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The History Of Breda
Over a Century Of Defense and Civilian Arms Manufacture
1886
Società Italiana Ernesto Breda was founded in 1886 by its visionary namesake, Ernesto Breda. From humble beginnings as a fledgling locomotive manufacturer, the company grew into an Italian industrial powerhouse under his stewardship. By the turn of the century, the Breda name had become synonymous with engineering excellence across multiple sectors central to Italy’s Industrial Revolution, including iron and steel forging, shipbuilding, arms manufacturing, and aircraft production.
( Photo ) The unmistakable Breda two piece receiver was first used on model 1001 - 1947
1947
In 1947, Breda revolutionized the sporting world with the release of the Model 1001 shotgun, their first long-recoil shotgun designed for the rigors of the hunt. The postwar period marked a pivotal moment for Breda’s already expansive vision. In 1953, company leadership consolidated its sporting firearms expertise into a new division: Breda Meccanica Bresciana, a name that would become synonymous with Italian shotgun excellence. This division focused entirely on honing the company’s mastery in crafting over-and-under shotguns, semi-automatics, and precision hunting firearms.
1967
In the late 1950s, Bruno Civolani — an avid hunter and engineer from Bologna — suffered a finger injury in an industrial accident. The injury made it difficult for him to service and clean the small, intricate parts found in many firearms of the period. After years of wrestling with this problem, Civolani set out to design a simple shotgun action that would function with a wide range of shells and require minimal maintenance—an invention that would let him continue enjoying the sport he loved.
Around 1965, Civolani filed a patent for a design he called the “Gun with a Floating Breech Bolt.” The Italian authorities granted the patent, and Civolani then embarked on a years‑long effort to license his design to Italy’s gunmakers.
1969
A pivotal milestone came in 1967 when the Benelli Motorcycle Company acquired the rights to Bruno Civolani’s patent for a new inertia‑driven shotgun action. Civolani had conceived a simpler, more reliable mechanism to replace the overly complicated gas‑operated systems common at the time. The new company, Benelli Armi Spa, was formed with Breda Meccanica Bresciana as a partner and shareholder. That venture produced several milestone shotguns for Benelli Armi Spa, including the Model 121 (1969) and the M1 Super 90 (1986). The Model 121 later evolved into the Black‑Eagle platform and culminated in the 12‑gauge 3.5” Super‑Black‑Eagle. These shotguns proved immensely successful in the United States through an import and distribution agreement with Heckler & Koch (HK).
1994
In 1994, Breda merged with the venerable artillery manufacturer OTO Melara, uniting Italy’s leading capabilities in large-scale defense systems. Although this corporate shift eventually led Breda to divest its share of the Benelli Armi sporting concern, the company retained the talents of inertia‑system pioneer Bruno Civolani. For many years after the divestiture, Civolani continued his work within the workshops of Breda Meccanica Bresciana, tirelessly refining his inertia‑bolt mechanism until his retirement.
OTO BREDA 127mm Compact Navel Cannon used By 27 Navies around the world.
BREDA Xanthos Advanced Inertia Bolt
2006
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In 2006, Breda introduced a groundbreaking innovation: the self-developed Xanthos inertia system. This mechanism represents the culmination of Bruno Civolani’s lifelong quest to perfect the inertia shotgun. As Breda’s first in-house designed and manufactured inertia action, Xanthos embodies decades of expertise, featuring a vertical block‑locking bolt that resolves the locking challenges occasionally encountered in Civolani’s earlier rotating‑bolt‑head design.
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2008
By 2008, a significant change occurred as C.D. Europe Srl began managing Breda’s sporting arms division. Building on the success of Breda’s Benelli Armi Spa venture, many of the world’s most reputable firearms brands sought similar collaborations, giving rise to a rapidly expanding OEM manufacturing business for Breda. C.D. Europe Srl aimed to capitalize on this opportunity by enhancing Breda’s small-arms engineering and OEM capabilities, enabling the company to produce firearms for prestigious brands without compromising the passion for handcrafted shotguns that had become Breda’s hallmark.
At the same time, the next generation of the Breda family was poised to leave its mark on the shotgun division. Bringing infectious enthusiasm and a sharp eye for detail, they expanded the company’s sporting shotgun portfolio beyond traditional hunting. Under this new leadership, and with the support of C.D. Europe Srl, Breda collaborated with world-class clay shooting and dynamic multi-gun sports champions. These partnerships culminated in the development of the formidable 930i and B12i sporting shotgun series, which seamlessly blend generations of meticulous Italian gunsmithing with insights drawn from contemporary competitive shooting.
2023
In 2023, driven by global demand for its exquisite shotguns, Breda established Breda America Group (BREDA AG) in Maryland to nurture its growing North American following. This division consolidated key functions—including importation, distribution, sales, and service—positioning Breda to become an integral part of an iconic hunting culture that complements its storied heritage.
TODAY
Looking ahead from over a century and a half of excellence, Breda’s primacy endures, continuing to drive shotgun innovation across realms once thought incompatible—the hunting wilds and the sporting range. Across six generations and vast industrial shifts, Italy’s standard of peerless shotgun craftsmanship retains its original name, fostering glimpses of genius that may one day rival Civolani’s own mastery.
Each Breda Shotgun Has a History Passed From My Family to Yours
Every Breda shotgun is a handmade work of art designed to exacting specifications, and crafted of the finniest materials. Through Breda AG, I am proud to stand behind each and every shotgun we sell in North America, so that you and your family will enjoy our products for years to come.
Michele Marocchi, Director
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