The history of FARA begins with Val Forgett of Navy Arms, who contracted with the Antonio Zoli & Co. arms making firm in Brescia, Italy during the very end of the 1950's to reproduce what many considered to be the finest original Civil War rifled musket - the Zouave. These rifles became known as the Zoli Zouave. Back in 1862 to 1865, Remington only built 12,501 original Zouaves.

Navy Arms very likely imported 50,000 or so of the big .58 caliber muzzleloaders over a 30-year period, and many other companies, including Dixie Gun Works ... Centennial Arms ... Replica Arms...... Lyman......and CVA also imported the Italian copies of the Zouave rifled musket - and while many were still produced by Antonio Zoli, some were also produced by his sons, Giuseppe, Ezio and Paolo eventually took over.

Giuseppe Zoli also manufactured revolvers like the Griswold & Gunnison. Those produced by Antonio will have the Antonio Zoil & Co. Made in Italy, Black Powder Only” stamped on them and those made by his sons will have an additional stamp, the letters F.A.R.A., the mark of Giuseppe Zoli, but still under the company name of Antonio Zoli & Co. So FARA stands for Fabrica Armi Antonio, made in the Antonio Zoli factory byt Gieseppe Zoli.