Manhurin Revolvers for sale

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I was unaware that the S&W Model 65 came out that early. I checked just now and
the 686 first came out in 81, but I doubt I saw one before 82 or 83.

Certainly cutter wear is an issue, fiver, but assuming they weren't using HS cutters in production
of the steel guns, shouldn't be huge. More than that in the very early days, the gun industry in general
were fairly clueless on alloy selection. They had galling issues, I hear in some
gun manufacturers. You need different alloys if hard rubbing will occur. The 400 series
are heat treatable, but the 300 series are NOT, so are soft unless you do some special
rolling or forging of the final surface, hard to do in many cases.

Smith did OK, but had some issues. The early 686 cylinder pivot tubes were nicely made but
too soft, and would pound out the headspace in maybe 5K full power .357 rounds. Fortunately
with a special tool, you can roll a groove in that tube with a perfect-fit hard steel pin inside to
stretch it back out, restore the cyl end shake (headspace). After somewhere around 686-4 or -5
they used a harder alloy, that problem went away. Buying an early 686 always look for end
shake. If it has it, get a discount and bring it to KC, and my friend will fix you up.
Or just don't buy an early 686 of you like shooting full power loads a lot.

Bill
 
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RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
"THE" gun in the early 1970's LE trade was the S&W 66 and 65. But since most of us were required to carry issued 38 special ammo, we didn't have much problem with the early guns. If you shot a lot of the Super-Vel's the issue was flame cutting the top strap. The state troopers on the highways in my state were issued the Remington Hi-Speed stuff (38/44) at least till 1975 with lead bullets, so didn't have a problem that I ever heard about.
 

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Several things made SS practical for firearms manufacture.
  1. Better cutting tool materials such as coated carbides and ceramics.
  2. Better cutting tool geometry that deals effectively with the gummy hardness of SS.
  3. Better, stronger, and more powerful (CNC) machine tools that can smoothly drive tools without chattering and jumping.
  4. Advances in metallurgy that have made free machining, non-galling and improved precipitation hardening (PH) grades of SS available.
  5. Better firearm designs that utilize other processes (grinding, EDM, casting, etc.) and minimize machining. Compare the amount of machining needed to make a GP100 vs a traditional S&W J/K/L/N frame revolver.

I've always said that when you improve life for the handicapped you improve life for the non-handicapped, and when you improve the manufacturability of SS you improve the manufacturability of everything else you work with.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Excellent points, Keith, and as a practical, working machinist plus a teacher on the topic, I
am sure you have studied the matter closely.

i am not surprised by this, but the better grades of more machinable PH alloys is something I was
not specifically aware of. More machine HP is also something I wasn't aware was a help in this
matter.

Thanks for the education.

I'm all for improved life for the handicapped......but a bit concerned about cars for the blind. :headscratch::)

Bill
 
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Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Bill, as Genl Schwarztkopff (IIRC) said, "Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without your accordion." DeGaulle was an idiot and so were most of the French upper echelon. Just plain stupid.
 
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Pistolero

Well-Known Member
The sad thing is that, from objective observers, both writing in WW2 and a recently retired
US LtCol friend who trained with French SpecOps folks when he was associated with that
branch, the lower level troops are NOT poor fighters, not cowards. But their leadership has
seriously betrayed them so many times. The top 3 or 4 layers of the French military in WW2
were pretty hopeless. Once the French troops were integrated into the Allied command in
Italy, they did excellent work from reports of other observers in that area. But, this required
getting DeGaule to agree to get involved in the fight, a ridiculous political dance. But, you cannot
pick which figure your allies will politically rally around. DeGaule had the loyalty of the French
upper military, so if we were going to use French troops, and there were a hell of a lot of them
in N. Africa to take advantage of when we really needed more divisions against Germany, we had
to put up with a-holes like DeGaule. The reality of war.

Churchill's books on this are really interesting and helpful in understanding the huge efforts ABOVE
and AROUND the battlefield to make the war work.

Anyone who is interested in the history of WW2 really should add Churchill's "The Second World
War" to their reading list. I got the paperback version for half this price, but this is good for
the hardbacked set. A LOT of reading.


Bill
 

Bowfin

New Member
I could be wrong, but those look more like a Manurhin MR88 than an MR73. The Manurhin MR73 is considered by many to be the finest .357 Magnum double action available, which I am sure will bring howls of indignation from a lot of Colt Python owners as well as the occasional Korth or S&W aficionado. I'm particular to Dan Wessons, myself.

There was a movie about a true story of a French airliner being hijacked, and the point man on the team that stormed the airliner took his MR73 inside to play, killing two terrorists and wounding a third before the fourth shot him seven times. (Good guy survived, bad guy and his back up was cleaned up with an MP-5)
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
One of my Grail Guns--equal in holiness to the S&W Model 16--would be one of the Manurhin 32 S&W Long revolvers.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I assume that is a top grade target gun, Al, just guessing. I really don't know
much about the Manhurins, never even handled one. But reports are that they
are extremely well made.

Shot him seven times and he survived. My guess right there would be 9mm ball ammo without
any more info.

edited: changed to "ball"

Bill
 
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CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Shot him seven times and he survived. My guess right there would be 9mm pall ammo without
any more info.

Typical 9mm Ball ammo performance. It is known for such outcomes, and to some degree is designed to produce same. Old Clauswitzian doctrine along the lines of "A wounded enemy requires more manpower to remove from the battle site and more materiel to treat and heal him/her than to manage KIAs". That is the sort of drivel that REMF upper echelon types come up with--you know, the Suits that don't get shot at (enough).
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Reallly enjoy reading Billl's responses to this thread. I much
agree with all he has written here. My favorite mil rifles are
my two 6.5x55 Swed, which are well over 100 yrs old. One
scoped the other as issue. Quality!

Paul
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
The two 6.5 Swedes that I have are real shooters, or were when my eyesight was good. Have not tried
them in the last couple of year. They probably aren't as accurate nowdays....:rolleyes: as they used to be.
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Bill, the eyeshight factor is big indeed. About a year ago I was
diagnosed with AMD (age related macular degeneration) in the
left eye. Results, a shot in that eye every 4 to 6 weeks with very
little improvement. However the right, corrected is still 20-20, and
can shoot Iron sights well enough to shoot my K31, and my two
Swedes ok. Good rifles.

Paul
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Glad to hear you still have at least one good eye, Paul. The whole eye thing is the worst
part of aging for me.