Historians tell us that Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was once contacted by a journalist from the New York Journal to inquire whether the rumors that he was gravely ill or already dead were indeed true. Clemmons’ famous quote (or misquote, according to some sources) was classic Twain. “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” he responded.
What’s that have to do with revolvers? Simple: Reports that the advent of the semi-automatic pistol would make the revolver obsolete have been bandied about for over a century now. And, as with Twain, those reports are, indeed, greatly exaggerated.
That fact can be seen now more than ever, with well over a dozen new revolvers launched at the recent Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas. And there’s little wonder why. Revolvers remain simple, rugged and accurate, and depending on the model you can find one that’s perfect for everything from hunting and sport shooting to home defense and concealed carry.
Let’s take a brief look at 10 new revolver offerings that might just deserve a space in your gun display.
Beretta/Manurhin
In its continuing effort to bring top-quality French revolvers to American shores, Beretta is importing two Manurhin MR73 models, including the MR73 Sport. Designed for the target or sport shooter, the gun features a 5.25-inch barrel and full-length underlug.
Black rubber target grips come standard, and the trigger is adjustable for pull weight, making it customizable to the individual. Finish is a very attractive polished blue, and overall length of the revolver is 10.39 inches. The MR73 Sport, which is chambered in .38 Special/.357 Magnum, tips the scales at 37 ounces.
This is the same revolver that was introduced back in 1973, was adopted for duty use by the French GIGN, an elite anti-terrorist force, and has proven itself over time. MSRP is a stiff $3,600, but there’s no doubt that it’s a well-made piece of machinery. The other new model is the 4-inch MR73 Gendarmerie.
Colt
Colt has been making great revolvers for centuries, and the recent return of the company’s popular King Cobra in 2019 was welcome to many longtime wheelgun fans. New for 2023 is the King Cobra in .22 Long Rifle, a perfect gun for target shooting and teaching a new shooter the ins and outs of the sport.
This DA/SA revolver is built with all the quality one might expect from Colt, featuring a stainless steel finish and over-molded black rubber grips. It is offered in barrel lengths of 4.25 and 6 inches, both with vent rib and full-length underlug. The rear sight on the gun is adjustable, and the front features a red fiber-optic pipe.
Empty weight is 34 ounces and the overall length of the 4.25-inch model is 9.25 inches. As a bonus, the wheelgun holds 10 rounds of .22 LR. MSRP is $999.
Diamondback
The Sidekick revolver was introduced by Diamondback toward the end of 2021, and this year the company has expanded the line to include the Sidekick Birdshead. Of course, the most obvious feature of the new model is the birdshead-style grip frame and removable grip panels, but this rimfire wheelgun has a lot more going for it than that.
For one thing, the gun is available with interchangeable cylinders, so users can choose either .22 LR or .22 Magnum, with both cylinders holding nine rounds of ammo. Since it’s a compact revolver, the .22 Mag. cylinder makes it a legitimate option for a deep-cover self-defense revolver. The Cerakoted zinc frame should last most shooters a lifetime.
Barrel length is 3 inches, overall length is 7.83 inches, and the gun weighs in at just 24.5 ounces. MSRP is $327.
Rossi
Rossi isn’t a new name to the revolver game, as its high-quality wheelguns have been imported into this country for more than 25 years. New for 2023 is the RP63, which features Rossi’s prized double-action trigger, along with a crisp, clean single-action trigger pull.
Equipped with a steel frame and 3-inch barrel, the .38 Special/.357 Magnum RP63 is a definite candidate for concealed carry. Overall length is 7.93 inches and unloaded weight is 27.3 ounces. The steel chamber holds six rounds.
Other features include a rugged, rubberized grip, fixed rear sight and replaceable front sight. MSRP is $460.99. Note that Rossi also premiered the RM66, a .38 Spl./.357 Magnum with a 6-inch barrel, at the 2023 SHOT Show. That new model features a satin stainless finish and an overall length of 11.14 inches.
Ruger
Ruger introduced its first revolver, the Single Six in .22 LR, more than half a century ago. And since then, the company hasn’t slowed down its efforts to create very nice wheelguns. New for this year is the Wrangler Long Barrel, an extension to Ruger’s popular Wrangler line.
While the standard Wrangler wears a 4.6-inch barrel, the new offering features barrel lengths of 6.5 and 7.5 inches. Both are chambered for affordable .22 LR ammo and have a hammer-forged barrel for exceptional accuracy and longevity. They both feature checkered synthetic grips ensuring a good grasp while shooting, and both models boast blade front and integral notch rear sights. Finish is silver, burnt bronze or black Cerakote.
Ruger’s transfer bar mechanism is standard on this revolver so it can be safely carried safely with a loaded chamber under the hammer. MSRP is $279. Notably, Ruger also launched the Wrangler Sheriff’s model at SHOT 2023.
S&W Model 350
Smith & Wesson’s new Model 350 was announced late last summer and debuted earlier this year. Chambered in the powerful 350 Legend, this gun was purpose built with the serious handgun hunter in mind. Specifically designed to fit the needs of the North American whitetail hunter, the straight-wall 350 Legend cartridge is both powerful and versatile enough to warrant the Model 350 earning space in many deer stands.
With its stainless steel design, 7.5-inch ported barrel, fluted seven-shot cylinder and Hogue grips, this X-frame revolver is bound to become a favorite of many. Overall length of the DA/SA revolver is 13.5 inches and weight is a hefty 71.5 ounces. Other features include a ported barrel, seven-shot fluted cylinder, a red ramp front sight and adjustable rear.
Handgun hunters are going to love this revolver. MSRP is $1,599.
Taurus 856 TORO
As most firearms retailers know, mini red-dot sights have taken the shooting world by storm, and numerous semi-auto pistols now feature slide cuts for mounting those sights. Well, meet the Taurus Defender 856 TORO — the first optics ready revolver to hit the market.
The gun is cut for a HOLOSUN-K, so the 856 TORO will allow the user to mount any red-dot that fits that footprint. The 3-inch-barreled revolver shoots either .38 Special or .357 Magnum ammunition, and its 7.5-inch overall length makes it a good candidate for concealed carry. Frame material is stainless steel, and the gun is available in matte black or stainless colors.
MSRP is $445.99. Note that Taurus also introduced four other revolvers in 2023 — the Defender 605 TORO, the Raging Hunter .500 Magnum, the Raging Hunter .460 Magnum with 10.5-inch barrel and the Judge Executive Grade.
Taylors
Taylor’s & Co. is merging the old and the new with its nifty TC9 revolver line that looks like an Old West six-gun but shoots the popular 9mm round commonly used in many semi-auto pistols.
The army-size model features a 5.5-inch barrel, and for those preferring a smaller revolver another model offers a 4.75-inch barrel. The longer version is 11 inches long and weighs 2.4 pounds, while the shorter model has an overall length of 10.25 inches and weighs 2.3 pounds empty. Both have two finish and grip options to choose from.
With an MSRP of $575.74 for black and $619.77 for a blued finish, the TC9 1873SA revolvers give your customers a chance to own an authentic-looking six-shooter that shoots an easy-to-find, relatively inexpensive cartridge.
Uberti
Uberti, the world’s leading manufacturer of classical single-action revolvers, western heritage blackpowder revolvers and cartridge rifles, has also expanded its line of SA revolvers to include three models chambered in 9mm.
The 1873 El Patrón 9mm comes with checkered walnut grips, a case-hardened frame, a 5.5-inch blued barrel, numbered cylinder and EasyView sights. The 1873 Cattleman Brass 9mm blends a sleek walnut grip, case-hardened frame, and blued steel barrel and cylinder with brass backstrap and trigger guard. Lastly, the 1873 Cattleman Brass Dual Cylinder 9mm/.357 Magnum delivers the same performance and features as the 1873 Cattleman Brass 9mm plus offers an additional interchangeable .357 Magnum cylinder.
All three models give gun shoppers an opportunity to own an Old West treasure chambered in a modern cartridge. MSRP is $729 for the El Patrón, $599 for the Cattleman Brass and $749 for the Cattleman Brass Dual Cylinder.
Zenk RZMK-357
The Zenk RZMK-357 revolver is a wheelgun of a different type. Categorized as a bullpup revolver, one look at it will tell most customers that it’s truly something different.
The RZMK-357 is a top-break .357 Magnum revolver with the barrel set all the way to the back. Because of that, the gun features a 4.75-inch barrel, but with an overall length of only 6.85 inches. Combined with a weight of 33.5 ounces, you can see how it could be a viable revolver for concealed carry and other self-defense applications.
The cylinder is enclosed and holds six rounds of .38 Spl. or .357 Mag. ammo. The top section of the pistol tilts upward from near the muzzle to allow loading into the rear of the cylinder. The double-action-only wheelgun is made from stainless steel with a black or matte stainless finish.
MSRP for the revolver was not available at this writing and there is some question as to how long it will be before this gun reaches retailers.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it. If you think wheelguns are going anywhere soon, you’re mistaken. As their popularity continues to grow, it’s certainly a firearms segment you don’t want to overlook when determining your upcoming inventory.
