Bernardelli UB: Hammer and Striker Fired 9mm Blowback

Published on January 28, 2019
Duration: 14:47

The Bernardelli UB was a rare 1950s Italian 9mm blowback pistol designed to compete in the military service market. It featured both hammer-fired and striker-fired variants and was chambered for the hotter 9mm Lungo (M38) cartridge. Despite its unique design, it suffered from harsh recoil, poor sights, and a commercial failure, with only about 85 units produced.

Quick Summary

The Bernardelli UB was a rare 1950s Italian 9mm blowback pistol chambered in the hotter 9mm Lungo (M38) cartridge. It featured both hammer-fired and striker-fired variants but ultimately failed commercially due to harsh recoil and poor sights, with only about 85 units produced.

Chapters

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Bernardelli UB pistol?

The Bernardelli UB was a rare Italian 9mm blowback pistol produced in 1956-1957. It was an attempt to enter the military service pistol market, scaling up Bernardelli's smaller pocket pistol designs.

What caliber did the Bernardelli UB use?

The Bernardelli UB was chambered for 9mm Lungo, also known as 9mm M38. This was a hotter Italian submachine gun load, roughly 5-10% more powerful than standard 9mm Parabellum.

Why did the Bernardelli UB fail commercially?

The UB failed due to harsh recoil from the 9mm blowback action, tiny sights, and a market preference for locked-breech pistols. Only about 85 units were ever produced.

Did the Bernardelli UB have different firing mechanisms?

Yes, Bernardelli produced variants of the UB that were both hammer-fired and striker-fired. They experimented with both systems simultaneously to gauge market success.

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