With Korth, it is definitely the exclusive, custom-made factor. It belongs in the same category as Swiss watches.

With the Manurhin, the objective factor which led the French to abandon S&W and have Manurhin develop their own revolver for the police and especially the anti-terrorist GIGN was durability.

When the (somewhat legendary) French police trainer, and President de Gaulle’s bodyguard and confidante, Raymond Sasia, trained with the FBI in the 1960s and brought modern combat techniques to France, he insisted on all practice with full-power .357 loads. At first they imported S&W K-frames (I don’t think RM’s were considered ). S&W actually produced a special French contract 3” Model 19. But these simply came apart too soon with a steady magnum diet.

The outcome was the development of the MR73. I’ve never owned one, but apparently you can shoot it with full power magnum loads until your hands fall off without ill effects on the gun. The GIGN still used these revolvers decades after the rest of the world switched to semi-autos.

Of course, if you DON’T shoot magnums all day, you’re just buying a high quality revolver that’s not American for a change. That’s entirely your pleasure