The Bodeo Model 1889 ( it, 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 World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the

Interwar In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second World War. The interwar period was relativel ...

Italian colonial wars, and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The Bodeo comes in two distinct varieties with only superficial weapons differences.

History

Made by a large variety of Italian gun-makers, the Bodeo became the service revolver of the Italian Army in 1891. Hogg, Ian, ''Pistols of the World 4th Edition'' (2004) p. 49 The revolver was named after the head of the Italian commission that recommended its adoption, Carlo Bodeo.McNab, Chris, ''The Great Book of Guns'' (2004) p. 105 It remained the principle handgun of the Italian Army until it was increasingly supplanted by the Glisenti Model 1910. The revolver was never declared obsolete and remained as a reserve weapon until the end of World War II.Hogg, Ian, ''Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition'' (2000) p. 59 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.Hogg, Ian, ''Pistols of the World 4th Edition'' (2004) p. 50 During World War I, Spanish manufacturers Errasti and Arrostegui of Eibar produced the Bodeo for the Italian government. The Italians nicknamed this revolver ''coscia d’agnello'' ("leg of lamb"). During World War II, the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

designated the Bodeo as ''Revolver 680(i)'' when utilized as an alternative firearm.

Design details

The Bodeo Model 1889 is a solid-framed, six-shot revolver. The barrel, the cylinder, the trigger components, the loading door, 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. Prior to the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, 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.

Alternates

The revolver was designed in two distinct versions: The Type A Enlisted model, with an octagonal-barreled version with a folding trigger; and a Type B officer's model, with round-barreled version designed with a trigger guard, The octagonal-barreled version was produced for rank and file Italian soldiers, while the round-barreled version was produced for

non-commissioned officers A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

and field officers. The folding trigger version was produced in greater numbers. During The

, licensed copies were made by several Spanish firms from the

Eibar Eibar ( eu, Eibar, es, Éibar) is a city and municipality within the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country of Spain. It is the head town of Debabarrena, one of the '' eskualde / comarca'' of Gipuzkoa. Eibar has 27,138 inhabitants ( Eusta ...

region. Production of these Spanish copies occurred between 1916-1917.

Mechanics

The Bodeo was considered simple and robust. Due to the revolver being produced by a multitude of manufacturers, the quality of the weapon varied greatly. Frames were made from a wide variety of materials ranging from brass to brazed copper plates.Kinard, Jeff. ''Pistols: an illustrated history of their impact'', p. 157, ABC-CLIO, Inc. 2003. The gate was connected to the hammer with the barrel screwed into the frame. Ejection was achieved by the rod normally housed in the hollow axis pin. The hammer block was designed to prevent firing unless the trigger was fully cocked.

References

{{WWIIItalianInfWeapons Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1889 Early revolvers Revolvers of Italy Military revolvers World War I Italian infantry weapons World War II infantry weapons of Germany World War II infantry weapons of Italy