Bodeo Model 1889

The Bodeo Model 1889 (Italian: Pistola a Rotazione, Sistema Bodeo, Modello 1889) was an Italian revolver named after the head of the Italian firearm commission, Carlo Bodeo. It was produced by a wide variety of manufacturers between 1889 and 1931 in both Spain and Italy. The Bodeo was employed by the Royal Italian Army in World War I, the Interwar Italian colonial wars, and World War II. The Bodeo was manufactured in three distinct varieties, the Tipo A for Enlisted soldiers, the Tipo B for Officers, and the Modello Alleggerito, which was introduced in the 1920s for commercial and police use.

Bodeo Model 1889
A Bodeo Model 1889, with folding trigger.
TypeService revolver
Place of originKingdom of Italy
Service history
Used byRoyal Italian Army
WarsItalo-Turkish War
Boxer Rebellion
World War I
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Spanish Civil War
World War II
Production history
Produced1889 to c. 1931
Specifications
Mass950 g (2 lb 2 oz)
Length232 mm (9.1 in)
Barrel length115 mm (4.5 in)
Cartridge10.35mm Ordinanza Italiana
ActionDouble action
Muzzle velocity256 m/s (840 ft/s) [1]
Feed system6 round cylinder
SightsFixed iron sights

History

Made by a large variety of Italian gun-makers, the Bodeo became the service revolver of the Italian Army in 1891.[2] The revolver was named after the head of the Italian commission that recommended its adoption, Carlo Bodeo.[3] It remained the principle handgun of the Italian Army until it was increasingly supplanted by the Glisenti Model 1910.[2] The revolver was never declared obsolete and remained as a reserve weapon until the end of World War II.[4] The Italian manufacturers identified with the production of the Bodeo include: Societa Siderurgica Glisenti, Castelli of Brescia, Metallurgica Bresciana, and Vincenzo Bernardelli of Gardone Val Trompia.[5] During World War I, Spanish manufacturers Errasti and Arrostegui of Eibar produced the Bodeo for the Italian government.[5] The Italians nicknamed this revolver coscia d’agnello ("leg of lamb"). During World War II, the Wehrmacht designated the Bodeo as Revolver 680(i) when utilized as an alternative firearm.[6]

Design details

The Bodeo Model 1889 is a solid-framed, six-shot revolver.[5] The barrel, the cylinder, the trigger components, the loading gate, the ejection rod, the springs and the screws were made in steel; while the frame, the backplate, and the ejection rod collar were made of iron. An external hammer block drop safety was designed and retrofitted to many revolvers in 1894, though this external hammer block safety was replaced with an internal safety during an arsenal refinishing program in 1915.[7] Prior to World War I, the infantry version of the Bodeo was originally produced "in the white". The Italians underwent a program to arsenal refinish many revolvers in 1915, with changes including bluing the revolvers and installation of an internal hammer block drop safety. Later models of the Bodeo were blued from the factory.[8]

Variations

The Bodeo revolver was issued in 3 primary variations:

Tipo A Enlisted Model
1890 Production Tipo A Bodeo with correct in the white finish and external safety
WW1 Production Tipo A Bodeo with internal hammer block safety and blued finish

The Type A Enlisted model has an 4.5" octagonal barrel with a distinctive iconic folding trigger. This variation was first produced by the Royal Arms Factory at Brescia from 1889–1891, then, by Glisenti at Brescia from 1891–1906. Early production Bodeo revolvers were produced in the white (i.e., unfinished), and will have an external hammer block safety.[8] Production was paused until the Italo-Turkish war in 1911, when production was resumed by Toschi e Castelli. Upon entering World War I in 1915, the Italians contracted with many private producers to produce Bodeo revolvers, including Toschi e Castelli, Mida Gia a Castelli, and Mida Brescia. The Italians also contracted several Spanish firms from Eibar to produce Bodeo Tipo A revolvers during the war. Later Italo-Turkish War and World War I variants of the Tipo A revolver will have an internal hammer block safety. Many early production Bodeo revolvers from pre-war production were arsenal re-blued and retrofitted with the internal hammer safety in 1915 in preparation for Italy's entrance to the war.[8] Production of Tipo A revolvers continued after the war until the late 1920s for a total production of approximately 300,000. All Italian manufactured Tipo A revolvers have a year of manufacture stamped on the left side of the frame, while some Eibar-contracted revolvers lack this year marking.[8]

Tipo B Officer's Model
Crest of Savoy as seen on a Tipo B Officer's Model

The Type B Officer's model has an 4.5" octagonal barrel, with a trigger guard. This variation was first produced by the Royal Arms Factory at Brescia from 1891–1893, where only ~9000 copies were made. Production was continued by Glisenti at Brescia from 1891–1906, where another 10,000 copies were made. The Tipo B revolvers made by the Royal Brescia Arsenal are distinctive for having a high polish charcoal blued finish and finely checkered grips. These Tipo B revolvers will also have the Crest of Savoy on the left-hand side of the frame.[9] Importantly, there was no serial production of Tipo B Officer's model revolvers after 1906. An estimated total of fewer than 18,000 Tipo B Officer's model revolvers were ever manufactured. The Tipo B Officer's model revolver should not be confused with the Modello Alleggerito, which also has a trigger guard, but has a round 3.5" barrel, and were never manufactured until after the end of World War I.

Modello Alleggerito (Lightened Model)
Modello Alleggerito with distinctive 3.5" Rounded Barrel

The Modello Alleggerito has a 3.5" rounded barrel and a trigger guard. Because of the presence of a trigger guard, the Modello Alleggerito is often mistaken by inexperienced collectors for the Tipo B officer's model revolver. Importantly, however, the Modello Alleggerito revolver has a rounded 3.5" barrel, which is the key differentiating feature from the Tipo B Officer's Model revolvers. Modello Alleggerito revolvers were also hot caustic blued instead of charcoal or rust bluing. Further, the Modello Alleggerito production only began in 1922, long after the end of the war. The Modello Alleggerito was never used by the Royal Italian Army, and instead was primarily issued to Italian police forces, such as the Italian Custom's Officers. Modello Alleggerito revolvers are found without year of manufacture, though can be readily identified as they were manufactured by Metallurgica Bresciana gia Tempini or Napoleone e Vittorio Castelli. Production continued until late 1926, for a total production of an estimated 50,000 Modello Alleggerito revolvers.[10]

Alternates

A few alternate models exist, such as Bodeo pattern revolvers manufactured for commercial sale. These often have mechanically distinctive features such as different lockwork that differs from the primary models of the Bodeo revolver.

Mechanics

The Bodeo was considered simple and robust.[3] Due to the revolver being produced by a multitude of manufacturers, the quality of the weapon varied greatly, with the early production models made by the Brescia Arsenal and Glisenti Brescia between 1889-1906 showing much greater workmanship and quality than wartime production models.

Frames were made from a wide variety of materials ranging from brass to brazed copper plates.[11] The loading gate was connected to the hammer via the Abadie patent[4] with the barrel screwed into the frame.[3] Ejection was achieved by the rod normally housed in the hollow axis pin.[3] The hammer block was designed to prevent firing unless the trigger was fully cocked.[4]

References
  1. Miller, David (2007). Fighting Men of World War II, Volume I: Axis Forces--Uniforms, Equipment, and Weapons (Fighting Men of World War II). Stackpole Books. p. 348. ISBN 978-0-8117-0277-5.
  2. Hogg, Ian, Pistols of the World 4th Edition (2004) p. 49
  3. McNab, Chris, The Great Book of Guns (2004) p. 105
  4. Hogg, Ian, Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition (2000) p. 59
  5. Hogg, Ian, Pistols of the World 4th Edition (2004) p. 50
  6. Luciano Salvatici. Pistole Militari Italiane
  7. Pettinelli, Ruggero F. (2015). Bodeo 1889. Il revolver degli italiani. Edisport Editoriale. p. 36. ISBN 978-8888593579.
  8. Pettinelli, Ruggero F. (2015). Bodeo 1889. Il revolver degli italiani. Edisport Editoriale. p. 40. ISBN 978-8888593579.
  9. Pettinelli, Ruggero F. (2015). Bodeo 1889. Il revolver degli italiani. Edisport Editoriale. p. 76. ISBN 978-8888593579.
  10. Pettinelli, Ruggero F. (2015). Bodeo 1889. Il revolver degli italiani. Edisport Editoriale. p. 120. ISBN 978-8888593579.
  11. Kinard, Jeff. Pistols: an illustrated history of their impact, p. 157, ABC-CLIO, Inc. 2003.
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