The Beretta logo is serious, dangerous, and fatal. How else is it, since it is associated with an industry where mistakes are excluded? One mistake and a man’s life is in danger. Ideal lines indicate the perfect result of the work, though they remind one of ancient knightly attributes. The theme of arms is always relevant, which is why the brand’s emblem is included in the list of legendary iconic icons.
Beretta’s history begins in Gardone Val Trompia, a weapons-making village in northern Italy’s Brescia province. On October 3, 1526, Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta received 296 ducats from the Venetian Arsenal for 185 arquebus barrels. That receipt, preserved in Venice, is considered the company’s founding document.
The family remained in the trade for generations. After Napoleon ended the guild system in 1797, Beretta gained wider access to military markets and supplied the French army with musket barrels. In 1832, the business adopted the name Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta, which it still uses today. Under Giuseppe Beretta, the company moved from barrels to complete firearms and entered the civilian sporting market.
Pietro Beretta modernized the factory in the early 20th century, built a hydroelectric plant on the Mella River, and brought in inventor Tullio Marengoni. During World War I, Beretta produced the Model 1915 pistol for the Italian army. The Model 1918 was among the first true submachine guns, and the M1934 became the standard Italian army sidearm in World War II.
In 1975, Beretta introduced the 9 mm Model 92 with a 15-round magazine. Beretta USA was founded in 1977. In 1985, the company won the U.S. military contract to replace the Colt M1911, supplying the M9 pistol for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. From 1986 to 2022, more than 830,000 M9-series pistols went to U.S. forces. In 2017, the SIG Sauer P320 replaced it. Beretta Holding later included Benelli, Franchi, Tikka, and Burris Optics.
Meaning and History
A forge owned by Bartolomeo Beretta founded the oldest Italian holding for weapons production. Although it has been operating since 1500, the official date of its foundation is 1526, when the first documented transaction appeared. It listed 185 arquebuses for the Republic of Venice, valued at 296 ducats. Now, this agreement is recognized as a museum value.
At the end of the 17th century, Beretta ranked among the top 2 gunsmiths in Gardone. All this time, knowledge of barrel manufacturing was passed down from generation to generation, so the company has become a real family business. The Italian dynasty still owns the business, which it manages through a holding company. Interestingly, its identity strictly follows historical traditions and has changed only once. It has two emblems in its arsenal: the original and the current one.
What is Beretta?
Beretta is an Italian arms holding, considered the oldest in the world. It appeared in 1526 and, at first, was a forge in a region with massive iron ore mining. Its full name is Pietro Beretta Weapon Factory. The company’s key specialization is weapons for law enforcement, military, and civilian sectors. In addition, it produces uniforms and accessories for shooting ranges. Its head office is located in Gardone Val Trompia (Italy).
the 1800s – 1950
The debut logo adorned Beretta firearms for a century and a half. It was used both as an overhead die and an imprint on products. It was an image of a vertically elongated shield with eight corners and one semicircle at the bottom. The badge consisted of two parts: graphic and text, reflecting the trademark’s deep historical roots. The central place was occupied by the letters “PB,” the initials of Pietro Beretta. They were made in the old style and resembled a monogram. Each symbol featured spiral elements and other decorative embellishments that testified to the brand’s antiquity. Below them were intertwined branches of oak and laurel, classically denoting valor and glory. They were tied with a twisted ribbon.
1950 – today
The modern version of the logo goes even further back in history, as it represents the very beginning of the weapons company: an arquebuse for throwing arrows. That is why the emblem shows three arrows with three pairs of “feathers” at the ends. The tail part is taken in a circle around the central element, and the side, the middle part (under the tip). Together, they are surrounded by a large ring. Below is the weapon brand name, set in a refined, smooth uppercase font. The letters are decorated with sharp serifs, and the “R” has a characteristically shortened right leg, reminiscent of a firearm trigger.
Font and Colors
The basis of the corporate logo was the heraldic sign the founder of the weapons company saw in the house of Gabriele d’Annunzio. It is well thought out, finalized, and modernized, so it looks incredibly stylish and fully aligns with the manufacturer’s concept. A large circle with three vertical arrows and three smaller circles inside represents a precise hit on the target. In the people, this emblem is called a trident.
The designers chose a narrower version of Jupiter Pro Regular for the modern logo, so the letters in the inscription are elongated vertically. The exception is “R,” which resembles the glyph from the Saya Serif FY Light typeface by FONTYOU. The signature palette of the Beretta brand is characterized by restraint and rigor. The early version uses dark shades of red copper, while the current version uses dark blue.




