“With a heavy heart, we are saddened to share the news of the passing of our father and founder of F.A.P. Fabbrica Armi F.Lli Pietta, Giuseppe Pietta,” Pietta Firearms posted on its Facebook page on Dec. 2. “Mr. Pietta started F.LLI Pietta over six decades ago, shining the light and celebrating firearm and American history in each gun he made. Giuseppe was actively involved in the company to the very end, solidifying his rightful place as a true Brescia firearms legend.”
Pietta, born in Italy and one of nine children, was working on a local factory’s shotguns at home by the time he was in elementary school. His modest wages helped buoy the big family’s budget, but by the age of 14 he was an employee at a small gun manufacturer in Collebeato. At night he studied technology and mechanics.
On March 22, 1963, the Pietta Giuseppe company was established. Its primary products at the time were shotgun parts.
Then in 1965 when his brother, a gunsmith, joined the company Fratelli Pietta was founded. The new firm began producing 12-gauge, over-under shotguns in 1966. One hundred and fifty-six were produced that year, 1,000 the next.
The firm continued to grow, but a big change was on the horizon when its first revolver reproduction rolled out of the factory in 1974. Jess Galan—an importer searching for wheelguns with the quality to satisfy the U.S. market’s thirst for Old West firearms—visited the facility later and placed his first order. It was for 10,000 units, including Model 1851 Navy, Colt Army, Remington, 1936 Paterson and Le Mat revolvers.
It was a huge undertaking for the firm that required an infusion of capital to expand staff and add machinery. The Pietta brothers would later separate their business into two separate ventures, with Guiseppe and his wife, Elisabetta, retaining the gunmaking factory.
As word of the craftsmanship and quality spread, the company’s legend grew. The U.S. market has played a critical role in the company’s success, but getting its guns stateside wasn’t always easy.
Early and Modern Firearms (E.M.F.) Company—a primary importer of its replicas—hovered dangerously close to dissolution after its president died in 2014. Rather than letting the firm shutter its doors permanently, Pietta invested.
His sons have taken over the reins of the storied Italian firm, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. “We are incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to deepen our roots in an amazing industry,” Alessandro Pietta, one of Giuseppe’s sons said at the time. “The entrepreneurial and artistic spirit of our father still runs deep through all of us at Pietta Firearms. We’re honored to continue to carry on the tradition, legacy and achievements set forth by him.”
“We are proud of our history, not only for all that Pietta has accomplished as the leader in manufacturing to the highest standard, but because we have always operated from a foundation of best-in-class replica firearms expertise,” said Alberto Pietta, the other brother at the firm’s helm. “We look forward to continuing to serve our customers by providing exceptional firearms the World can trust.”
The company’s Dec. 2 social media post reassured fans that, “We are forever grateful for his contributions to F.LLI Pietta and the firearms industry worldwide, yet more importantly his time spent as a father, grandfather, husband and friend to all. He will be greatly missed. His legacy will never be forgotten and will carry on through every Pietta firearm forever
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