SOLD - Antique Italian Bodeo 1889 Revolver - Officer's Model

Description

7/13/23 - Scarce first variation of the Tipo B Officer’s Model of the Bodeo M1889 revolver made by the Italian arsenals at the Royal Arms Factory at Brescia (R. Fabbrica D'Armi di Brescia). The Royal Arms Factory at Brescia only manufactured a total of 8990 Tipo B Officer’s model revolvers between 1891-1893, after which production was moved to Glisenti Brescia in 1894. Based on serial number records as reported in Ruggero Pettinelli’s Bodeo 1889, Il Revolver Degli Italiani (see attached), this revolver with serial number 8607 was likely made in 1893, one of the last manufactured at Brescia. The Tipo B revolvers made by the Royal Arms Factory at Brescia are one of the rarest variations of the Bodeo revolver and are seldom seen; in Pettinelli’s book he describes them as being the rarest variation (“rarissimo”) of the Bodeo revolver, while the Tipo B revolvers made by Glisenti Brescia are considered much less rare. (See Page 212 in the attached chapter). The Tipo B revolvers made by the Royal Arms Factory at Brescia are uniquely identifiable by a crest of the Royal Coat of Arms of the House of Savoy stamped on the left side of the frame (not to be mistaken with the rampant lion crest found on the later Tipo B revolvers manufactured by Glisenti Brescia). This feature is noted in Figure 168 in the attached chapter from Pettinelli’s book. As described in Pettinelli’s book (see attached chapter), this revolver retains all the correct early features of the Brescia made Tipo B revolvers, including a hand-polished charcoal blue (in contrast to later refurbishments with a matte slow rust or hot salts bluing), finely checkered wooden grips (in contrast to later models with coarsely checkered grips), and a correct 4.5” octagonal barrel (in contrast to the shorter 3.5” rounded barrel found on postwar Modello Allegrito revolvers). This mirror-polished blue is a noted feature of these Brescia made revolvers, see pages 76-78 and Figure 167 in the attached chapter from Pettinelli’s book. This revolver also retains all the early features correct for a Tipo B revolver that was never re-arsenaled or refurbished. Note the absence of later arsenal modifications such as an external safety drop safety or internal drop safety, as indicated by the absence of a cut on the hammer for the later internal drop safety modification. (This cut, by contrast, is always present on revolvers that went through postwar refurbishment, or on the postwar Modello Allegrito revolvers that are frequently mistaken for Tipo B Officer’s model revolvers). Internally, the pawl/hand also correctly does not show any later arsenal modifications for an internal safety. These features are correct for original unmodified Tipo B revolvers as noted in Figures 170, 174, and 176 in the attached chapter from Pettinelli’s book. As Tipo B Officer’s Model revolvers were made for private purchase by officers, this revolver correctly does not have a military inventory serial number on the right side of the frame, and instead has the correct Brescia manufacturer’s serial/assembly number on the front of the frame. This is correct for the Brescia made Tipo B Officer’s model revolver as noted in Figures 167, 171, and 172 in the attached chapter from Pettinelli’s book. As Bodeo revolvers were made of iron and steel parts, this revolver has aged to an attractive two-tone finish (similar to many Beretta 1934’s), with the iron parts such as the frame maintaining an attractive high polish charcoal blue, and steel parts such as the barrel and cylinder have turning a charcoal plum finish. Internally, the hammer and trigger maintain attractive high polish charcoal blue, while the pawl/hand and mainspring are correctly in-the-white. The internal faces of the frame and side plate display a brilliant jeweled-and-charcoal-blued finish, which is unique to the Brescia Arsenal made Tipo B revolvers, and described in Figures 175 and 176 in the attached chapter from Pettinelli’s book. Mechanically functions well in single and double action. Timing is excellent. Cylinder locks up completely tight with trigger pulled to the rear, with no wobble or looseness. Abadie system works perfectly as designed. Properly holds full cock with no hammer push off. Double action is smooth, and single action breaks clean. The early Brescia made Tipo B Bodeos revolvers are much better fit than later WW1 era Tipo A enlisted model Bodeo revolvers, which translates into a manual of arms that feels very solid and smooth. Internally no parts are missing. Side plate opens properly and retaining screws are all present. Correct finely checkered wooden grips. There is no looseness in the grips; they are fitted perfectly. Original lanyard ring present. Bore is shiny with strong rifling but does have pitting around the muzzle end. Not import marked.