Eibar: City of Guns
Orbea’s humble beginnings originated in the heart of the Basque Country, a family affair between three brothers: Juan Manuel, Mateo, and Casimiro. They began by selling handguns to governments with an ornate logo reading “OH”: Orbea Hermanos. In English, "Orbea Brothers".
From 1880 to 1895
Orbea Brothers was a progressive industrial fixture in the firearms hub of Eibar, and a pioneer in the usage of electricity in gun manufacturing.
ORBEA BROTHERS AND CO.
To properly reflect the growth of the company, shortly before the end of the 19th Century "Orbea Brothers" was renamed "Orbea Brothers and Co.". After a boom in the firearm business before and during World War I, the market saw a sharp decline in demand for guns as peacetime interwar weapon restrictions cascaded over Europe. In response, Orbea leveraged their expertise with steel tubing to develop products for other markets.