Bodeo Model 1889

The Bodeo Model 1889 revolver (Pistola Rotazione, Sistema Bodeo, Modello 1889) was named after the head Italian firearm commission Carlo Bodeo. It was produced by a wide variety of manufacturers between 1889 and 1931 in both Spain and Italy. It was employed by the Royal Italian Army in World War I, the Interwar Italian colonial wars, and World War II. The Bodeo comes in two distinct varieties with only superficial weapons differences.

History
Made by a large variety of Italian gunmakers, the Bodeo became the service revolver of the Italian Army in 1891. The revolver was named after the head of the Italian commission that recommended its adoption Carl Bodeo. 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. Among 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. 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 designated the Bodeo Revolver 680(i) when utilized as an alternative firearm.

Alternates
The Bodeo Model 1889 is a solid framed, six shot shot revolver. The revolver was designed in two distinct versions. A round-barreled version designed with a trigger guard and and octagonal-barreled version with a folding trigger. The octagonal-barreled revolver was produced for rank and file Italian soldiers while the round-barreled was produced for non-commissioned officers and field officers. The folding trigger version was produced in greater number.

Mechanics
The Bodeo was considered simple and robust. Because the revolver was made by a wide variety of manufacturers, the quality of the weapon varied greatly with frames being made from a wide variety of materials ranging from brass to brazed copper plates. The gate was connected to the hammer and the barrel was screwed into the frame. Ejection was achieved by the rod normally housed in the hollow axis pin. The hammer block was designed to to prevent firing unless the trigger was pulled fully back.