Bernardelli UB: Hammer and Striker Fired 9mm Blowback

Published on January 28, 2019
Duration: 14:47

This guide details the disassembly and inspection process for the Bernardelli UB, a rare 9mm blowback pistol. It covers safety checks, component removal, cleaning, and reassembly. The video highlights the pistol's unique dual buffer spring system and its historical context. Expert instruction from Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons is provided.

Quick Summary

The Bernardelli UB is a rare 9mm blowback pistol from the mid-1950s, notable for its experimental hammer and striker-fired variants and its unique dual buffer spring system designed to handle the hotter 9mm Lungo cartridge. Despite these features, harsh recoil and small sights led to its commercial failure.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Bernardelli UB
  2. 00:48Bernardelli Company History
  3. 01:30The UB Design Philosophy
  4. 03:16Variants: Hammer vs. Striker Fired
  5. 04:249mm Lungo (M38) Caliber
  6. 06:39Technical Specifications and Catalog
  7. 06:58Mechanical Features and Disassembly
  8. 12:35Commercial Failure and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Bernardelli UB pistol unique?

The Bernardelli UB is unique for its dual buffer spring system designed to manage the recoil of its blowback 9mm operation, and for its experimental use of both hammer-fired and striker-fired mechanisms in early production runs.

What caliber was the Bernardelli UB designed for?

The Bernardelli UB was specifically designed to chamber the 9mm Lungo (9x19mm M38) cartridge, which is a higher-pressure, hotter load than standard 9mm Parabellum, though it could also fire Parabellum rounds.

Why did the Bernardelli UB fail commercially?

The Bernardelli UB experienced commercial failure due to excessively harsh recoil from the blowback 9mm action, extremely small iron sights that made aiming difficult, and a general market preference for locked-breech pistol designs.

What is the history of the Bernardelli company?

Bernardelli is one of the world's oldest gun companies, founded in 1631 in Italy. Despite its long history, it filed for bankruptcy in 1997, with its assets eventually sold to the Turkish company Sarsilmaz.

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