Bought a Manuhrin MR-73 revolver today.

**Checkman** · 08-14-09, 05:49 PM

Well today after many years of looking and wondering how the hell I was going to pay for an Manuhrin MR-73 revolver I finally got one today. It's in 357 magnum and has a four inch barrel with adjustable sights.
The previous owner was a shooter (he passed a way a few months ago from Cancer) and there is holster wear to the finish, but it's a beautifully made revolver. Very high quality with a truly amazing action.All the research I've done states that the MR-73 is a hellishly strong revolver. Even stronger than the Ruger revolvers. Evidently it takes twelve days of handfitting at the factory before an MR-73 or it's smaller caliber siblings (32 caliber and 22LR) are shipped from the factory.

The blueing is so deep it's black in appearance. The cylinder and crane are designed to be removed with just the simple loosening of a screw. Which is nice for cleaning purposes. All in all it's a very well though out and handsomely made revolver.

Evidently the one I got (in it's current conditon) lists at $1,500 in the Blue Book. Brand new (if you can find one in the U.S.A.) would sell for somewhere in the range of $2,500.

Well this is Southwestern Idaho not Houston. So it was priced at $900. Which is still pretty damm pricey. It's been in my local gunstore for approximately six months and I get the impression I was the only guy who was consistently eyeballing it. I guess the price tag and the fact that it's French drove people away.

Yesterday the gunshop owner said that since the owner had passed away it was now his and he wanted it to move. Which meant trade. So I traded a couple S&W .357 magnum revolvers and a 12 gauge shotgun. I didn't pay anything and the shop owner is happy. His inventory has been gutted by the recent gun buying frenzy and he would rather have several lower priced handguns that he knows will move instead of one fancy French handgun that will keep taking up space in his display cabinet for many more months.
I can always get another S&W revolver. So there you go. I go to the range Monday.

**pgg** · 08-14-09, 05:53 PM

**Checkman** · 08-14-09, 06:03 PM

The damm site won't let my download my photos and they're within the limit.

Okay I guess I was wrong. All the photos I can find are JPG and over the limit allowed. I'm not computer literate so I don't know how to change them. Perhaps somebody can help me out. Sorry.

**pgg** · 08-14-09, 06:19 PM

upload them to photobucket or tinypic then copy and paste the image code

**MacLean** · 08-14-09, 06:21 PM

Post them to a photo host like photobucket. You can also edit them for size there.

**Checkman** · 08-14-09, 06:41 PM

Did it. Still won't download the image. Now what? Oh never mind. There it is. Okay this is a photo of an MR-73 with a three inch barrel. However with the difference of one inch it's exactly like mine right down to the rubber grips. Think I'll go the Numrich and order the wooden grips as well. I like to have a selection of grips available.

**Morris** · 08-15-09, 01:17 AM

MR-73 were THE pistol of the French SWAT teams for a long time. I remember when they were being imported into the US some years back at $300 apiece. Should have bought them but I was young and poorer.

**Checkman** · 08-15-09, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by Morris

MR-73 were THE pistol of the French SWAT teams for a long time. I remember when they were being imported into the US some years back at $300 apiece. Should have bought them but I was young and poorer.

I know. I remeber looking at a Colt Python back in 1987 that was priced at $270.00 - or something like that. That was a great price back then, but I was nineteen and a sophmore in college. It might as well been $1,270. Now of course they are going for that much. Ugh.

**MacLean** · 08-15-09, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by Morris

MR-73 were THE pistol of the French SWAT teams for a long time. I remember when they were being imported into the US some years back at $300 apiece. Should have bought them but I was young and poorer.

As I recall, they got the idea from our Secret Service, but would not purchase an American made weapon.

Collaboration with the French National Police, which thank god have little in common with the French soldier.

**bayern** · 08-17-09, 07:35 AM

Something like these???

Manurhin MR-73 - with 3" (Gendarmerie) and 5 1/4" (Sport) barrels

Type: Double Action
Chamber: .357 Magnum (also 9x19mm Luger/Para)
Weight unloaded: 910 g (3" barrel) or 1050 g (5.25" barrel)
Length: 204 mm or 264 mm
Barrel length: 76 mm (3") or 133 mm (5.25")
Capacity: 6 rounds

MR-73 revolvers were developed by MANURHIN company of France in 1973. MR-73 is a standart issue firearm of the french Gendarmerie, as well as of some French elite law enforcement agencies (G.I.G.N., R.A.I.D. etc). MR-73 is also a favorite European sporting arm, available also in Sport and Match (.32 SW Long or .38 Spl).
All MR-73s featured all-steel construction, designed to withstand extereme pressures. MR-73 barrels are manufactured by cold-hammering, resulting in long service life and extreme accuracy. Additional cylinders for 9x19mm Luger ammunition available as options, providing ability to use cheaper ammunition for ectensive training. All MR-73's had hand-assembled and ajusted actions, resulting very good to extremely high accuracy and high unit price. Reliability and service life of the MR-73s, combined with the match-grade accuracy, also brings it to the worlds' best service handguns class, along with SIG P-210.

**sgtbear111** · 08-17-09, 12:44 PM

I have owned Manurhin (Walther license) pistols - P-38, and PP. The quality is equal to the original German Walther, and certainly better than the USA built Walther/Smith&Wesson product we see today.

The (now rare) Smth & Wesson 547 in 9mm Para. was supposedly developed for the European (French) police market. It was built in 3 or 4 inch heavy barrel with a round butt on the 3 inch model. The ejector was a special design.

The German Korth 357 is equal to the Manurhin in fit and finish.

**Checkman** · 08-18-09, 04:17 AM

Unfortunately Manuhrin does not import the MR73 or any of their other models into the United States. I imagine that if I ever have a part break it will be an interesting task getting a replacement. But I knew that going into the store to trade for it. I've been told that the factory will ship parts to the United States.

On the other hand if you own a Korth revolver, or have $8,000 to spend on one, there are authorized dealers across the U.S.A. The closest to me is in Sandy, Utah for example. Leave it to the Germans to be more on top of things.

The MR73 has a real rep. I'm not real sure why they aren't imported into the States. As these things go they are cheaper than the Korth and I would think that would help with sales. Are there really that many Americans buying $8,000 dollar revolvers? If so than I imagine they would jump all over the MR73 priced at the low low price of only $2,500.

Nevertheless it is a very nice revolver.

**Morris** · 08-19-09, 06:56 PM

Actually, they were imported into the US about 10 years ago by Century Arms. With a C&R, I used to get the flyers. Beaut guns that CAI had.

**Checkman** · 08-29-09, 09:44 AM

Okay here a couple photos of the MR73 that I now own. I've learned some more since I got it. Evidently from 1980 - 1992 COBRA (Austria's police anti-terrorist unit) carried the MR73. COBRA then switched to the GLOCK 17. Anyway all the COBRA MR73's were bought by some importer, shipped into the U.S. and sold off. I believe this because my example has holster wear and the hammer and trigger are not "strawed" or gold colored. Makes me think that an elite tactical police unit might not want a revolver with shiney gold parts on it. Took it to the range last Monday and it was very impressive. Very accurate and the trigger action is beautiful. Definetly not a safe queen. Not the pampered high end revolver of a rich man. Suppose you could say that it earned it's keep. As a cop I actually like the idea that this revolver was carried by a cop at one time.

**keith720** · 08-29-09, 10:58 PM

I was in Paris a few years ago, and got to talking with a French cop. He and his partner had MR 73s in thier holsters. He asked what I carried and I told him that I carried a Beretta 96. (That's what I was issued at the time) I said something about his revolver, and he indignantly replied, "Well, it's better zan ze Engish! They carry nothing!" I assured him there was nothing wrong with his revolver and that I meant no offense. I've heard nothing but good about the MR73. As an "Old school" type guy, I still have an affinity for the 6-shooter.

**Checkman** · 08-30-09, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by keith720

I was in Paris a few years ago, and got to talking with a French cop. He and his partner had MR 73s in thier holsters. He asked what I carried and I told him that I carried a Beretta 96. (That's what I was issued at the time) I said something about his revolver, and he indignantly replied, "Well, it's better zan ze Engish! They carry nothing!" I assured him there was nothing wrong with his revolver and that I meant no offense. I've heard nothing but good about the MR73. As an "Old school" type guy, I still have an affinity for the 6-shooter.

I am very proud of the U.S.A. and a big supporter of American gun makers, but the MR73 is a very well made revolver. Maybe one day I'll come across a Korth revolver. I'd like to be able to handle one of those.

**Morris** · 08-30-09, 02:54 AM

The funny thing is, the French National Police also carried Ruger roll marked SP101s as well for some time.

Oh well, glad to see the Napoleonic complex is still alive and well.

**CTR man** · 08-30-09, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Checkman

I believe this because my example has holster wear and the hammer and trigger are not "strawed" or gold colored. Makes me think that an elite tactical police unit might not want a revolver with shiney gold parts on it.

I would guess that normal wear and tear would cause this. Also, because of the color, what kind of metal is this revolver made of?

**Checkman** · 08-30-09, 11:08 PM

I'm not a metalurgist. All I can tell you is the company uses very hard, high quality steel I've also been told that the company uses steel made from Swedish iron ore. Supposedly it's some of the highest quality iron ore in the world. Sorry best I can do. If you read French here are some articles about the company and it's firearms. Me I don't read French but I like to look at pictures.

http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20franc...urhin%20gb.htm

**CTR man** · 08-31-09, 08:45 PM

No can do on the French for me either, and my computer translator doesn't want to do the page. Unless I type everything in manually. It won't even let me cut and paste. It must be a pdf file or something similar since it appears to be a picture of a magazine article. Nice pics though.