Manurhin MR73 Liberty Edition Lands at $5,099 With 4-Inch Barrel
Beretta USA showed the Manurhin MR73 Liberty at Revolver Fest 2026 in Clinton, South Carolina, and the limited revolver lists at $5,099. Manurhin hand-builds only 100 pieces in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, France, timed to America's 250th birthday. The gun is the first MR73 to ship with a 4-inch heavy-profile barrel and an unfluted cylinder. Beretta also rolled out new American-made leather holsters built specifically for the MR73. For a buyer who wants a French double-action revolver with a Revolutionary-era story, this is the one on the table.
Key Details
The specifications and commemorative elements break down as follows:
- Edition size: 100 pieces, hand-built in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, France.
- Engraving: The word "Liberty" is taken from the Declaration of Independence.
- Heraldry: The town's centuries-old coat of arms appears on the gun, a nod to a region that supplied arms and munitions to the colonial cause.
- Barrel: 4-inch heavy profile, the first 4-inch barrel for the MR73 platform.
- Cylinder: Unfluted.
- Action: The MR73 double-action trigger, the platform's signature feature.
- Holsters: New American-made leather holsters developed for the MR73.
- Test load: Norma Range & Training 158-grain .38 Special.
- Debut venue: Revolver Fest 2026 at The Clinton House Plantation, Clinton, South Carolina.
- Price: $5,099.
The Firearm Blog's reviewer has not fired the revolver yet. He reports handling it and dry-firing it extensively, which gives a useful first read on the trigger. Anyone expecting a live-fire review will have to wait for one.
Background
The MR73 belongs to a lineage of French revolvers that built a reputation on smooth double-action pulls and precise machining. Manurhin spent decades producing wheelguns under a French name, and the MR73 became the company's best-known model. Revolver collectors still treat its trigger as a benchmark, which explains why a limited edition with a new barrel length draws attention. The .38 Special chambering ties the gun to a cartridge that has anchored American revolver ownership for more than a century.
The South Carolina setting carries its own history. The 2000 film The Patriot put a South Carolina farmer, played by Mel Gibson, at the center of a militia uprising against British forces. In the film, France sends an officer to help the militia. Liberty itself entered the American story in 1886, when France gave the Statue of Liberty to New York Harbor. The statue stands 151 feet tall, a figure the Liberty revolver's marketing leans on in its own way. This edition connects France, the Revolution and South Carolina in one package.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
A 100-piece run at $5,099 puts this revolver in the hands of collectors first and shooters second. Expect the secondary market to set the real price. Limited commemoratives with a French pedigree tend to hold value, and buyers who want one should decide now whether they plan to shoot it or lock it away.
The 4-inch barrel changes the gun's job. Heavy-profile 4-inch revolvers suit range work, hunting and duty-style carry more than deep concealment. The unfluted cylinder points to a shooter who values a clean, traditional profile. Owners who want this revolver on the belt need to test the new Beretta holsters with the exact barrel length before committing. A holster that fits a 2-inch snub will not fit a 4-inch heavy barrel.
Ammunition choice matters too. Norma's 158-grain .38 Special is a practical, controllable load in a heavy-frame revolver. Anyone who buys this gun should confirm that their preferred .38 Special loads run well in the MR73 before stocking up on defensive ammunition.
DownRange Analysis
This is a product announcement, not a court ruling, so Bruen does not factor into the purchase. The Second Amendment question starts and ends with ordinary lawful ownership. Check your state's handgun roster and transfer rules before ordering, because a French import with a limited run can trigger paperwork delays. Every dollar spent here should buy a gun you will actually shoot.
The price is steep. At $5,099, this revolver competes with high-end custom wheelguns, not with the production revolvers most shooters carry. Buyers should ask whether the history, the trigger and the finish justify the premium. For collectors, the 100-piece cap is the selling point. For shooters, it is a reason to wait for a range report before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
Right now, the smart move is simple. Handle one at a dealer or at a show. Dry-fire it. Bring a holster and check the fit. Then decide. Gun owners who rush a five-figure-adjacent decision on a commemorative usually regret it.
