(Accokeek, MD) Today, Beretta celebrates its 496th anniversary as a firearms manufacturer, making it the manufacturing company with the longest history of continuous operations in the world. Beretta products have accompanied sportsmen and women all around the globe on countless hunting excursions, performed flawlessly in five decades of the Olympic Games, and been combat tested as the official sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces for over 35 years.

In 1526, Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta (1490-1565/68) of Gardone Val Trompia, Brescia, Italy, received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice, marking the first documented sale of Beretta products in the known world. It is from this foundational point that our company began its commanding presence in the firearms manufacturing industry.

“It’s a proud day for all members of the Beretta USA family. Beretta has been continuously reinventing itself for nearly 500 years, and we are part of this tradition of innovation. Generation after generation, we create products that define new markets,” Francesco Valente, General Manager and COO of Beretta USA, said. “We focus on the long-term: we invest in research and development to provide the best solutions to our client's needs, and in environmental conservation to preserve the future of our planet. The company’s birthday is an excellent opportunity to remind ourselves and our customers of our relentless commitment to innovation and quality.”

Over the years, the Beretta family and name have become synonymous with uncompromising quality, design, materials, construction, and performance for their myriad of firearm products. With the fourteenth and fifteenth generations of the Beretta family now in charge of the various Beretta companies, their leadership benefits from centuries of experience passed down from father to son as they constantly innovate to meet the demands of a global market in the 21st century. With continuous investments in technology, people, and growing product lines, the Beretta family remains committed to the core value of ‘quality without compromise’ established almost five centuries ago. This premise continues to be the unchanging key to Beretta’s success in serving customers worldwide.

Beretta USA is offering a special promotion on our website as part of our celebration during this “birthday” occasion. From now until October 7th, consumers can receive 20% off their purchase sitewide on Beretta.com using code 22BDAY20.

Beretta, established in 1526, is the longest-standing industrial dynasty in the world, tracing its roots through 15 generations of continuous family ownership. Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years. Beretta USA Corp. was founded in 1977 and provided the most widely deployed sidearm throughout the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, Beretta manufactures, distributes, and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories, and apparel. Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide. For additional information, visit www.Beretta.com.