Ruger-Manurhin Connection

[Confederate]

Just curious as to what connection, if any, there is. The French pistols look like Rugers outwardly, but upon closer inspection they have side plates and have weaker barrels at the end. No connection seems to be made in the literature and I don't know if the similarity is something done under contract or just pilfered.

Oh, yeah, the Manurhin lookalikes also cost way more than the Rugers.

Does anyone have one of these and, if so, how well do they shoot? Are they more accurate than Rugers?

The Manurhin MR88 is a French double-action police and sporting revolver. The Manurhin MR88 is chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and has a 6-chamber cylinder and is produced in a choice of finishes and barrel lengths of 3 inches, 4 inches and 5.25 inches. The police models have fixed sights, the sporting model (MR88 SX) has an adjustable micrometer rear sight.

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[MrBorland]

AFAIK, the MR-88 was made through a collaboration with Ruger, hence the physical similarity.

Other Manurhins, such as the MR-73 and MR-93 look nothing like a Ruger.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Manhurin has made dozens of collaborations with other MFG's, notably Walther. I've even seen a Mauser marked Colt Detective special. It's more common than you think.

 

[Shear_stress]

Not sure what you mean by "weaker barrels", but Manurhin guns have a reputation for top notch quality. You are correct about the Ruger connection. As Mr. Borland said, Manurhin used Ruger Security Six frames for one of its service revolver models (the MR88).

I'd love to get my hands on one.

 

[Confederate]

Yes, I noticed other models bore no resemblance to Ruger revolvers, but the ones that did had sideplates -- which I thought was interesting (why?). The barrel on the second photo shows that it doesn't seem as sturdy as the Ruger barrels. It's ring is smaller. What do you think?

The price of the French guns also are much more than the Rugers. I wonder why? Taxes?

 

[Jim Watson]

As I recall - sorry, my book with the story perished in the fire - the French wanted a service revolver less expensive than the MR73 so they got in touch with Ruger.
Ruger got all enthused, looked at the 9mm cylinders available from Manurhin, Korth, and FN and designed a Speed Six rimless extractor to compete with S&W M547 in Europe. But it wouldn't pull the empties from hot CIP ammo so they resorted to half moon clips.
I don't recall if any number of straight Rugers either 9mm or .357 made it to France.
The French wanted something nicer so they (Manurhin maybe) bought Ruger frames and installed French barrels and cylinders.
Those did ok so Manurhin tooled up to make a copy of the Ruger except with sideplate instead of bottom loading for the action. That is what we see here.

 

[PabloJ]

Just curious as to what connection, if any, there is. The French pistols look like Rugers outwardly, but upon closer inspection they have side plates and have weaker barrels at the end. No connection seems to be made in the literature and I don't know if the similarity is something done under contract or just pilfered.

Oh, yeah, the Manurhin lookalikes also cost way more than the Rugers.

Does anyone have one of these and, if so, how well do they shoot? Are they more accurate than Rugers?



.

That looks like a nice one. It's probably almost as good as S&W 'Distinguished Combat Magnum.'