THE HISTORY OF THE BRESCIA CONSORTIUM OF ARMS MANUFACTURERS

The origins

Sede storica del Consorzio Armaioli Bresciani

The Brescia Consortium of Arms Manufacturers (CAB) originated in the buzz of the 60s. A company called ARTARM was founded at the beginning of that decade to unite small gun makers and help them enter new international markets with Greece being their main target. In 1970 a group of small gun makers founded a more operative and articulated structure called COMUNITA ARTIGIANI ARMAIOLI (Community of Small Arms Manufacturers). New regulations about hunting and sporting firearm production and sales were being introduced at the time and manufacturers felt the need to join forces against the tendency to crucify hunters and gun makers on the superficial and populistic altar of environmentalism. In 1975 COMUNITA ARTIGIANI ARMAIOLI turned into a Consortium. Just a few months later Law no. 110 entered into effect. It was the beginning of years of struggle to protect hunting and gun making by fighting unjust laws supported by a poorly informed public opinion. Since its foundation the Consortium has been considered as a Union by hunters and gun manufacturers. Over the past few years it has really become a major legislative player which makes sure the Legislators decisions take gun makers and hunters needs into consideration. And not just that, one of the boards major objectives is perpetuating gun making with its traditions and fundamental principles. That is one of the reasons why the Consortium really fought to maintain the course in gun making while the Ministry was trying to end it back in 1975.

In 1976 the Consortium attended its first international show in Copenhagen representing forty-four associated companies and it has attended all major international trade fairs since then.

The Eighties

The early eighties looked threatening because of the introduction of very strict regulations concerning gun making and because of the radical party attempts at organizing a referendum against hunting. All Consortium associates had to become very active. They started to take part in debates and meetings to explain why people should be against the abolition of hunting and they also began to work with politicians to help them understand why hunting was so important not only for economic and historical reasons but also for the protection of the environment. Hunters keep mountain paths clear and woods clean and their mountain huts represent what life in the mountain is all about: tidiness, cleanness and hospitality for everyone. As a result the referendum was declared not admissible by the Supreme Court. In 1980 the Consortium joined forces with the newly born ASSOARMIERI (Association of Arms Manufacturers) and attended the first edition of EXA, a trade show the Consortium associates and the Brescia Chamber of Commerce strongly wanted. In the years to follow the Consortium became extremely busy fighting against several attempts at eliminating hunting, especially the abrogative referendum proposals promoted by the radical party in 1980-81 and in 1989). It negotiated the costs of proofing guns with the National Proof House (a member of Consortium has been on the Board on Directors of the National Proof House since 1984). It organized and attended conventions promoting hunting and gun making, helped associate gun makers exhibit at national and international trade shows (the Consortium booth has become the symbol of the Made in Italy at SHOT Show), kept its members informed about new laws regulating hunting and gun making and organized courses in gun making.

The nineties

The Consortium had the very important role of helping operators and forging public opinion to create understanding of the history, culture and techniques of gun manufacturing. Videotapes like Consorzio Armaioli: Lavoro, Arte, Storia, Cultura in 1990 (Consortium of Arms Manufacturers: Work, Art, History and Culture) and Come Nasce unArma (How a gun comes to life) in 1995 were produced with the cooperation of many people and perfectly reflect the associates ideals and objectives.