Mateba
Italian manufacturer of low-barrelled revolvers under Emilio Ghisoni.
Mateba—an abbreviation of *Macchine Termo-Balistiche* (Thermo-Ballistic Machines)—was an Italian machinery firm headquartered in Pavia. The company is most famous for the low-barrel revolvers it made under the direction of Emilio Ghisoni. Following a change of ownership and weak sales, Mateba shut down in 2005. It reopened in 2014 in Montebelluna under new owner Domenico Libro, but closed again in 2022 amid fraud allegations and violations of Italian firearms law.
Among its products were the MT1, a .22 long rifle semi-automatic sport pistol, and the MTR series—a family of all-steel double/single action revolvers. In these, Ghisoni placed the barrel as low as possible, positioned the cylinder ahead of the trigger guard, and used high-capacity cylinders. Designed for Rapid Fire competition, the MTR models featured barrel weights and a low muzzle to reduce climb. Specific variants included the MTR-8 (8 rounds of .38 caliber), MTR-12 (12 rounds of .32 caliber), and MTR-14 (14 rounds of .22 LR). Another model, the 2006M, held 6 rounds of .357/.38 caliber ammunition.
The Model 6 Unica—often called simply the Mateba or Mateba Autorevolver—was offered in .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .454 Casull. A carbine version, the Grifone, had an 18-inch barrel and came in two forms: one with wood furniture, an overfolding barrel, and chambered in .357 Magnum; the other with a fixed stock, stainless steel and wood finishes, and chambered in .44 Remington Magnum.
- Founded
- Pavia, Italy
- Notable designer
- Emilio Ghisoni
- Closed
- 2005
- Reopened
- 2014 in Montebelluna under Domenico Libro
- Final closure
- 2022
- Key product
- MTR Series (Ma Teba Revolver) family of double/single action all-steel revolvers
Lore & Background
Mateba was an Italian machine manufacturer based in Pavia, Italy, whose name is a contraction of Macchine Termo-Balistiche (Thermo-Ballistic Machines). The company is best known for its low-barrelled revolver pistols designed under the leadership of Emilio Ghisoni. After a change in ownership and poor sales, Mateba closed in 2005, but reopened in 2014 in Montebelluna under the ownership of Domenico Libro. In 2022 this latest incarnation was shut down, owing to allegations of fraud and violations of Italian firearms law.
The company produced several revolver families. The MTR Series (Ma Teba Revolver) is a family of double/single action all-steel revolvers in which Ghisoni placed the barrel as low as possible, with the cylinder in front of the triggerguard and using high-capacity cylinders. These were designed for Rapid Fire competition shooting, with barrel weights and a low muzzle to minimize climb. Variants include the MTR-8 (8 rounds of .38 caliber), MTR-12 (12 rounds of .32 caliber), and MTR-14 (14 rounds of .22LR). Other models include the 2006M (6 rounds of .357/.38 caliber) and the Model 6 Unica (generally known simply as the Mateba or the Mateba Autorevolver), available in .357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, and .454 Casull. The Grifone Carbine is an 18-inch barrel version of the Model 6 Unica, offered in two versions: one with wood furniture, overfolding barrel in .357-Magnum, and another with fixed stock, stainless steel and wooden finishes in .44-Remington Magnum.
Reader's Guide
Mateba's significance lies in its distinctive low-barrel revolver design, pioneered by Emilio Ghisoni, which aimed to reduce muzzle climb during rapid fire. The MTR series, with its high-capacity cylinders and barrel weights, was specifically engineered for competition shooting, while the Model 6 Unica (Autorevolver) became a notable semi-automatic revolver. The company's history reflects a pattern of ownership changes and closures: it originally closed in 2005 due to poor sales, reopened in 2014 under Domenico Libro, and finally shut down in 2022 amid fraud allegations and firearms law violations. Despite its relatively short production runs, Mateba revolvers are recognized for their unconventional ergonomics and mechanical innovation. The design lineage continued through the Chiappa Rhino, also designed by Ghisoni but built by Chiappa Firearms. Mateba's legacy is thus one of technical ambition and niche appeal, though its commercial viability was limited.
Did You Know?
- Mateba is a contraction of the Italian words Macchine Termo-Balistiche (Thermo-Ballistic Machines).
- The Chiappa Rhino was designed by Emilio Ghisoni but built by Chiappa Firearms.
More in Revolvers, Part 4 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced