CATA
LOG
2020
PIETTA USA
EARLY & MODERN F IREARMS CO., INC.
ABOUT PIETTA/EMF Two companies steeped in tr
adition and excellence
come together as one to serve the shooting,
firearms,and hunting community…
After several decades of collaboration, Pietta
and Early Modern Firearms Company, inc. have
joined forces to better serve its loyal customers,
dealers, and distributors.
With the passing of their President and the
increasing gun regulations (especially in
California), EMF shareholders decided they were
ready to close the doors after providing the
"Best in Cowboy Guns” for almost six decades.
However, the gun industry was not ready for
EMF Company, Inc. to do that just yet. Recognizing
EMF’s contribution to and
stability in the firearms
industry, Alberto and Alessandro
Pietta of F.LLI Pietta (Italy)
stepped up to invest in EMF,
with Debbie Sims, former Chief
Operating Officer, stepping
up as the new President. Since
Pietta Firearms is EMF’s largest
supplier, this was a "win/win”
for both companies.
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U.S. MarshalIn the second half of the
19th century, the U.S. Marshals became synonymous with the
“Wild West” as they made their mark on history in the
many lawless frontier towns. Pietta/EMF is proud to present
this tribute to U.S. Marshals, who became famous as they
pursued such notorious outlaws throughout the Old West.
The “R” Model Newly released, the “R” Model pays tribute to the “Duke” himself and the timeless classic, Rooster Cogburn. With an old west finish, a 4.75” barrel and available in .45lc. Even the most discriminating “Duke” fan will recognize and truly appreciate this highly anticipated pistol.
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length 4¾"
Grip One-Piece diamond checkered Grip
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length 4¾"
Grip
two piece black checkered rubber grip
Caliber 45LC
Barrel Length 4¾"
GripOne-Piece Polymer Grip
The GunfighterOne cannot mention the
“Old West” without mentioning the numerous and notorious
gunfighters. Pietta/EMF tirelessly researched and developed the most “true-to-original”
and most commonly carried pistol of the gunfighter.
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
BarrelLength 4¾"
Grip
One-Piece walnut Grip with stamp
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
BarrelLength 4¾"
Grip
One-Piece Black Polymer Grip
GWII DELUXE “GRANDE CALIFORNIAN” Pietta/EMF is proud to introduce this new addition to the Great Western II (GWII) line of single action revolvers. This beautiful piece adds a “touch of class” to the company’s most popular model, the GWII “Californian”. One look at this beauty and one cannot help but be taken back to the Wild West, a time where gamblers, outlaws, and lawmen ruled the west. Dapper men and elegant women would have proudly carried and displayed this pistol, especially in the Golden State of California.
THE GAMBLER’S
ROYALE
The GWII "Gambler’s Royale" is reminiscent of wealthy and high stakes gamblers of the Old West. Elegantly engraved with a Victorian scrollwork on the contrasting black barrel and polished steel frame, and further accented with a one-piece black polymer grip, Doc Holliday would have been proud to carry such a handsome piece.
The 1873 GW II “Californian” Series of
firearms is a combination of precise and authentic
tradition coupled with the most modern technology.
Featuring forged steel barrels and drop forged frames, the “Californian”
have wider rear and larger front sight for faster sight
acquisition. Like the original Colts, these “period correct”
revolvers have a floating firing pin in the hammer and
casehardened frames. The attention to detail, traditional
aesthetics with the latest in modern technology make
the “Californian” one of the most sought after, durable
and reliable single action revolvers on the market.
“CALIFORNIAN” MODEL
Caliber
.357Mag
.44/4045LC
Barrel Length
4¾”5½”7½”
GripOne-Piece Walnut grip
GREAT WESTERN II “CALIFORNIAN” SERIES
DELUXE “CALIFORNIAN”
MODELSCaliber
.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length 4¾”
Grip Steel One-Piece Checkered Walnut grip
stainless One-Piece checkered Walnut grip
Steel One-Piece Ultra Ivory Grip
stainless One-Piece Ultra Ivory Grip
ALCHIMISTA
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ALCHIMISTA II
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length4¾" 5½”
DELUXEALCHIMISTA III
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length
4¾" 5½” 7½”
ALCHIMISTA JR.
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length 3½”
The Alchimista II, pairs the original 1873 with the 1860 Army grip frame. Replacing the original trigger with a wider, setback competition trigger allows for a larger finger in the trigger guard. While the grip is not quite the 90-degree angle of the original Bisley Model Colt, the Alchimista points better and more naturally than the original.
The Deluxe Alchimista III maintains the configuration of the Alchimista II, but replaces the round barrel with a distinctive Octagonal Barrel. Pietta/EMF increases the aesthetics by offering this pistol engraved, in “Old Silver” and blue, forming a beautiful contrast, and making it a true masterpiece.
The GWII “Alchimista, Jr.” is beautifully and meticulously engraved in the old silver and blue to match the Deluxe Alchimista III, but with a shorter 3.5” round barrel and checkered express grip assembly.
HammerTrigger
PALADINThe 7.5” “Paladin” Model is a great additionto the Great Western II family of firearms.This single action revolver has the all-bluedbarrel, cylinder, and frames for fans of the popular Hollywood Western ...Have Guns Will Travel.
BUNTLINE
Caliber 45LC
Barrel Length 12"
Caliber 45LC
Barrel Length 7½"
The 12” Buntline from Pietta/EMF, with its deep color casehardened finish, smooth action, and choice of walnut, ultra ivory or ultra stag grips, makes this pistol a handsome addition to even the finest of gun collections. The Colt Buntline is a long barreled variation of the Colt Single Action Army revolver, in which Stuart N. Lake described in his best-selling, but largely fictionalized 1931 biography, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal.
One-Piece Ultra Ivory Grip
One-Piece Ultra Ivory Grip
One-Piece Walnut Grip
Available Through Our Custom Shop
Renamed in 2019, Pietta/EMF pays tribute to the original Great Western guns used by John Wayne in his last motion picture, The Shootist. This beautifully engraved model has an all blue finish. The one-piece ultra ivory grip offers a contrast, accentuating the engraving even more.
“THE SHOOTIST”
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Due to customer demand, Pietta/EMF proudly introduced the Great Western II “Posse” model in 2018. Unlike the “Sheriff” Model, the “Posse” has and ejector rod & head. The “Posse” Model has a small cut-around in the ejector housing that allows the ejector rod-head to pivot slightly to the side. This allows the base pin to be removed, without removing the entire assembly.
POSSE
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length 4¾"
One-Piece Ultra Ivory Grip
Smooth Walnut Grip
Caliber 45LC
Barrel Length 3½”
Caliber .357Mag
Barrel Length 3½”
Smooth Walnut Grip
This piece, with a distinctively different balance, is Pietta/EMF’s historical tribute to the “Sheriff ’s Model” (aka Shopkeepers Model), which was first made in the 19th century by Colt. By any name, this gun is simply a Great Western II “Californian” without the ejector rod or housing on the shorter barrel, making this an easier-to-carry revolver. The extraction/ejection of spent shell cases can be done with a wood dowel, common lead pencil, or ballpoint pen. It is light at the muzzle; therefore, handling must be adjusted accordingly.
SHERIFF
LIBERTY Staying true to and honoring tradition; paying honor to those who built this great country; and, paying tribute to the nations freedoms and liberties, Pietta/EMF proudly offer the GWII “Liberty”. With its meticulous, factory laser engraving on the barrel, cylinder, and frame, coupled with the Liberty Eagle laser engraved on the Ultra Ivory Grips, this unique revolver is a “must have” for every collector, shooting enthusiast, or patriot.
GENERAL PATTONPietta/EMF offer these beautifully engraved pistols as a tribute to General George Smith Patton, Jr. (1885-1945), a legend in U.S. Military history. These revolvers are stainless steel with factory laser engraving. This unique firearm is a great addition to any firearm collection.
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length4¾"5½
ONE-PIECE Ultra Ivory Grip
One-Piece Ultra Ivory Engraved Grip
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length4¾”5½"
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U.S. GRANTThe Great Western II “U.S. Grant” is not the average single action revolver. At first
glimpse of this stunning revolver reveals the uniqueness and overall beauty. Specially
engraved at Pietta’s own engraving facility in Italy and then nickel-plated, the engraving
pattern is Victorian floral scrollwork and covers over 95% of the revolver. A tribute
to EMF’s late President Boyd Davis.
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length4¾" 5½"
One-Piece ULTRA
BLACK
POLYMER grip
One-Piece Ultra Ivory Grip
Checkered Walnut Grip
Caliber.357Mag 45LC
Barrel Length4¾"5½
One-Piece black wood grip
Ultra Ivory One-Piece grip
CATTLEBRAND
In the 1800’s, Texans used four major cattle trails -
The Shawnee Trail, the Western Trail, the Chisholm Trail,
and the Goodnight-Loving Trail - to push their cattle from
one point to the next. Those cattlemen and rancheros
were as tough as the trails they were riding. Pietta/EMF
pays tribute to those Cowboys with the Great Western II
Cattlebrand series. Adorned with cattle brands throughout
the entire pistol, this revolver is a true centerpiece of
any gun collection or on a rancher’s mantle.
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1873 MAVERICK REVOLVERS
PIETTA 1873 TRANSFER BAR
PIETTA 1873 TRANSFER BAR
Standard Walnut Grip
Standard Walnut Grip
Caliber .22LR
Barrel Length
4¾”5½"7½"
Shot 10 shot
Caliber 44mag
Barrel Length 5½"
Frameblued frame Case Hardened
AVAILABLE AT FINER FIREARMS DEALERS OR CALL 800.430.1310
WWW.PIETTAUSA.COM | WWW.EMF-COMPANY.COM
M A D E I N I T A L Y
DELUXEENGRAVEDPietta/EMF take tremendous pride in offering customers meticulously
designed and engraved blackpowder revolvers that can arguably be
considered the showpiece in any firearm collection. Pietta/
EMF offers an extensive collection of blackpowder pistols
manufactured in-house by Pietta’s master Italian
artisans, many of whom have been working for Pietta
for decades, passing their craftsmanship down
from generation to generation.
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DELUXE 1851 NAVY BRASS
Caliber.36 .44
Barrel Length 7½"
DELUXE 1851 NAVY STEEL
Caliber.36 .44
Barrel Length 7½"
DELUXE 1860 ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
DELUXE 1858 ARMY NICKEL
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
DELUXE 1862 DANCE
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
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Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5½”
Also available with CKRD WLNT Grip
1851 U.S. MARSHAL
1858REMINGTONSThe ruggedness of the solid frame and the ability to quickly change cylinders made the Remington Army a favorite of officers and infantrymen alike during the Civil War. Remington produced more than 125,000 of these revolvers. Pietta/EMF offers this piece of history in brass, steel or stainless steel.
STEEL ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
DELUXE CASEHARDENED
SHERIFF
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5½" Fluted Cylinder
STEEL SHERIFF
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5½"
STAINLESS ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
ARMY TARGET
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5.5"
w/ Checkered Walnut Grip
DELUXE STAINLESS
SHERIFF
BRASS ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 7½"
Also available in the .36 caliber with a
6 ½” barrel.
w/ Checkered Walnut Grip
1851
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STEEL NAVY
Caliber.36 .44
Barrel Length 7½"
NAVY & SHERIFFBoth the U.S. and British military adopted a very popular revolver for its time, the
Model 1851 Navy revolver. Available in either steel frame or brass, this revolver
received its name from the depiction on the cylinder of the Texas Navy’s victory
over the Mexican fleet in 1843. The 1851 Navy Yank model was considered one of
the most brilliant revolvers of its time for its fast draw and light recoil.
BRASS NAVY
Caliber.36 .44
Barrel Length 7½"
NAVY LONDON
STEEL
Caliber .36
Barrel Length 7½"
NAVY LONDON SQUARE
BACK
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 7½"
16
1851 NAVYSHOULDER STOCK
BRASS SHERIFF
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5½"
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5½"
BUNTLINE SPECIAL
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 12"
Also available with a Casehardened Steel Frame
STEEL SHERIFF
1860ARMY & SHERIFFThe 1860 Army saw extensive use during the Civil War and was a favored sidearm of
Union troops. Built on the same frame as the 1851 Navy, it featured a streamlined
barrel, improved loading lever and a belted cylinder for added strength.
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"OLD SILVER" ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
STEEL SHERIFF
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 5½"
DELUXE STEEL ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
STEEL ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8”
BRASS ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
LONDON ARMY
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
1861NAVY MILITARY & CIVILIAN The 1861 Navy Revolver is often referred to as the most attractive pistol Colt ever developed. Pietta/EMF’s 1861 Military version is all steel and cut for a should stock, while the Civilian model has a nickel-plated backstrap and trigger guard.
Caliber .36
Barrel Length 8"
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 8"
Caliber .36
Barrel
Length6½"
Caliber .36
Barrel Length 5½"
Caliber .31
Barrel Length 3½"
1862 SPILLER & BURR
MILITARY MODEL1862
DANCE
1863 POCKET REMINGTON
1862 N.Y. METRO POLICE
CIVILIAN MODEL
Established by Lt. Col. James H. Burton at the request of the Confederate
Chief of Ordnance, the private manufacturing firm of Spiller & Burr set out
to manufacture 15,000 revolvers over two and one half years for the Confederate cavalry. The contract
called for a .36 caliber Navy revolver, Colt's model. Colt's Navy revolver had been adopted by the Confederate
government as a standard revolver, but Burton felt another type of revolver was superior to Colt's. Burton
selected the Whitney revolver, Second Model, First Type as a model arm for Spiller & Burr. Burton based his decision on
the merits of the arm's performance, stability, design, and ease of construction. The company encountered difficulty
producing the revolver in quantity due to a shortage of labor and problems with raw materials. And Sherman's march
through Georgia imposed even more problems.
The factory ceased production at war's end with slightly more than 1,500 revolvers fabricated, fulfilling only one tenth
the number called for in the original contract.
Soon after the Civil War began, the Confederate government and individual
states issued a cal l for firearms. Modeled after the Colt Dragoon,
J.H. Dance and Brothers started manufacturing their revolver, in 1862.
The 1863 Remington Pocket model gave Remington access to the lucrative pocket
pistol market. Pocket pistols were a favorite hideout gun of gamblers, lawmen,
bandits, storekeepers, and ladies. The spur trigger is hidden or protected until the
hammer is cocked.
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Caliber .36
Barrel Length 9"
Caliber .36
Cylinder Length 3"
Caliber .44
Barrel Length 3½"
1836
1851
1860
TEXAS PATERSON
NAVY YANK
PEPPERBOX
ARMY “SNUB NOSE”
Samuel Colt patented the design of the Paterson on February 25, 1836. It was
the first repeating firearm to employ a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers
aligned with a single barrel. The Paterson derived its name from originally being
produced in Paterson, New Jersey. True to the original design, Pietta’s reproduction
of the Paterson does not include a loading lever with the revolver, and the cylinder
does not have a bolt ramp. Additionally, the trigger is concealed in the frame until
the hammer is pulled back.
The first Pepperbox revolvers originated in the 1500’s and used a matchlock
mechanism. With the advent of pinfire cartridges, the Pepperbox regained
popularity in the late 1800’s as a small, concealable weapon. Pietta/EMF’s
Pepperbox features a single action, brass backstrap and trigger guard, steel
frame with casehardened finish and walnut grips.
Almost as soon as the .44 caliber 1860 Army revolver was introduced,
users were cutting the eight-inch barrel down for better concealment.
These modified guns, called “belly guns” in the 19th century, were quite
popular. Pietta/EMF’s Snub Nose has the fluted cylinder. (Banded cylinders
sold separately.) A separate loading tool is included.
Caliber.44.20GA
Barrel Length6¾"5”
Caliber.44.20GA
Barrel Length6¾"5”
LEMAT REVOLVERS
ARMY “OLD WEST”
Dr. Jean Alexander Francois LeMat, a Parisian Physician, who lived in New Orleans, invented the LeMat Revolver. Sometimes referred to as the LeMat “Grape Shot” Revolver, this highly unconventional, single action revolver was calibrated for .36 or .42 caliber cap & ball black powder; and featured an unusual, secondary 16-gauge, smooth-bore barrel capable of firing buckshot. The gun was famous for its 9-shot capacity and was favored by Confederate Soldiers during the American Civil War. Pietta/EMF’s reproduction, calibrated for the .44 caliber cap & ball, has a .20 caliber (black powder) secondary barrel.
CAVALRY
Models Available: Cavalry,
NavyArmy
1878HARTFORD SXS SHOTGUN Colt’s double-barreled Model 1878 shotguns were among the most popular of
the late 19th century. Regarded as one of the finest American double guns ever
built, the 12-gauge models were used by everyone from lawmen, outlaws, and
“riding shotgun” on stagecoaches. Staying true to the original, Pietta/EMF’s
version has a 20” barrel, external hammers, and is 12-gauge calibrated.
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HARTFORD COACH
Caliber 12 gauge
Barrel Length 20"
NICKEL PLATED
HARTFORD
Caliber 12 gauge
Barrel Length 20"
SMITH CARBINE
The Smith’s Patent Carbine, a single shot, breech loading, percussion .50 caliber, was one of the most important Federal Cavalry carbines of the Civil War. Production of these carbines was almost entirely consumed by government contracts. A total of approximately 30,362 Smith Carbines were purchased by the United States during the Civil War. Pietta/EMF’s Smith Carbine is representative of a cavalry arm of the American Civil War.
SMITH CARBINE
ARTILLERY
Caliber 50
Barrel Length 215∕8"
SMITH CARBINE CAVALRY
Caliber 50
Barrel Length 215∕8"
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Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
CHRONOS The all-new Chronos Rifle adheres to the same quality and performance standards that
Pietta/EMF is known for. This gas-operated (with short stroke) rifle is the perfect big
game rifle; available in .30-06 and .308, a 3 – 10 round magazine, micro-gel recoil
pad, an aluminum alloy receiver, adjustable sights and a barrel made of SAE4140 steel.
This impressive rifle comes in a variety of finishes and colors.
MATTE BLACK FINISH
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
GREY FINISH
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
BLACK SYNTHETIC
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
NICKEL PLATED
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
WHITE CAMO
Pietta, based in the Brescia Region of Italy, known for fine firearms, including
shotguns, makes it a natural fit for Pietta to continue the tradition by producing
modern shotguns of the highest quality and craftsmanship. The “Challenge”
Series of modern shotguns has a model for even the most discriminating
shotgun enthusiast, available in both 20 and 12 gauge.
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
GHIBLI 20 GAUGE
BLACK SYNTHETIC
Caliber 20GA
Barrel Length 28"· Matte Black Synthetic · Inertia · 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
GHIBLI 20 GAUGE
BLUED WOOD
Caliber 20GA
Barrel Length 28"· BLUED RECEIVER AND BARREL· WOODEN STOCK AND FOREND· 20GA· 28” BARREL· INERTIA· 2 EXTRA CHOKE TUBES INCLUDED· 2 EXTRA SHIMS INCLUDED
GHIBLI 20 GAUGE
NICKEL ENGRAVED WOOD
Caliber 20ga
Barrel Length 28"· Nickel Engraved Receiver· 20 Gauge· 28” Blued Barrel · Inertia· 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
GHIBLI 20 GAUGE
CAMO SYNTHETIC
Caliber 20ga
Barrel Length 28"· Camo Synthetic · 20 Gauge · 28” Barrel · Inertia · 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
GHIBLI
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
Caliber.30-06 .308
Barrel Length20" round barrel
CHALLENGE SERIES MODERN SHOTGUNS
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ZEPHYRUS 12 GAUGE
MATTE SYNTHETIC
Caliber 12GA
Barrel Length 28"· Black Matte Synthetic · 12 Gauge · 28” Barrel · Inertia · 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
ZEPHYRUS 12 GAUGE
NICKEL ENGRAVED WOOD
Caliber 12GA
Barrel Length 28"· Nickel Engraved Receiver · 12 Gauge · 28” Blued Barrel · Inertia · 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
ZEPHYRUS 12 GAUGE
BLUED WOOD
Caliber 12GA
Barrel Length 28"· Blued Receiver and Barrel · Wooden Stock and Forend · 12 Gauge · 28” Barrel · Inertia · 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
ZEPHYRUS 12 GAUGE
CAMO SYNTHETIC
Caliber 12GA
Barrel Length 28"· Camo Synthetic · 12 Gauge · 28” Barrel · Inertia · 2 Extra Choke Tubes Included · 2 Extra Shims Included
MISTRAL 12 GAUGE
20” BLACK SYNTHETIC
Caliber 12GA
Barrel Length 20"· Black Synthetic · 12 Gauge · 20” Slug Barrel · Gas Operated · 2 Extra Shims Included
MISTRALGAS OPERATING SYSTEM
ZEPHYRUSINERTIA RECOIL SYSTEM
M A D E I N I T A L Y
AVAILABLE AT FINER FIREARMS DEALERS OR CALL 800.430.1310
WWW.PIETTAUSA.COM | WWW.EMF-COMPANY.COM
P I E T T A & E M FO V E R A H A L F - C E N T U R Y O F
K E E P I N G T H E T R A D I T I O N A L I V E
P I E T T A U S A | 2 0 2 028 P I E T T A U S A | 2 0 2 0
CUSTOM GUNS1860 ARMY BRASS ENGRAVED
1851 NAVY BRASS ENGRAVED
LEMAT DELUXE HAND ENGRAVED CONFEDERATE CAVALRY
1858BUFFALO BILL COMMEMORATIVE
1858 GENERAL CUSTER
1858 DELUXE LIGHT LASER ENGRAVED ARMY
1858 ENGRAVED ARMY
LEMAT DELUXE HAND ENGRAVED CONFEDERATE CAVALRY
30 P I E T T A U S A | 2 0 2 0
U.S. GRANT w/ Ultra Ivory Grips
U.S. GRANT w/ Ultra Black Grips
1851 OLD SILVER SNUB NOSE
CUSTOM GUNS
1860 ARMY DELUXE ENGRAVED OLD SILVER
1851 CAPTAIN SCHAEFER
1862 SNUB NOSE ENGRAVED OLD SILVER
32
PIETTA/EMF SERVICE CENTER Just as the Company’s commi
tment is to provide quality
firearms, made of the finest craftsmanship; so too, is
their commitment to service their customers.With over
60 + years in the single-action, western, and replica
firearms industry, Pietta/EMF’s knowledge far exceeds
any
other manufacturer or dealer in the Nation. The Compan
y’s
mission is keeping the firearms they sell, running
smoothly for decades to come.
Pietta/EMF offer the best in service and repair of all
Pietta/EMF firearms, whether new, or the firearm is
fifty-years old, the company has all the parts and mor
e
importantly the expertise and knowledge. With thousand
s
of parts in inventory, Pietta/EMF will assist customer
s
in finding the right replacement parts and if needed w
ill
bring the firearm in-house to repair by one of the nat
ions
best gunsmiths.
WARRANTY CENTERAt Pietta/EMF, the Company
stands by their product.
Whether a customer orders a firearm straight from Piet
ta/
EMF or through one the company’s valued dealers, Piett
a/
EMF’s Warranty Center will repair any firearm that fit
s
within its warranty policy.
P I E T T A U S A | 2 0 2 0
As the son of a worker at Tempini Industries, the seventh out of siblings, he is still grateful today what his father gave him; “He couldn’t afford to put me through school, but he gave me a lot more, he passed on his sound values and honesty, will and a sense of respect toward others which were the model of his and out family’s life. I grew up carrying that sense of commitment and ambition with me.”
That sense of commitment and the desire to do more began at age eighteen for Mr. Pietta, when he refused the help of the Parson in Gussago, who was ready to help Giuseppe get a job at O.M., Brescia.
“I didn’t want an ordinary, full-time job,” said Mr. Pietta. “I didn’t want to rely on a steady paycheck, I was looking to do something of importance, for me and for my future family.” Even during primary school, he was busy helping his brother Mario who was employed at a factory that produced handmade hunting guns. “At that time, hunters were larger in number than they are today. That company had a large number of contracts, so my brother took some work home to do and I soon started to learn about shotguns while helping him.”
“At fourteen I started work in a firearm plant in Collebeato, it was a small factory and I took advantage of the opportunity to every step in the shotgun manufacturing process. In the meantime, I was attending evening classes studying technology and mechanics. While working, I could afford buying books without burdening my family. I still had enough time to dedicate to my other passion,
photography. I star ted shoot ing some photo reports and after work, I used to go to a friends lab and that friend taught me how to develop photos. I was a gunsmith by day and a photographer by night.”
“I was never tired. W h e n y o u h a v e
passion and are into something, you just don’t feel tired, especially if you have a goal to achieve. My goal was shining crystal clear in front of me. I badly wanted to learn a skill and I wanted to learn to do it well, because I didn’t want to be an employee anymore. I first met my wife Elisabetta while I was working in the factory. Rumor had it that a new employee had arrived and she was very pretty, so I decided I would meet her. One day, I saw her come into view from the office glass windows, I showed her some sweets I was holding in my hands, meaning I would like to offer her some…that evening I drove her home. That’s how we met. I sometimes think about it…she wished for a quiet life and I gave her a hard one,” thinking of it, Giuseppe tries not to appear emotional. It’s been a 50-year life together, because Elisabetta Zanetti has never left Giuseppe since. Four years after that he left the factory. He was only twenty-two and had a whole life in front of him, a dream to fulfill, with so much willpower, but no job. Still, he had a clear goal: he didn’t want to be an employee anymore; he wanted to be the master of his own destiny. Rich only in his passion and willpower Giuseppe Pietta drove towards Valtrompia looking for a job and stopped at the first factory on his way in Ponte Zanano and started to collaborate with them.
He equipped a room in his house, placing two workbenches, a couple of vises, a drill and a grinder (all necessary tools for external finishing of hunting guns). One the only free wall in the room, he hung a white bed sheet, two spotlights and a chair so that in the same room he could also take passport photos. “Pietta Giuseppe: Hunting Guns Parts Manufacturing” was born. That was over 60 years ago, March 22, 1963. It was a hard time, work was not continuous, but his desire to succeed didn’t fade. Giuseppe Pietta could see his dream standing in front of him marking his way; standing by and supporting him was is wife Elisabetta, who worked in the factory in charge of the administrative department. Then, when an important factory in Brescia commissioned him for more work, he started cooperating with his brother, a gunsmith as well and soon they decided to establish the “Fratelli Pietta” together. The head office, in the small room needed enlarging, so a small basement room at home and an old hen house were added and soon the business expanded into a seventy-square-meter room in Via Briggia.
This success drove the company to grow more and soon the brothers felt the need for even more by expanding to their fathers small vineyard. “I’ve always made the big decisions by myself,” said Giuseppe Pietta. “First I would make the decision, then do it and then I consulted my wife; I used to be more of a decision maker, she used to be more reflective…we have had our arguments, but in the end she has accepted and agreed with what I decided; she knew that everything I was doing was only for our own as well as our children’s benefit. My father gave me a lot, everything he could and even more importantly than he could afford, he passed on his values, which I seized and together with my
A MAN WITH A DREAM & A FAMILY TO ACCOMPLISH IT An interview with Giuseppe
Pietta, the founder of “F.A.P. Fabbrica Armi Fratelli
Pietta.”
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wife, we tried to communicate to our children; he taught me to behave honestly, even if he couldn’t have us live the wealth he desired.”
“ I wanted to give my family the opportunities I did not have. That’s why I have been such a hard worker. Never counting the time passing by, not being with my family as much as I wished and dedicating less time to them that I wished, with the purpose to be able to give them more. I know they understood that.”
A small example shows Mr. Pietta’s business sense, making decisions in his company’s future. “Working for third parties assured we could pay our bills and not risking our assets on loans allowed us to expand even further by hiring apprentices. Some of them earned the fidelity medal of our factory for staying with us for more than forty years. My wife Elisabetta resigned from the previous firm even before getting married and officially entered the “Fratelli Pietta”. She is still the centerpiece of the company today.
In 1965 the two brothers decided to give new life to the factory through buying shotgun components to assemble directly. The first copy produced was dated, “April, 1966” and sold the following month for 30,000 Lire. “It was a 12GA Over/Under shotgun, the first carrying our brand,” said Pietta. “In the first year our production we made 156 of them, during the following year we made more than a thousand. In the same period, we started collaborating with an important French firm exporting shotguns for the French market. Our factory sent them their first shotgun in 1967. Since then our cooperation intensified considerably and our brand began to circulate. Afterwards, “Monsieur Galan” came on a visit to our factory thanks to a common connection, he was a French businessman who imported hunting guns for business and was looking for a factory which could produce historical American gun models. The first of his purchase orders included 10,000 guns of the 1851 Navy model.”
“That order completely changed the direction of our factory, heading more towards producing rather than assembling guns. This important decision involved an equally important investment. It was a bold choice. In the meantime in France, the law concerning firearms import was being modified and our first four-hundred –piece supply got stuck. That was really a terrible moment in our company’s life. We had committed ourselves and had to honor our obligations. We succeeded, with great efforts in finding a new customer who bought the stock, even at a lower price than we had expected, but this way we managed to avoid more serious matters, until the French law was reestablished.”
The biggest turning point in the F.A.P. Fabbrica-Armi Fratelli Pietta occurred in 1972, when they starting cooperating with a renowned Italian agent working in the field, Oreste Puzzo. Significant projects were born from this collaboration, which are still in force today.
“Just think of what it meant for us to receive the first purchase order from and American customer asking us to send them
seven thousand pieces, when our monthly production was four hundred replicas,” said Giuseppe. “ We immediately wondered if the order was for real. But it was and actually required producing not only the 1851 Navy model, but also the Colt Army, the Remington, the 1836 Paterson and the LeMat Model.” The market expanded and the company enlarged, requiring 15 more employees. Then, in 1978 due to increased demand, the company faced a drastic decision; they needed an internal structural reorganization, requiring a substantial capital investment.
The two business brothers decided to follow different paths and the factory, which kept the same name, stayed under the management of Giuseppe Pietta and his wife Elisabetta. In 1985 they were awarded an important prize by the Houston Chamber of Commerce, another sign of approval for their excellence. The business forecast proved to be correct, the company boomed and the factory was again not large enough; another four hundred square meters were added and finally, in 1995, they moved into the new headquarters, which covers three thousand square meters and employs thirty workers. In the course of time, once they graduated from college, his two sons joined the factory to work with their father.
Together they share the same passion, commitment, ambition and great respect for the customer. Today, Alberto Pietta is responsible for the technical department, while Alessandro is in charge of trade management. Rosangela, Giuseppe’s eldest child and only daughter, has chosen to become a doctor. “It’s convenient, you know, to have a doctor as a daughter,” Giuseppe said. “You feel taken care of, controlled, safer in a certain way. Some time ago I was thinking of retiring and I think I would have if my sons hadn’t wished to continue my business. They asked me to go on with them and I’m really glad they did. I’m sincerely happy they chose to carry forward my lifetime dream. I shared my life with my wife, our family and also my job as she’s still working together with me in the factory. At the beginning, when everything started, I didn’t know if I would make it, I only knew I would do anything in my power to do so. I had a dream shining in front of me and I’m glad I fulfilled it, most of all because I fulfilled it with my family.”
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