Ratzeburg and Lollar/Nighthawk Korths; Manurhin MR73

[Onomea]

As far as I can tell, this 3" Ratzeburg Korth .357 Combat with extra 9mm cylinder, DOB 1986, remains unfired:






It came with its original leather case:



The original lining material had been replaced, and the replacement was disintegrating. I replaced it with polyethylene foam.



I find it a hard gun to photograph, The bluing is superb, but the slightest bit of oil, or fingerprint smudge, or dust mote stands out accordingly.

Close examination will reveal a faint turn line on the cylinder, but that is about all I've been able to discern for handling marks.

It's missing the extra disks for trigger stacking adjustment. (In the eighties the original five disks were reduced to three.) Also, no documentation. I've been able to find an owners manual online for what I think are post '87 guns, but not one appropriate for an '86.

 

[Onomea]

And a Sport

And here is a 6" Sport in .22 LR from 1969:



Unfortunately, a previous owner has allowed the extractor star to scratch the frame, a not uncommon blemish. Overall, though, it is in very nice condition.



Was shooting this one for the first time today. It's a sweet shooter. I did have three misfires out of 50 CCI standard velocity rounds, two of which fired when I reloaded them and one of which did not. Since it is not an SD gun, I suppose I don't mind... too much...



I need to adjust the trigger stop. I've read (Andyd) that one needs to do this very carefully because otherwise, if it is screwed out too far, the gun will lock up and must be taken apart to get it back into order.

This is Andyd's photo of the trigger stop when properly adjusted:

 

[Jebus35745]

Nice guns, they are amazingly accurate. Like the 357 with the 9mm extra cylinder. The double action is different than a S&W so I shoot my .22 single action. Usually shoot the S&W's double action.
I think the cylinder release is cool being right next to the hammer, Larry

 

[Onomea]

That's a nice example you have there, Jebus. If I am seeing it correctly, the slanted ejector housing indicates it dates from the early to mid 1970s.

I find it interesting that you shoot it single action only. I think to most owners or collectors the uniquely smooth double action trigger, and the variable stacking options, enabled by the discs, from 1969 on, is regarded as the Korth's main functional improvement over other revolvers.

On the other hand, I do see your point in that once mastering the more difficult DA of a Smith, growing accustomed to a Korth's DA could mess you up for Smiths. In fact, in my internet reading I came across a comment from one of our members who said he did not like Korths for this very reason.

(I am very new to Korths, and am nowhere near having mastered the Smith or Colt's DA, so don't have much of a trigger finger to mess up. I like shooting 'em all primarily DA.)

 

[Jebus35745]

We shoot at the club an 8 week double action only revolver league called Dirty Harry every spring. Only 2 weeks left, 2 matches a nite and 16 matches per season. We use the bullseye cadence but add 5 seconds to the timed & rapid. Slow is only 5 minutes instead of 10 minutes. Start with the gun down and when the targets turn you lift and shoot.
Try to practice over the year so I shoot double action a lot.

The Korth is what I call a half lug and it does have a roller bearing action. I just like the smoothness of a S&W.

Also have 2 Manurhin MR73's, one in 357 ( shoot only 38 spec) and the other in 32 long. They have the same feel of a Smith and I prefer them to the Korth. Still enjoy the Korth and appreciate the 60 hours of hand fitting. Larry

 

[Onomea]

I like those Mulhouse MR73s, too. Been reading up on them as well along with the Korths.

The MR73 uses a disk five rollers to achieve a smooth trigger pull. (See Michael Zeleny's extensive write-up here: manurhin mr73 design and construction - larvatus prodeo — LiveJournal)

Bought a 3" Chapuis Armes model earlier this year. I did not like the Trausch rubber grips it came with, primarily because they were too small for my large hands.





Looked all over for some round butt grips — I'd like to carry the gun — and while I found a couple of sources in Europe, neither would ship to me in the US.

Wound up buying extra large squarebutt Nills via their US distributor, who also assured me round butts were not available, and am having my gunsmith modify them. Finally picking up the MR73 from him on Saturday. Whew!

And quite a storied history with the GIGN operators. For those who would like to know more, here's a great video on the MR73. It's an interview with Christian Proteau, the GIGN's founder. In addition to the strength and accuracy off the gun, the rigor of the training and the resulting accuracy of the men is astounding. https://youtu.be/klK_tHy_PdA?si=wJGExe3Gj2c2fiEO

 

[Toyman]

I purchased a Korth Mongoose with 9MM cylinder. I like the ability to shoot 9MM with out moon clips. I have not found any reason to modify the trigger as it came to me. I have not shoot it at any great distance and I have not noticed any difference in accuracy between 38 special and 9MM.

 

[Onomea]

Toyman, I think the Lollar Korths are fine guns. I, too, purchased a Nighthawk imported Mongoose, although without the 9mm cylinder.





While some folks believe they are inferior to the Ratzeburg Korths, because of the CNC machining, etc., I think of them as just a newer, more modern model. It's a different gun. Apples and oranges. Kudos to the Lollar guys for keeping the brand alive. One can prefer the Ratzeburgs, but no need to denigrate the Lollar Korths.

The DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) finish of the newer Korths, while cosmetically subdued — matte — in comparison to the older highly polished blued Korths, is a terrific finish. Extremely robust. I am the third owner of the Mongoose shown above and it still presents as new. I've read that DLC actually absorbs oil, so I occasionally put a drop on and rub it over the gun.

Really like the gold bead on the front sight of the new Korths, too.

Interesting, too, how the Nighthawk imported Korths have evolved from the early models with the S&W-like cylinder release on the side, like ours, to nowadays with the cylinder release next to the hammer, like the Ratzeburg Korths but on the left as opposed to the right side of the hammer.

Other differences I note wih ours are your ventilated rib as opposed to my non ventilated, my skeletonized hammer versus your non skeletonized, and a slight difference in cylinder releases.

Mine's SN NH0260, which I assume means the 260th imported.

 

[Toyman]

Your serial number range is different from mine, possibly because of the changes you noted, cylinder release and rib.
As much as I like the gun and I like Hogue's grips I think it is a little tacky to use the Hogues as standard on a gun priced like Korths.

 

[Jebus35745]

You both have nice guns, would love to have the 9mm cylinder for the MR73. Someone had one for sale on an auction site for I believe 500, passed because I wasn't sure if it had to be fit to the gun. The Mongoose has gone up in price from under 3000 to pretty much over 4000 now.

Have seen a few MR22's on auction, would give me a three caliber set. Interesting, Larry

 

[Onomea]

Toyman, I agree with you on the inappropriateness of rubber Hogue's being standard for the Korth at its price point. At least from a typical American's point of view.

I'm thinking maybe it is a European thing, as the Chapuis Mr73 also comes with the rubber Trausch grips standard?

From my reading, European shooters are well trained, tend to be serious shooters, and also tend to spend more on their individual guns.

This seems to be because their regulations encourage this: They are not permitted to own as many guns as we are, and are required as permitted owners to shoot regularly at their ranges. (I am extrapolating here from what I think I have read of Germany. IIRCC, Andyd says Germany requires 16 visits to the range per year to maintain ownership.)

With the right sized hand, both grips seem well liked by shooters. Those who like the Manurhin Trausch grips say they facilitate a high hold with that "beavertail" and really soak up recoil. As mentioned above, I find them small. Plus, cosmetics are important to me. I don't care much for rubber grips, although I use them occasionally. (But I am also not much of a shooter compared to most here, though I am trying to improve.)

 

[Onomea]

You both have nice guns, would love to have the 9mm cylinder for the MR73. Someone had one for sale on an auction site for I believe 500, passed because I wasn't sure if it had to be fit to the gun. The Mongoose has gone up in price from under 3000 to pretty much over 4000 now.

Have seen a few MR22's on auction, would give me a three caliber set. Interesting, Larry

I bet if you bought the 9mm cylinder Nighthawk would tune it for your gun. I looked into buying a 9mm cylinder for my Mongoose. Nighthawk needs the gun to make the fitting and charges $1300 for the fitted cylinder, I think it was, so you could probably save money (assuming I am right about Nighthawk being willing to take it on).

Oh, just reread your post and you are talking about the Manurhin 9mm cylinder. Sorry!

You'd need someone to fit it. I suppose Beretta might. I think I have read that part of their arrangement with Chapuis Armes is to maintain the guns over here. Or, maybe it is something a good revolversmith could do without too much difficulty?

A Manurhin in .22 would be fun.

 

[lamarw]

Along with all of them being high quality firearms, they are a real beauty pageant of handguns.

Here is my Manurhin MR73 to add as a contestant

 

[Onomea]

Gorgeous! The bluing on the Chapuis Armes MR73s is incredible! (And a real smudge magnet in consequence!)

Is your bbl a 5.25" or a 5.75"? I see both referred to and wonder if both lengths are being imported...

 

[ladder13]

That 3" Korth is just beautiful.

 

[Onomea]

Your serial number range is different from mine, possibly because of the changes you noted, cylinder release and rib.

Does yours indicate Nighthawk as the importer anywhere? I'm speculating that yours was imported into the US prior to, or in parallel with, the Nighthawk relationship.

 

[Toyman]

Info on side of my Korth.

 

[Toyman]

This is my Manurhin MR73. Normally these target guns were in 38 special and called MR 38. This is one of five ordered as target guns in 357 magnum.

 

[Onomea]

Very nice, Toyman. Very nice indeed. How do you like the extended rear sight?

I note that it is a Chapuis Armes gun from August 2020, yet it has those nice Manurhin wood grips, not the Trausch rubbers, I assume because it is a target gun.

 

[ladder13]

Come to think of it that 3" MR73 ain't too shabby either.


Aimsurplus had a limited amount of those MR73's some years back. Not knowing much about them I hesitated. They were 3&4 inchers, not in the best shape. Some had aftermarket grips, all had lots and lots of wear.
They were in the 5-700 range if memory serves me. I did some checking, went back and they were gone.
I wonder if anyone here bought one.