ARTV Preview: Walther Arms, Taurus G3X and Italian Bodeo Revolver

by
posted on April 12, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Walther Arms is one of the most well respected and oldest German firearm manufacturers on the market. Founded by Carl Walther in 1886, the company has a rich history of firearms development and manufacturing spanning more than a century. For this week's feature, we go to Walther's post-World War II factory location in Ulm, Germany, to see how it makes its firearms today.

A print of the old Walther factory in Germany before it moved to its present location.

For Rifleman Review, we test out the striker-fired, polymer-frame Taurus G3X, a 9 mm pistol with a shorter barrel and slide like the G3c, but with a larger grip frame. This allows the G3X to be utilized for concealed carry, while also delivering the magazine capacity and full grip of a larger pistol.

The Taurus G3X 9 mm pistol.

Later, we examine the history of the Bodeo, or Model 1889, revolver, which served Italian forces throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A double-action revolver with a six-round cylinder chambered for a 10 mm cartridge, the Bodeo is unique for its folding trigger shoe and lack of a trigger guard. It was produced from 1889 to 1931 and was even issued to Italian troops in World War II.

The Italian Bodeo Model 1889 service revolver.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/videos/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Marlin Mad Pig 1894 01
Marlin Mad Pig 1894 01

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

I Have This Old Gun: The Southern Derringer

People carrying small firearms for personal protection is not a new concept, and in the middle of the 19th century, many pocket pistols were designed with self-defense in mind. One such gun, the Brown Manufacturing Southern Derringer, was among the earliest cartridge-firing self-defense guns.

The Jewish Community Is Embracing Our 2A Freedom

In this episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, we interview Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned and -operated gun club that now—after being launched only a year ago—has 50 chapters around the United States.

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

5 New SBRs for 2026

It has never been easier for gun owners to buy and use short-barreled rifles, and for the occasion, we have five of the latest SBRs on the market right now.

Review: Military Armament Corporation MAC-5K

SDS Arms, under its Military Armament Corporation (MAC) brand, imports Turkish-made roller-delayed handguns of the H&K MP5 pattern called the MAC-5K.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.