Table of Contents

• History
• Rifles
• R92
• Shotguns
• Accessories
• Conclusion

Rossi Firearms has produced weapons for the civilian and military markets for over a century as one of the most well-known South American gunmakers. Nowadays, it is more focused on importing and distributing airsoft guns to Brazilians, and no longer sells firearms to the local market. The name Rossi still appears on plenty of firearms which are sold, but these are units specifically created for exportation and international distribution via their subsidiaries.

I knew Brazil to be the only Latin American country to actively participate in WWII, most notably on the Italian front. In doing the research, I thought perhaps the Brazilians had used their own locally-produced weapons, and that Rossi could have definitely been involved. However, I found that the Brazilian forces which fought alongside the Allied Nations were taught U.S. military methods and also trained with Allied Nations weapons and gear.

Company Background

Founded in 1889 by Amadeo Rossi (1862-1956), the company immediately got busy supplying the local market with revolvers and pistols of all kinds. In the 1970s, Rossi’s weapons were being imported into North America by Interarms Virginia, who continued importing and distributing their firearms in the United States and Canada until 1997. During that time, Rossi opened up its BrazTech subsidiary and began distributing firearms through its own company channels.

When BrazTech opened its gates, the company also signed with Taurus International, who then gained the authority to produce firearms under the Rossi name, and continues to do so to this day. This was probably done since the name Rossi still commands a certain respect, and has much nostalgic stock as well as its legacy. That said, I don’t doubt Taurus’ expertise. I am sure they wanted to keep the Rossi name alive, and I am also sure it was beneficial for them to do so. Taurus produces several models of the .38 Special revolver and a few models of the .357 Magnum revolver.

Here is some of Rossi’s current lineup.

Rossi Rimfire Rifles

These are rifles which were designed and created with the .22 in mind. It is not just a fluke that this is one of the most popular cartridges in the world. Obviously, it all depends on the operator of the weapon, but you can’t deny that the .22 has the potential to be consistently accurate and reliable.

Model RS22 Black Synthetic:
Action – semi-automatic
Caliber – 22LR
Length – 36.25 inches long
Barrel length – 18-inch
Weight – 4.1 lbs
Capacity – 10-round magazine
MSRP: $139

Model RB22M Black Synthetic:
Action – semi-automatic
Caliber – 22 WMR
Length – 38.5 inches long
Barrel length – 21-inch
Weight – 4.3 lbs
Capacity – 5 rounds
MSRP: $189

Model RB22 LR:
Action – bolt-action
Caliber – 22LR
Length – 35.5 inches long
Barrel length – 18-inch
Weight – 4 lbs
Capacity – 10 rounds
MSRP: $189

Model RB17:
Action – bolt-action
Caliber – 22LR
Length – 38.5 inches long
Barrel length – 21-inch
Weight – 4.3 lbs
Capacity – 5 rounds
MSRP: $189

R92 Rifle

Based on the classic Winchester model of 1892, the R92 is a group of lever-action rifles. These are fit for everything from hunting game and hitting clay, to chasing after loose lawbreakers and haulin’ them to the County Sheriff. As legendary gun vlogger Hickok45 pointed out, you just feel like a cowboy when you’re holding a lever-action rifle. I love that Click-CLACK! Sound. It always gets my mojo going.

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M92 Carbine 45 Colt:

Action – lever-action
Caliber – 45 Colt
Length – 36.6 inches long
Barrel length – 16-inch
Weight – 4.3 lbs
Capacity – 5 rounds
MSRP: $189

Action – lever-action
Caliber – 45 Colt
Barrel length – 20-inch
Weight – 5 lbs
Capacity – 10+1 rounds
MSRP: $659

Action – lever-action
Caliber – 45 Colt
Barrel length – 16-inch
Weight – 5 lbs
Capacity – 8+1 rounds
MSRP: $629

Action – lever-action
Caliber – 45 Colt
Barrel length – 20-inch
Weight – 5 lbs
Capacity – 10+1 rounds
MSRP: $629

The original Winchester of 1892 (created by John Browning) is probably one of the most recognizable lever-action rifles in the world. Its design still serves as the basis for many weapons, and the Rossi R92 rifle is a great example of taking a solid idea and putting your own spin on it.

Rossi Shotguns

A single shotgun is currently being offered by Rossi Firearms. It is a single-shot, 20 gauge, synthetic stock, 28-inch barrel shotgun, with a break-open action, a weight of 5.25 lb, and a price tag of $139 (MSRP).

In the past, Rossi had produced and distributed 12 gauge single-shot shotguns as well, but these have since been discontinued. These were also highly affordable and came at a price of about $100+ (MSRP).

Assorted Firearms

A few other Rossi items worth a mention are the Circuit Judge series of firearms, and the Matched Pair series.

The Circuit Judge Rossi’s are carbines based on Taurus’ Judge revolver (which was first introduced in 2006), and they have the ability to fire 45 Colt rounds and 410 bore shells. Fiber optic front sight, Brazilian stock, and forend of wood or synthetic material, optional Picatinny rail, and a choke.

The Matched Pair series is a duo of guns which include tool-less, on-the-fly, rifle/shotgun interchangeability. One pair is of a 20 gauge and 22LR caliber, and the other is 410 bore and 22LR. Both are youth-style, single-shot, break open action, and they carry a price tag of $189.

Accessories

Items such as carry cases and California-compliant locks can be found on the accessories page of Rossi’s website. There are also recoil pads, scope mounts, a telescopic rod, and more, but overall the selection is not very big.

Then again, while accessories are fine, the emphasis should certainly be on the weapons themselves, so I am good with a gun site’s accessory page being small. As long as the firearms work properly, the accessories are secondary. Anything you need you could probably buy at a gun shop. It doesn’t have to be Rossi.

Conclusion

Rossi’s firearms set themselves apart by being highly affordable and still durable over time. They are considered a relatively low-end brand, but their guns are not made in a cheap way, nor are they cheap-looking. Are they a Winchester? A Browning? No, but both Rossi and Taurus honor the traditions of old, by manufacturing and distributing guns which stand the trials of performance and reliability.

Rossi Firearms has been in business for nearly 130 years, and no company lasts for over a century with doing some things right, you know? Their products are known for their positive look and feel, their quality, and their performance. While it does depend heavily on who it is that is shooting, there is no doubt that using the right kind of gun can make or break your shot. Ultimately, Rossi Firearms seeks to put quality tools in the hands of shooters all over the world, and they succeed at doing this with a much more pocket-friendly approach.

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