Zoli’s Early Years: Crafting Italian-Made Shotguns

The Zoli family begins crafting firearms in Magno Val Trompia, a region renowned for its artisanal excellence and home to the finest Italian gun makers. This marks the start of a long-standing family tradition in Italian shotgun manufacturing, where craftsmanship, innovation, and passion for excellence have been passed down through generations, shaping one of the most respected Italian shotgun brands.

Giovanni Zoli, a master gunsmith, creates a fine muzzle-loading pistol. This artisanal masterpiece not only consolidates Zoli family’s reputation but also serves as an important contribution to the innovation and quality of firearm production at the time.

On October 1st, 1945, Antonio Zoli officially reestablishes the company after the forced break caused by World War II. Starting from a small gunsmith workshop, Antonio quickly transforms the business into one of the leading industrial players in the sector, thanks to his entrepreneurial vision and the support of his sons. Even at that time, Zoli’s side-by-side and over-under shotguns were recognized for their exceptional quality, becoming a benchmark for precision and reliability.

Zoli stands out as the first company in the world to produce historical muzzle-loading firearm replicas on an industrial scale, marking the beginning of a new and important market. This innovation demonstrates the company’s ability to anticipate trends and respond to market needs.

Zoli revolutionizes the Italian shotgun market by pioneering the industrial production of rifle-shotgun combinations and express shotguns, available in both over-under and side-by-side configurations. This innovation challenges the dominance of Central European manufacturers, positioning Zoli among the leading Italian gun makers and expanding opportunities for the Italian firearms industry.

The company launches the MG-92 line, the first Drilling guns to be industrially produced in Italy. These guns, featuring two smoothbore barrels and one shotgund barrel, achieve great success and remain in production for over 20 years, consolidating Zoli’s reputation as a leader in innovation.

Under the leadership of Paolo Zoli, the company takes a new direction, focusing on the development of high-end competition shotguns. The “Classic Revolution 4” project marks a major technological advancement, introducing four types of over-under shotguns for both clay target shooting and hunting. Designed specifically for competitions, these innovations lay the foundation for the current Zoli product lineup, positioning Zoli in the top segment of the market.

The launch of the “Classic Revolution 4” also sees the introduction of the Zoli-Tech package. These innovations, closely tied to dynamic-ballistic qualities and reliability, improve the precision and performance of Zoli shotguns, reinforcing the company’s position as a pioneer in firearm technology.

Zoli shotguns win numerous national and world championships in clay target shooting, showcasing the ballistic and dynamic excellence of the company’s products. These victories confirm the technical excellence and reliability of Zoli firearms in world-class.

The Custom Shop becomes a key element of the company’s strategy, allowing Zoli to offer personalized shotguns that meet the needs of the most demanding customers. This initiative strengthens the bond between the company and its clientele, in line with Zoli’s philosophy of prioritizing the needs of shooters.

The company continues to invest in advanced technologies and patents, ensuring a prestigious range of products designed and manufactured entirely in-house. Zoli remains committed to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, consolidating its position as an industry leader.