By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
During my first trip to France I noticed most police officers carried revolvers and a few carried the M1950 9mm.
More than thirty years later nearly every Gendarme carried the SIG 9mm pistol, but older female cops carried a Ruger SP 101 revolver. I had other things on my mind and the Pretty Girl and I had a great visit with welcoming friendly people. I admit to a little excitement and tension as this trip was just three days after Benghazi. This adventure was planned months ahead and we did not let a little thing such as a call for the death of American tourists stop us. French paratroopers on every corner and motorcycle police on patrol insured our safety.
The French Revolver Connection
How did a European agency come to issue their own home grown revolvers? During the first wave of terror in Europe police agencies scrambled to upgrade from .32 and .380 ACP sidearms. American .38 caliber revolvers were issued as a stop gap but most agencies adopted the SIG P220 or Beretta 92 9mm.
The French, for many reasons, decided upon a revolver at least for special teams. The superbly accurate and reliable MR 73 is rated for 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
This .357 Magnum revolver was used successfully in numerous engagements. Since most terrorists used vehicles to arrive and escape the power and penetration of the Magnum cartridge against sheet metal was appreciated. Less well-trained units were issued .38 Special variants.
The MR 73 is a great revolver. With current cost $4,000 retail it isn’t something likely to see widespread institutional issue. It does not reside in my safe! France looked for an alternative for use by some agencies, a firearm that would be proofed to a ‘mere’ 50,000 rounds. Constant practice was a hallmark of their GIGN and other similar units.
(Note- the French M1950 9mm survived in some roles for thirty years. Recently the SIG P series 9mm adopted for all police and military units was given a thorough 700,000 round test spaced among a large number of handguns. Longevity and long service are important.)
Manurhin and Ruger collaborated on the Manurhin Special Police revolver. Similar to a fixed sight Speed Six in appearance, Ruger’s experience in manufacturing extremely rugged and accurate revolvers played an important part. Most of the gun was Sturm Ruger & Company parts with French made cylinders and barrels. The Special Police F1 was similar in appearance but manufactured completely in France. Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin is a respected maker that also manufactured Walther PP and PPK handguns. Today’s revolvers are manufactured on the same equipment by Chapuis Armes a maker of high end shotguns and rifles.
Several Manurhin revolvers were in police service before the MR 88 was developed. The MR 88 Sport is an adjustable sight version and perhaps the best of the French revolvers manufactured save for the MR 73. While most of the earlier revolvers were blue steel the MR 88 illustrated is a stainless steel revolver. The MR 88 Sport, to the best of my knowledge, was intended for commercial sales. The MR 88 Sport features fully adjustable sights.
There are interesting variations on French revolvers. Some of the first police service revolvers featured a lockwork attached to the side plate. My revolver is similar in appearance to a Ruger Security Six in many ways but upon further examination it looks as if someone made the Ruger in another world- which they did!
The barrel is a heavy underlugged type. A solid integral rib sets atop the barrel. The barrel crown is very nicely done. The front sight is pinned in place. Both the ramp and sight post are nicely serrated. The rear sight is a fully adjustable unit with a serrated rear face and white outline. The cylinder locks in tight. While Ruger uses a plunger for lock up the crane of the Manurhin revolver locks up on a stud mounted in the frame. The MR 88 features a sideplate unlike Ruger revolvers. The cylinder release is Ruger type; no need to mess with success.
The action is tight with absolutely no unnecessary play. This makes for excellent combat shooting. Single action let off is a smooth, crisp 2.25 pounds. The revolver uses a transfer bar safety and the action utilizes a coil mainspring. The full size grip frame looks like a Smith & Wesson square butt.
The MR 88 is fitted with Trausch grips. These are among the best designed revolver grips ever manufactured. They provide good support and raise the bore axis of the handgun. The grips separate the revolver frame from the hand rendering recoil light indeed. A lanyard ring is incorporated into the grip.
My revolver was found at a local Cabelas. In fact there were five in the showcase, the most Manurhin revolvers I have seen in one place outside of France. The price was fair and I have a Cabela’s credit card. The MR 88 Sport illustrated is in .38 Special. That’s fine for my use.
The MR 88 has proven reliable and accurate with a wide range of .38 Special loads. I have fired a good quantity of what I consider .38-44 loads. A 200-grain hard cast flatpoint at 850 fps is one such load, another is a 165-grain hard cast SWC at 1,050 fps. For most uses a far more sedate diet has been the norm. The humble Federal 130-grain FMJ has proven match grade accurate in this revolver. Clean burning and affordable this is a great practice load. For personal defense use a jacketed hollow point such as the Federal Punch or Federal Hydra Shock offers modest recoil in this handgun but a good balance of penetration and expansion.
In short, the revolver is service grade and more than accurate enough for any chore the .38 Special revolver is capable of. As for absolute accuracy, it is more accurate than I am able to hold. So far I have fired five shot groups at 25 yards that cluster into 1.5 inches. I may top these results with more practice if not that is more than acceptable.
Carrying the MR 88, I don’t like to mismatch holster fit, however, the MR 88 was a perfect fit for a Lobo Gunleather pancake holster molded for another .41 frame revolver the Colt Python. (lobogunleather.com) The holster’s tunnel loops keep the holster cinched in tight to the body. The draw is sharp and fit and finish excellent.
Manurhin MR 88 Specifications
Barrel: 4 inches
Sights: Adjustable
Caliber: .38 Special
Weight: 36.1 ounce
Capacity: Six Shots
An understudy; it is funny how you live as long as I have and see two revolvers you have never seen in your life in the same month! I found a Ruger SP 101 in a local shop with a three inch barrel, Trausch grips, and European proof marks. As it turns out this revolver served with the French Rail Police. It has been places I will never set foot I am certain. The Ruger SP 101 is another tough revolver well suited to thousands of heavy loads. These revolvers are lifetime investments offering a good shooting experience.
