Beretta Ships 500 Years Limited Editions to U.S. Dealers Now
Beretta is shipping three of its four 500 Years commemorative firearms to authorized U.S. dealers today. The fourth, a clay-target competition over-under, arrives in late November. The Italian gunmaker marks 500 years since its founding in 1526 with a lineup that covers a semi-auto shotgun, two over-unders, and a straight-pull rifle. Beretta has not released prices, gauges, or barrel lengths for any of the four. That gap matters. Dealers will set the numbers, and buyers will decide whether the engraving and gold justify the premium on a numbered run.
Key Details
Beretta confirmed U.S. availability for the full collection. Here is what the company disclosed for each model:
- A400 500 Years Special Edition: Beretta calls this the first special edition built for the anniversary. The semi-auto carries game scenes engraved on both sides of the receiver, with ink detailing, inlaid gold, and the 500 Years logo. Under the decoration sits the B-LINK gas system, a Steelium barrel, and an aluminum trigger group with lighter effort, less travel, and a faster reset. A competition-style lifter is included. Available now.
- 687 Silver Pigeon 500 Years Limited Edition: This over-under honors the 680 platform. It features Grade 3 walnut, hand-polished side plates, gold-accented floral engraving, and the 500 Years logo on the underside of the receiver. Each gun carries its own serial number. Shipping now.
- 694 500 Years Limited Edition: A clay-target competition over-under developed with input from the Beretta Shooting Team and shaped around competitor ergonomics. Each receives a dedicated serial number. U.S. arrivals expected in late November.
- BRX1 500 Years Limited Edition: A refined wood stock and forend, a hand-polished receiver engraved with boar and deer, and the platform's high-visibility orange 5-round magazine. Available now.
Beretta did not list prices, gauges, or barrel lengths for any model. It also did not state chamberings for the BRX1.
Background
Beretta traces its roots to Gardone Val Trompia in northern Italy, where the family began making arms in 1526. That makes it one of the oldest firearms manufacturers still operating. The company has built its reputation on shotguns, and its over-under line has anchored sporting clays and trap for decades. The 680 series and its Silver Pigeon variants sit near the center of that tradition, and the 694 is Beretta's dedicated competition model in the same family. The A400 line brought gas-operated semi-autos to the company's catalog and became a staple for hunters and waterfowlers. The BRX1 gives Beretta a straight-pull action in a rifle, a design that competes with bolt guns while skipping the bolt manipulation. This anniversary release pulls those product lines together under one commemorative banner. Limited editions like these typically carry premiums over standard catalog models, and the numbered serials support that premium.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
Shotgun buyers should not commit to a 500 Years model until they confirm gauge and barrel length. Beretta left both off the release, so the dealer's paperwork becomes the only source. Competition shooters should check the 694's specs against their current over-under before paying a premium for commemorative engraving. Collectors should record the serial number at purchase, since each gun carries a dedicated number that defines the run. Anyone buying the BRX1 should confirm chambering and magazine specs with the dealer. The orange 5-round magazine fits within capacity limits in most states, but buyers in restrictive jurisdictions should verify their state's rules before taking delivery. Expect limited allocation at dealers, and expect some pricing to float above MSRP in the first weeks. Ask for a written out-the-door price before you put down a deposit.
DownRange Analysis
None of these guns raises a Second Amendment question. They are ordinary commercial shotguns and a rifle, sold through licensed dealers, with no novel features that would draw constitutional scrutiny under Bruen. The legal test simply does not apply here. The real question is market value. Beretta is selling anniversary décor on guns that already work well, and the price will determine whether these become long-term collectibles or shelf-sitters. My advice is simple. Do not pay above MSRP for the gold and engraving unless you plan to shoot the gun hard and keep it. If you want the 694 for competition, compare it against the standard model with the same specs before you commit. Skip the premium if you only want the engraving for display. Watch dealer listings in late November, when the 694 arrives and the market for the full set becomes clearer.
