OTs-27 Berdysh
TsKIB SOO · Pistol · Limited Production · 1994
Also known as: OTs-27, OC-27, Berdysh
Overview
The OTs-27 Berdysh is a Russian semi-automatic pistol developed in the early 1990s at the TsKIB SOO design bureau in Tula. Operating on a simple blowback action with a double-action trigger, its defining feature is a convertible barrel and recoil-spring assembly that lets a single frame be rechambered between 9x18mm Makarov, 9x18mm PMM, 9x19mm Parabellum and 7.62x25mm Tokarev. It is almost fully ambidextrous and was offered with fixed tritium night sights and an under-barrel rail for lights or lasers. It was produced only in small batches and saw limited service with Russian special-purpose and law-enforcement units rather than mass adoption.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 900 g (31.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 200 mm (7.87") |
| Barrel Length | 125 mm (4.92") |
| Height | 145 mm (5.71") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 18 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 320 m/s (1050 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 312 J (230 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x18mm Makarov · primary — also known as 9mm Makarov, 9x18 PM, 9x18mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Decocker
- Features: Ambidextrous Controls, Interchangeable Barrels, Tritium Night Sights, Accessory Rail, Multi Caliber
Service history
Operators
- Russian special forces and law enforcement
Production
Production years: 1994-present
Produced only in small batches by TsKIB SOO; never adopted for mass production despite positive field reports.
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Igor Stechkin, Boris Avraamov
Notes
The convertible design swaps the barrel and recoil spring to change caliber; magazine capacity varies by cartridge (around 18 rounds in 9x18mm). Named for the berdiche, a long-handled Eastern European battle axe.
Background
The Berdysh emerged from post-Soviet efforts to give Russian police and security services a single, modular pistol that could be adapted to whatever ammunition was available, anticipating the convertible multi-caliber concept years before it became common elsewhere.