Manurhin MR-73

     Notes: This French revolver is in common use by French and Swiss police.  The .38 Special version is often found in the hands of African officers.  The outer contours are smoothed for an easier draw when concealed, and the barrel is cold-forged, unusual in a revolver.  With a quick cylinder change (taking about a minute) 9mm Parabellum ammunition may be fired.  The rear sight is adjustable. 

     The MR-73 S-6 Sport is a special version of the MR-73 designed for shooting matches.  This version has a longer barrel, and the grips may or may not have finger grooves.  The rear sight is adjustable to a greater degree than the standard MR-73.  The interchangeable cylinders for .357/9mm Parabellum are still useable, but an additional model (the MR-73 M-6) is designed to fire .32 Smith & Wesson Long ammunition. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MR-73 (2.5” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

0.88 kg

6 Cylinder

$163

MR-73 (3” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

0.89 kg

6 Cylinder

$168

MR-73 (4” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

0.95 kg

6 Cylinder

$178

MR-73 (2.5” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

0.88 kg

6 Cylinder

$116

MR-73 (3” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

0.89 kg

6 Cylinder

$121

MR-73 (4” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

0.95 kg

6 Cylinder

$131

MR-73 S-6

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.07 kg

6 Cylinder

$197

MR-73 S-6

9mm Parabellum

1.07 kg

6 Cylinder

$150

MR-73 M-6

.32 Smith & Wesson Long

1.07 kg

6 Cylinder

$147

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MR-73 (.38, 2.5”)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

3

MR-73 (.38, 3”)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

4

MR-73 (.38, 4”)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-73 (.357, 2.5”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

3

MR-73 (.357, 3”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

4

Nil

4

MR-73 (.357, 4”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

4

Nil

7

MR-73 (9mm, 2.5”)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

5

MR-73 (9mm, 3”)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

6

MR-73 (9mm, 4”)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

10

MR-73 S-6 (.38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

12

MR-73 S-6 (.357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

13

MR-73 S-6 (9mm)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

15

MR-73 M-6

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

12

 

Manurhin MR-88

     Notes: Based on the F-1 Special Police Revolver, this weapon was sold primarily on the civilian market and was introduced in 1988.  Like the MR-73, the cylinder in the .357 Magnum version is interchangeable with a cylinder allowing the use of 9mm Parabellum ammunition.  There are two models: the Defense DX-4, with a fixed front sight and no rear sight; and the Sport SX-4, with an adjustable micrometer rear sight and longer barrel lengths.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (3” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$167

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (4” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$177

MR-88 Defense  DX-4 (3” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$120

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (4” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$130

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (4” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$177

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (5.25” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.04 kg

6 Cylinder

$190

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (6” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.06 kg

6 Cylinder

$197

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (4” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$131

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (5.25” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

1.04 kg

6 Cylinder

$143

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (6” Barrel)

9mm Parabellum

1.06 kg

6 Cylinder

$150

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (3”, .38)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

4

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (4”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (3”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

4

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (4”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (3”, 9mm)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

6

MR-88 Defense DX-4 (4”, 9mm)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

10

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (4”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (5.25”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

10

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (6”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

12

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (4”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (5.25”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

11

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (6”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

13

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (4”, 9mm)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

10

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (5.25”, 9mm)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

13

MR-88 Sport SX-4 (6”, 9mm)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

15

 

Manurhin MR-93

     Notes: Introduced in 1993, this revolver imitates a common American practice at the time, providing interchangeable barrels.  It comes in two versions; the standard version and the Sport version, which has a micrometer adjustable rear sight and can mount a telescopic sight but is otherwise identical to the standard version in game terms.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MR-93 (3” Barrel)

.357 Magnum

1.08 kg

6 Cylinder

$167

MR-93 (4” Barrel)

.357 Magnum

1.16 kg

6 Cylinder

$177

MR-93 (5.25” Barrel)

.357 Magnum

1.23 kg

6 Cylinder

$190

MR-93 (6” Barrel)

.357 Magnum

1.33 kg

6 Cylinder

$197

Barrel Set

NA

0.93 kg

NA

$185

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MR-93 (3”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

4

MR-93 (4”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-93 (5.25”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

11

MR-93 (6”)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

13

 

Manurhin MR-96

     Notes: This essentially the MR-93, but without the ability to change barrels quickly, and with the ability to use .38 Special ammunition and speedloaders.  It is also heavier, to help control recoil a bit better.  

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MR-96 (3” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.09 kg

6 Cylinder

$167

MR-96 (4” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.15 kg

6 Cylinder

$177

MR-96 (5.25” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.22 kg

6 Cylinder

$190

MR-96 (6” Barrel)

.357 Magnum and .38 Special

1.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$197

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MR-96 (3”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

4

MR-96 (4”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-96 (5.25”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

11

MR-96 (6”, .357)

DAR

3

1-Nil

1

2

Nil

13

MR-96 (3”, .38)

DAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

4

MR-96 (4”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

7

MR-96 (5.25”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

3

Nil

10

MR-96 (6”, .38)

DAR

2

Nil

1

2

Nil

12

 

Modele d’Ordonnance Mle 1892 (Lebel)

     Notes:  Based on an early revolver of the 1880s, which was itself partially designed by Nagant (of Nagant revolver fame), the Mle 1892 became the standard military sidearm for French forces until several years after World War 1, and continued in French police service for over half a century.  Like the “Lebel” rifle, this weapon is often called the “Lebel” revolver, even though Colonel Lebel had nothing to do with either the design or production of the revolver or the cartridge; he was merely the chairman of the Army selection board that authorized the weapon for use by the Army.  The weapon is considered my most military analysts as being woefully inadequate for a military handgun, with poor damage, poor range, slow loading, and a cartridge that was an oddball at the time of its introduction. The one redeeming feature of the Mle 1892 is the hinged side plate on left side of the frame, allowing the lockwork to be cleaned easily.

     The Mle 1892 had (for the time) some of the latest advances in revolver design: a swing-out cylinder (though it swung out to the right instead of the left like virtually all revolvers then and since), a curved grip, a hammer safety, and an ejector rod which ejected all cases simultaneously.  The Mle 1892s frame comes in two halves; the entire left side of the frame is a hinged plate that may be swung forward to allow access to the lockwork. 

     Due to the long period of the Mle 1892s production and service life, large amounts can still be found in working order. It was not deleted from the French military until 1945, and even some Nazi officers in World War 2 used some captured Mle 1892s.  There were a number of commercial variations of this weapon some made by St Etienne and many of which are Spanish copies whose quality runs from poor to excellent.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

Mle 1892

8mm Lebel Revolver

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$146

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

Mle 1892

DAR

1

Nil

1

4

Nil

8

 

St Etienne MAS-1873

     Notes: This early military revolver was bought by officers and issued to cavalry, artillery, and some NCOs before the Franco-Prussian War.  (In that era, officers were required to buy their own sidearms.) It remained in service until well after World War 1, with a few examples being used into World War 2 by police and partisans.  Many were also sold in the US, where they found utility amongst civilians, especially in the West. One 1874 was seen in the hands of an outlaw in the TV miniseries Lonesome Dove, and they have been used in over a dozen movies, including The Mummy, where Brendan Fraser’s character carries two of them.

     The original MAS-1873 (and the MAS-1874) fired a large-caliber round which produced a lot of damage but had insufficient velocity to do more than average in the range and accuracy department.  The revolver may be operated in single and double-action modes. They were quality firearms, built as to be nearly impossible to break, and meant to be soldier-proof.  The barrel was half-octagonal and 4.5 inches long. It was a heavy revolver due to it’s being made of strong, thick steel.  The M-1874 was reloaded in a complex procedure that involved the manipulation of several controls and then removing the cylinder and replacing it.  (In game terms, this takes only as long as reloading a standard cylinder.) Field stripping was simple and easily accomplished without special tools. (Turning the screws could even be accomplished with a coin of the period.) It had an oversized trigger for use with gloves, but trigger pull in double action is said by some to be a bit heavy.  Finish was uniformly blued, with wooden handguards. 

     The MAS-1874 was a double action revolver, rare for 1874.  It was an improved MAS-1873, with a fluted cylinder that shaved a minute amount of weight off and a blued finish instead of the natural metal of the MAS-1873. For game purposes, it is otherwise the same as the MAS-1873.      

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MAS-1873

11mm French Ordnance

1.02 kg

6 Cylinder

$169

MAS-1874

11mm French Ordnance

0.99 kg

6 Cylinder

$169

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MAS-1873

DAR

2

1-Nil

1

4

Nil

11