Sellier & Bellot

Sellier & Bellot is the name of a firearms ammunition manufacturer situated in Vlašim, Czech Republic. It is a subsidiary of the Brazilian company CBC.

Foundation
Sellier & Bellot was founded in August 5, 1825 by a French merchant called Louis Sellier. Louis Sellier began manufacturing percussion caps for infantry firearms in a factory in Prague, Bohemia on the request of Francis I, the Emperor of Austria. Sellier was soon joined by his countryman Jean Maria Nicolaus Bellot, who led the company to quickly gain momentum.

Sellier & Bellot products soon established themselves on both European and overseas markets. As early as 1830 the manufacture of percussion caps was in excess of 60 million and peaked later in 1837 at the enormous quantity of 156 millions caps.

Subsequent development
A subsidiary plant in Prussian town Schönebeck is founded.
 * 1829

Cartridge production starts. Together with Flobert‘s rimfire and Lefaucheux‘s pin-primer cartridges, first centrefire cartridges appear in the production program. In just a few years, the annual output grows to 10 million cartridges.
 * 1870

Louis Sellier dies and his heirs acquire his share.

Heirs of Louis Sellier convince Jean Bellot to give up management of the company and sell it. The factory brings in Czech entrepreneur Martin Hála, who soon transforms the company into a joint-stock company (a.s.; GmbH).
 * 1872

Another subsidiary plant is established in Riga, Latvia (then part of Russia) and this soon covers demand for percussion caps in the whole of Russia and Scandinavia.
 * 1884

The first trade mark Sellier & Bellot is listed in Prague.
 * 1893

Hunting cartridge cases, quickly followed by hunting cartridges, are brought into the production program. This program is extended by copper primers for blasting works and ammunition manufacture in Škoda Pilsen.
 * 1895

During the years of World War I the production of commercial ammunition is curbed and total capacity used to manufacture rifle and handgun cartridges for the army. The Steyr 9 mm cartridge is developed and introduced to serial production during this period. After the independent state of Czechoslovakia is founded in October 1918, the Company becomes the dominant supplier of handgun ammunition for the Czechoslovak Army and police. The production of commercial ammunition for competition shooting and hunting purposes is further extended. The Company expands into the Asian and South American markets where Sellier & Bellot‘s infantry cartridges meet with a great success.
 * 1914–1918

Based on the invention of its managing director Mr. Blechta, the Company became the only manufacturer of silver azide in the world. Owing to this, the production of industrial detonators increased significantly.

The Company´s transfer from Prague to Vlašim lead to further growth.
 * 1936

Nationalization of the Company and the decision of the Czechoslovak Government to introduce state monopoly for the manufacture of both military and commercial ammunition supplies a key incentive for further development of Sellier & Bellot. The range of commercial ammunition is extended to forty rifle calibre types, ten pistol and twenty revolver types. Shot shell manufacture ranges from 12 to 410 calibre types. Total output soon increases five times. Approximately 70% of the output is exported. Original 7.62×45, 7.62×39 and 7.62×54R cartridges are successfully introduced into production to cover the demands of the Czechoslovak Army.
 * 1945

Company starts to produce antifriction bearings.
 * 1964

Production of packaging machines, now concentrated in the subsidiary company Sellier & Bellot, stroje Ltd. begins.
 * 1965

Manufacture of cartridges according to valid C.I.P. regulations begins.
 * 1972

Transformation of the state-owned company to a joint-stock company – Sellier & Bellot a.s. (JSC). The company‘s shareholders are Czech natural and legal persons; a part of the equity is held by Company´s employees.
 * 1992

Almost 70% of production volume is exported through the daughter company – Sellier & Bellot Trade a.s. The company´s products are exported to more than seventy countries around the world.

The Company is granted ISO 9001 certification.
 * 1998

Sellier & Bellot earns the bronze medal in Deutsches Waffen Journal readers´ vote in the category of Ammunition.
 * 1999

Sellier & Bellot JSC celebrates its 180th anniversary. It is not only one of the oldest engineering companies in the Czech Republic, but also one of the oldest companies in the world. It has been manufacturing products bearing its trademark uninterrupted since 1825.
 * 2005

Sellier & Bellot is acquired by CBC of Brazil.
 * 2009