SITB  Società Italiana del Tiro al Bersaglio -  History - Oldest American Italian Gun Club

The Società Italiana del Tiro al Bersaglio (Italian Target Practice Society) holds a unique and storied place in New Orleans history. It was far more than a recreational shooting club; it was a cornerstone of the Italian immigrant community’s social, cultural, and defensive identity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A Brief History

Founded in 1889, the society was modeled after the Italian Bersaglieri—the elite high-mobility marksmen of the Italian Army, famous for their distinctive wide-brimmed hats decorated with black capercaillie feathers.

• Community Defense: The society was born during a period of intense anti-Italian sentiment (nativism) in New Orleans. Following the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian Americans—the largest mass lynching in U.S. history—the Italian community felt a profound need for formal legal standing and protection.

• The Militia Status (1892): Seeking legitimacy, the society lobbied for recognition under Act 15 of 1892. By being officially recognized as a "Volunteer Militia," they moved from being a "private group" (which was often viewed with suspicion as "mafia-adjacent") to a legally sanctioned military body authorized by the State of Louisiana.

• Cultural Hub: They were a fixture in New Orleans parades, particularly on St. Joseph’s Day and Christopher Columbus Day, where they marched in full military regalia to demonstrate the honor and discipline of the Italian-American citizen.

Influential Members & Leaders

While the society was composed of many "working-class" marksmen, its leadership and active participants included prominent figures in the New Orleans Italian community. Records from the 1890s Adjutant General Reports and contemporary news archives (like The Daily Picayune) highlight several key individuals:

1. The Officers (Historical Records 1892–1895)

• Captain G.B. (Giovanni Battista) Lamantia: One of the most frequently cited early leaders. He was instrumental in securing the society's military recognition and was a vocal advocate for Italian civil rights in the city.

• Lieutenant Frank (Francesco) Sercio: A key officer in the society during its peak years as a recognized state militia unit.

• Lieutenant Pietro Ciafardini: Another officer of record who helped oversee the society’s marksmanship training and drills.

2. Prominent Community Figures

• The Matranga Family Influence: While often associated with the business of the New Orleans waterfront, members and associates of the Matranga family were known to be active in the benevolent and social societies of the time. Charles Matranga himself survived the 1891 lynchings and remained a massive influence in the community. 

• Pietro Monastero: A shoemaker by trade, he was a member of the community involved in the legal struggles of the early 1890s and represents the typical "citizen-soldier" profile of the society's membership.

• Salvatore Pizzati: A wealthy steamship captain and philanthropist. While his primary legacy is the Pizzati Gate at City Park, he was a massive supporter of Italian cultural organizations and would have been a peer and patron to the society's leadership.

3. Notable Affiliates

• Baron Francesco Saverio Fava: Though the Italian Ambassador based in D.C., his direct involvement with New Orleans societies following the 1891 crisis elevated the profile of groups like the Tiro al Bersaglio to international importance.

• Pasquale Corte: The Italian Consul in New Orleans in 1892. He worked directly with the society’s leaders to ensure that Italian "militia" groups were seen as patriotic American organizations, not foreign insurgents.

Legacy

By the early 20th century, the Società Italiana del Tiro al Bersaglio had transitioned into a purely social and benevolent organization as federal laws (the 1903 Dick Act) removed private groups from official state military rosters. However, its members went on to form the backbone of the American Italian Cultural Center and various Italian-American Federation branches that still exist in Louisiana today.

* In the LA Government Arhives - Act 15 1892 Sec. 1. Pg. 25 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes recognized the Society as a Militia and it could be mustered into military law enforcement service by the Governor.

According to a book entitled "Louisiana History" with a chapter on Louisiana's Italian Immigrants (page 61): "As the Italian population grew, there was a demand for a second society. Called "Tiro-al-Bersaglio" ("Hit the Target"), it was known as the Italian society and it was chartered on March 10, 1869. It was a mutual beneficial society and a marksmen's club, divided into civil and military branches. In 1870 the members met at 18 Royal Street in the French Quarter.

For the 1890 Funeral of Jefferson Davis, the Tiro Al Bersaglio officered by Captain Patorno marched in the parade to honor the President of the Confederated States of America. There were 3 companies with over one hundred men, rank and file.  Their dark olive-green uniforms and broad -brimmed, low crowned black hats, freely garnished with black feathers, contrasted strikingly with the blue and gray uniforms of those who preceded them.

We Invite you to join the oldest Italian Club and Militia in the Americas. Founded in 1868 and Incorporated in 1869. We are the oldest Latin American Society of which we were, at one time,  formerly recognized by the state government as a militia and military society. See: Act 15 1892 Sec. 1. Pg. 25 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes recognized the Society as a Militia that could be mustered into service by the Governor.   Further, we are one of the oldest Latin American organizations in the United States of America.

As a note, we are even older than the  Massachusetts Rifle Association , older than the Savannah's Forest City Gun Club ,  and older than the National Rifle Association.