Manurhin
| Industry | Firearms manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Julius (Jules) Spengler |
| Headquarters | Saint-Bonnet-le-Château , France |
Area served | Europe, United States |
| Products | Revolvers, Pistols, Scooters (historically) |
| Owner | Chapuis Armes (since 1998) |
Manurhin serves as a trademark employed by Chapuis Armes since 1998, referring to the Manurhin MR 73 series of revolvers produced in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, France.
The term “Manurhin” is derived from Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin, an enterprise established in 1919 by Julius (Jules) Spengler. Initially, this trademark belonged to an earlier revolver manufacturer and designer, which has since shifted focus exclusively to military ammunition production.
History
Operating under the official name Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin in Haut-Rhin, France, Manurhin commenced manufacturing Walther PP, PPK, and PPK/S pistols in 1952. These firearms were first imported into the United States by Tholson Co. in 1953 and subsequently by Interarms starting in 1956. Beginning in 1984, Manurhin undertook direct importation of new pistol models bearing their own name on the left front slide, distinguishing them from earlier Walther-branded versions and omitting the Interarms insignia.
Manurhin earned recognition primarily through its revolver lineup, notably the Manurhin MR 73, which was adopted by the French National Gendarmerie as well as elite forces such as GIGN and the National Police's RAID unit.
In 1998, ownership of Manurhin transferred to Chapuis Armes, who reinstated revolver manufacturing at Manufacture d'Armes de tir Chapuis located in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, utilizing original Manurhin machinery sourced from Mulhouse.
Models
Past models
- Walther P38 – Following World War II, Manurhin produced Walther P38 pistols at the Mauser facility in Oberndorf using equipment seized during the war. These French-produced pistols featured steel grip panels, a grey parkerized finish, and distinctive markings including Mauser’s "SVW" stamp alongside French proof marks. Certain units were issued to French Foreign Legion troops stationed in Indochina.
- Walther P1 – To equip West Berlin Police officers who were prohibited from carrying German-made firearms, Manurhin manufactured 2,500 P1 pistols with French finishing and proofing. These pistols bore unique identifiers such as a chrysanthemum emblem on the trigger guard and “Manufacture De Machines Du Haut Rhin” inscribed on the slide.
- Walther P4 – A limited run of 500 P4 pistols featuring a 4-inch barrel was produced by Manurhin for West Berlin plainclothes detectives, displaying markings similar to those on the P1.
- Walther PP – Due to postwar restrictions imposed on German arms production, Manurhin held a license to manufacture Walther PP series pistols from 1952 through 1986.
Current offerings
- Manurhin MR 73 – This double-action revolver is chambered for .38 Special/.357 Magnum cartridges with an available conversion cylinder allowing use of 9mm Parabellum rounds. Beretta USA currently handles its importation into the United States.
Scooters
Beginning in 1952, Manurhin produced the German DKW Hobby scooter utilizing locally manufactured parts and marketed it as the Manurhin MR75 across Europe and as the Concord in the United Kingdom. The MR75 gained a reputation for superior build quality and was among the earliest motorcycles to employ electrostatic (powder) coating technology. After DKW discontinued the Hobby model, Manurhin continued production of their version, achieving third place in European scooter sales by 1957, trailing only Lambretta and Vespa.
See also
Further reading
- Marschall, Dieter (2000) Walther Pistols Models 1 Through P99. Ucross Books. ISBN 978-0961402440
External links
- Manurhin firearms featured on Chapuis Armes website
- Official Manurhin Manufacturing site Currently dedicated to producing military-grade ammunition ranging from 5.56 to 40 mm.