The Bodeo 1889 Revolver
This revolver was Italy’s attempt to modernize the sidearms during the late 1800’s, it was made with a Type A infantry model and a Type B officer model with some noticable changes that don’t change the performance to much between models.
My proposition is to add this weapon to the shop alongside the other silver purchasable sidearms giving another option to the axis while providing a Italian based solution for variety.
History:
By the 1870s, just about every world power had adopted a revolver as a standard-issue sidearm. In Italy, the French-made Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1874 was serving, but was not entirely ideal. At 9.44 inches in overall length and weighing in at 2.38 pounds, it was a bit too big and heavy, so there was room for improvement.
In 1886, gunsmith and engineer Carlo Bodeo patented a revolver based on the smaller and lighter Chamelot-Delvigne Police Model. Then, three years later, Bodeo was chairing a government commission tasked with adopting a replacement pistol. The design that the commission recommended for production combined elements of the Modello Glisenti 1889, which was also an improvement of the Chamelot-Delvigne, and Bodeo’s 1886 patent. The finished product was a six-shot, solid-frame, single-/double-action revolver chambered for the blackpowder 10.35x22 mm rimmed Ordinanza Italiana cartridge.
An innovative feature of the design was its use of the Abadie loading-gate system based on Jean Louis Warnant’s patent. This system made use of a gate that disconnected the revolver’s hammer when opened for loading. With the hammer disconnected, the operator simply used the trigger to advance the cylinder so each cartridge could be loaded. After firing all six rounds, the gun could be emptied by opening the loading gate and ejecting each piece of brass using the ejecting rod mounted beneath the barrel. Once again, the trigger would be used to advance the cylinder from one chamber to the next. It was a shorter and lighter design than the 1874 Chamelot-Delvigne.
This new pistol was given the official designation “Pistola Rotazione Sistema Bodeo Modello 1889” , but it was known more simply as the Bodeo, and the Italians would ultimately adopt three manufacturers versions of it across 2 variants the Type A with over 300,000 produced. The most-widely produced version was the Tipo Truppa (“Enlisted Model A”) with a 4.53-inch, hexagonal barrel, no trigger guard and a distinctive folding trigger that acted as a safety. Then there was the Tipo Ufficiali (“Officer’s Model”) with a round barrel of the same length and a trigger guard. Finally, there was the Tipo Alleggerito (“Lightweight Model”) with a shorter 3.46-inch barrel.
Changes you can see with the trigger guard in this picture:
Type A is on top Type B on bottom.
Differences:
Type A
This model had a folding trigger and no trigger guard to keep the weapon from snagging.
Type B
The Type B model had a fixed trigger guard for use by officers.
Type A
Type B
More of this weapon
Specifications:
Caliber: 10.35x22mm
Cylinder size: 6 rounds
Date of manufacture: 1890 - 1931
Weight: 2 Pounds 2 ounces
Action: Single/Double
velocity: 255 m/s
Frames were made from a wide variety of materials ranging from brass to brazed copper plates. The loading gate was connected to the hammer via the Abadie patent 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.
Reasons for this addition into the TT:
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It’s a Italian pistol that would fit perfectly into the TT/shop as the Italians are somewhat unrepresented in terms of equipment.
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This would add a new sidearm to the Axis that would create variety and a good option for the axis in the early game.
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This would allow players to build more authentic Italian Squads while staying closer to actual history.
Proposed stats:
Damage: 5.6
Muzzle velocity: 255 m/s
Reload speed: 4.8s
Recoil vertical: 17
Recoil horizontal: 8
Feed system: 6 round cylinder
Weight: 0.950 kg
Practical Rate of fire: 220
Final numbers to be determined based on feedback and balancing.
Should the Bodeo 1889 be added to the TT/weapon shop for Germany and Italian faction?
- Yes
- No
Should this weapon be included with the above stats or should they be adjusted?
- Yes
- Yes, but not with these stats
- No
- Yes, But with multiple versions using different stats
Feel free to leave why you chose the second response.
Sources:
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/classic-guns-the-bodeo-revolver/