Davide Pedersoli: Fine Historical & Sporting Arms

by
posted on December 21, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Pedersolicover

In 1957, Davide Pedersoli launched the business bearing his name in Italy, at first specializing in the production of over-under and side-by-side shotguns for hunting. Word of the quality coming out of his factory quickly spread, though, and a few years later, Val Forgett, Jr. was knocking at the door.   

It was 1959 when Forgett established Navy Arms in the United States, and with the 100th anniversary of the Civil War approaching, he was in search of companies to produce replicas of the period’s firearms. He commissioned Pedersoli to produce a lever-action. The specimen exceeded every expectation, although no agreement between the companies was reached at the time. Seeds were planted for the future, though.

In 1960, the first muzzleloaders rolled out of the factory. The response was a warm one, and by 1973, hunting shotguns were no longer the firm’s primary focus. Orders were brisk, and Pedersoli streamlined operations and manufacturing processes steadily to meet that climbing demand. By 1982, 100 percent of the metal and wood parts in the firm’s muzzleloaders were produced in-house.

Davide Pedersoli died in 1996. The company, however, remains managed by his family and is based in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy. Despite the timeless and classic look of the replicas crafted by the firm, the latest in CNC manufacturing is harnessed in manufacturing. The designs are created on CAD software, mock-ups are generated with 3D printers and, finally, prototype firearms are fully tested in an onsite shooting tunnel.

Filling requests for its finely crafted guns stateside continued to be a challenge until 2014, when the company entered into a partnership with a trio of Italian gunmakers—F.A.I.R, Sabatti and Tanfoglio—to form Italian Firearms Group. It serves as the importer and is based in Amarillo, Texas, where it offers Old West Pedersoli replicas, classic muzzleloaders, howdah shotguns and much more.   

Latest

Kimber 2K11
Kimber 2K11

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 6, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

FEMA Notes Decline In Disaster Preparedness

A recent report from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) noted a decline in local government preparedness for natural disasters, putting increased pressure on individuals to prepare themselves for emergencies.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.