Bodeo Alleggerito

Metallurgica Bresciana gia Tempini · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1920

Also known as: Bodeo Modello 1889 Alleggerito, Modello 1889 Alleggerito

Overview

The Bodeo Alleggerito ('lightened') is a commercial lightened variant of the Italian Bodeo Model 1889 service revolver, introduced in the 1920s to reduce the weight of the standard gun. Like the parent design it is a solid-frame, gate-loaded, six-shot single-action revolver chambered for the 10.35mm Italian Ordnance cartridge, but it is distinguished by a rounded (rather than octagonal) barrel and lightened construction. It saw little military use, being sold mainly to civilians and some police and customs agencies.

Specifications

Overall Length232 mm (9.13")
Barrel Length115 mm (4.53")
Action TypeSingle Action
Firing MechanismSingle Action
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Magazine Capacity6 rounds
Magazine TypeRotary
Muzzle Velocity255 m/s (837 fps)
Muzzle Energy367 J (271 ft·lbf)
Effective Range25 m (27 yd)
Rate of Fire12 rpm
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Base model

Bodeo-M1889

Service history

Operators

Production

Production years: 1920s-1930s

Commercial lightened variant of the Bodeo Model 1889; sold primarily to civilians and some police/customs agencies. Exact production totals not documented separately from the parent model.

Origin

Country of origin: Italy

Designer: Carlo Bodeo

Notes

The round barrel profile appeared only on the Alleggerito model, whereas the standard troop and officer patterns of the Bodeo Model 1889 used octagonal barrels. Exact lightened weight figures are not consistently documented; the parent Bodeo Model 1889 weighed about 950 g.

Background

The Alleggerito is the only Bodeo pattern to wear a smooth round barrel; the far more common troop and officer service revolvers kept the distinctive octagonal barrel, making the round-barrelled 'lightened' gun the easiest way for collectors to spot a commercial-market Bodeo.