Manurhin MR 73
| Manurhin MR–73 | |
|---|---|
Manurhin MR 73 4" in .357 Magnum caliber. | |
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Gilbert Albert René Maillard |
| Designed | 1972 |
| Manufacturer | Manurhin |
| Produced | 1972–present |
| Variants | Manurhin MR 88, Manurhin MR 93, Manurhin MR 96, Manurhin F1, Gendarmerie, Sport, Match |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 880 g (31.0 oz) (2.5") 950 g (33.5 oz) (4") 1,030 g (36.3 oz) (5.25") |
| Length | 195 mm (7.7 in) 205 mm (8.1 in) 233 mm (9.2 in) |
| Barrel length | 2.25 in (57.2 mm) 2.75 in (69.9 mm) 3 in (76.2 mm) 4 in (101.6 mm) 4.25 in (108.0 mm) 5.25 in (133.4 mm) 6 in (152.4 mm) 8 in (203.2 mm) 10 in (254.0 mm) |
| Cartridge | |
| Action | Double-action/single-action |
| Effective firing range | 50–100 metres (55–109 yd) |
| Feed system | 6-round cylinder |
| Sights | Iron sights, both fixed and adjustable |
The Manurhin MR 73 is a French double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum and .38 Special. It is manufactured by Manurhin and is available in 2.5", 2.75", 3", 4", 4.25”, 5.25", 5.75", 6", 8" and 10" barrel lengths.
After WW II French police gradually faced a worrying threat. Military grade firearms left over from the occupation and liberation were used by violent criminals to outgun police personnel. In response French police agencies gradually accepted the idea of arming their personnel, traditionally equipped with blowback pistols chambered in .32 ACP, with locked breech pistols and heavy-duty revolvers chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and .357 Magnum.
Introduced in 1972, the MR 73 was designed for police tactical unit use and is known for having formerly been the standard issue sidearm of the French National Gendarmerie, as well as for its offensive role and use by French police tactical units such as GIGN and the National Police's RAID. It has also seen service with military, police, and armed groups elsewhere in the world, most predominantly in the former French colonial empire.