded beyond sporting guns into a complete line of hunting apparel and accessories, sitting alongside clay target shooting and other sport-focused equipment. The point was not to follow fashion, but to apply the same attention to detail to the practical realities of time outdoors: comfort, movement, weather changes, and equipment carry.
That shift also explains why Beretta sits naturally in conversations about shooting kit as well as firearms. The clothing line gained a reputation for a clean, understated Italian look, but the real foundation is use: garments and carry gear designed around the routines of the field and the range.
A short Beretta timeline
- 1526 – Bartolomeo Beretta supplies 185 arquebus barrels to the Arsenal of Venice.
- 1620 – The “Mayflower Gun” story places Beretta in the broader history of Atlantic travel and early America.
- 1956 – First Olympic gold medal in clay pigeon shooting (Melbourne).
- Early 1990s – Expansion into hunting apparel and accessories alongside sporting shooting equipment.
- 2012 – London Olympics noted for gold, silver, and bronze medals linked to Beretta competition shotguns.
- Today – A long-running family firm still associated with craft, precision, and broad shooting culture.
From heritage to field kit
A long history is fascinating, but it becomes useful when it connects to how people actually spend time shooting today. Beretta’s mix of competition heritage and field use naturally aligns with the categories most shooters build over time: reliable outer layers, practical vests, carry gear, and the essentials that make long days more comfortable.
If you want to explore the wider product story behind the brand, start with the main Beretta clothing and shooting accessories collection, then follow the thread into specific areas of interest, such as Beretta field jackets, Beretta shooting coats, and Beretta shooting vests for clay and game days.
For travel and storage, Beretta’s heritage also shows up in carry solutions built around shooting routines. Take a look at Beretta bags, cases, and travel luggage, which suit everything from a day at the ground to longer trips.
And while firearms often dominate the headlines, most regular shooters will tell you comfort and safety details make the day run better. That is where kit categories such as Beretta ear protection for the range and Beretta shooting glasses and eye protection fit into the broader picture. Even small additions, such as Beretta T-shirts and casual tops, help show how the brand moved into everyday wear alongside sport and field use.
There are also quieter parts of the Beretta story that are easy to miss. In addition to firearms, accessories, and clothing, Beretta is also known for producing Italian wines and for running a non-profit organisation dedicated to cancer research. Their headquarters in the Brescia area of Northern Italy is also known for a museum with more than 900 pieces on display, including firearms previously owned by John Adams and Napoleon.
by Neil Summers.
