Benelli Armi SpA

Benelli Armi SpA is an Italian firearm manufacturer best known for shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians, located in Urbino, Marche. Founded in 1967 as an offshoot of the Benelli motorcycle factory that sold motorcycles through Montgomery Ward, Benelli produces the 12-gauge Benelli M3 used by American SWAT teams. Benelli and Benelli USA have been owned by Pietro Beretta SpA since 2000.[4]

For other uses, see Benelli (disambiguation).
Benelli Armi SpA
TypeFirearms manufacturer
IndustryFirearms
Founded1967 (1967)
FounderGiovanni Benelli[1]
Headquarters
Urbino
,
Italy
Key people
Bruno Civolani (inventor of the inertia-driven system)[2][3]
ProductsShotguns, rifles and pistols
ParentBeretta Holding
DivisionsBenelli USA
Franchi
Stoeger Industries
Websitebenelli.it (international), benelliusa.com (USA)

History

In 1911 Teresa Benelli invested in her 6 sons to begin an motor vehicle service company. Eventually their services expanded to include servicing motorcycles and even building their own. In 1967 they acted on their love of hunting by developing firearms, as well as their belief in the semi-automatic shotgun. They did this by teaming up with Bruno Civolani, the developer of a new patenting design of the "Inertia Driven" mechanism.[5]

Products

Shotguns
Benelli M4 Super 90 (M1014 combat shotgun)
Benelli ETHOS 12ga with 28 inch barrel

Many Benelli shotguns utilize an inertia-operated system developed by Bruno Civolani.[3] In 1999, Benelli introduced the Benelli M4 Super 90, a gas-operated semi-auto shotgun intended for military and law enforcement.

The Benelli Super Black Eagle, used by waterfowlers, was one of the first semi-automatic shotguns capable of firing the 2.75-, 3-, and 3.5-inch shotgun shells.

Semi-automatic
  • 121, 121 SL-80, 121-M1 (12- and 20-gauge)
  • M1 Super 90 (12- and 20-gauge)
  • M2 Super 90 (12- and 20-gauge)
  • M3 Super 90 (12-gauge, hybrid semi-automatic or pump-action)
  • M4 Super 90 (12-gauge)
  • Raffaello (12-gauge)
  • Raffaello CrioComfort (12- and 20-gauge)
  • Raffaello Crio 28 (28-gauge)
  • Vinci (12-gauge)
  • Super Vinci (12-gauge)
  • Benelli Montefeltro (12- and 20-gauge)
  • Super Black Eagle I (12-gauge)
  • Super Black Eagle II (12-gauge)
  • Super Black Eagle III (12-gauge)
  • SuperSport
  • ETHOS (12-, 20-, 28-gauge)

Over/Under
  • 828U (12-gauge)
    • 828U Sport (12-gauge)
    • 828U Upland Performance (12-gauge)

Pump-action

Rifles

Target pistols

Pistols

Air pistols
Francesco Bruno with the Benelli Kite Olympic-class pre-charged pneumatic air pistol.

Submachine guns

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2010-06-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2010-06-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2010-06-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Fabbrica D' Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A."
  5. "Benelli History: How One of the Biggest Firearms Brands Came to Be". Newsmax. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
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