Bersa
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Firearms manufacturing |
| Founded | June 1, 1950 |
| Founder | Benso Bonadimani, Ercole Montini, Savino Caselli |
| Headquarters | Ramos Mejía , Argentina |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Firearms (handguns) |
| Website | www |
Bersa is an Argentine firearms manufacturer headquartered in Ramos Mejía, Argentina.
History
Established during the mid-1950s by Italian-Argentine engineers Benso Bonadimani, Ercole Montini, and Savino Caselli, Bersa began by producing components for the now-defunct Argentine company Ballester–Molina. Their inaugural handgun, the "Luan," which was a modified version of a Ballester model, achieved limited market success and currently holds value as a rare collector's piece.
In 1959, the company introduced its first 22 Long Rifle pistol called the "Modelo 60," which later evolved into the well-received "Modelo 62," inspired by a modified Beretta design. The brand name "Bersa" was adopted in 1960, derived from the initials of the founders' first names. Over the following decades, Bersa broadened its product range to include firearms chambered in progressively more powerful calibers, earning recognition within the industry. Its first full-size combat pistol chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, the Model 90, debuted in 1989.
Bersa unveiled the "Thunder" series in 1994, with model numbers that correspond to their calibers. This series comprises two main designs: compact blowback pistols chambered up to .380 ACP and locked breech, short-recoil pistols for higher-powered cartridges starting at 9×19mm Parabellum, utilizing a modified Browning mechanism.
By the late 1990s, Bersa had secured a significant contract to equip the Argentine Armed Forces and Argentine Federal Police with the Bersa Thunder 9—a development of the Model 90—phasing out older Browning Hi-Power sidearms.
Previously, Bersa manufactured .22 Long Rifle rifles along with single- and double-barreled shotguns; however, these product lines were discontinued due to insufficient commercial demand.
Currently, Bersa ranks among Argentina’s largest privately held companies, producing widely recognized handguns such as the Bersa Thunder 380, Thunder 9 pistols, and the Ultra Compact series available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP calibers.
Overview
The compact Thunder models in .22, .32, and .380 calibers bear resemblance to the Walther PPK, whereas the full-size Thunder 9, 40, and 45 share design elements and mechanical features with the Walther P88.
Chambered for the 22 Long Rifle, the Thunder 22 enjoys popularity among recreational shooters throughout the Americas. The longer-barreled variant, Thunder 22–6, is preferred in competitive shooting disciplines.
Compact Thunder pistols perform strongly in markets where civilian ownership of higher-powered cartridges is restricted. The Thunder 380 is particularly favored in the United States as a lightweight, concealable personal defense firearm that combines quality with affordability.
Full-size Thunder pistols are standard issue sidearms for Argentina’s military (Thunder 9), as well as law enforcement agencies including the Argentine Federal Police and Buenos Aires Provincial Police (Thunder 9 and 40).
In 2019, Bersa introduced the BP9CC: an eight-round, single-stack polymer-framed 9mm pistol featuring a striker-fired system with a double-action trigger mechanism—differing from the hammer-fired operation of the Thunder series. The BP9CC incorporates a locking barrel design and is also offered in .380 ACP and .40 S&W versions.
Handguns
- Bersa 83
- Bersa 85
- Bersa 86
- Bersa 223 DA
- Bersa Thunder 22
- Bersa Thunder 22-6
- Bersa Thunder 32
- Bersa Thunder 380
- Bersa Thunder 380 Concealed Carry
- Bersa Thunder 380 Plus
- Bersa 383a
- Bersa Thunder 9
- Bersa Thunder 40
- Bersa Thunder 40 HD
- Bersa Thunder 9 Ultra Compact
- Bersa Thunder 40 Ultra Compact
- Bersa Thunder 45 Ultra Compact
- Bersa BP 380 Concealed Carry
- Bersa BP 9 Concealed Carry
- Bersa BP 40 Concealed Carry
- Bersa TPR9
- Bersa TPR9C
- Bersa TPR9C X
- Bersa TPR9 XT
- Bersa TPR 380
- Bersa TPR 380 Plus