France’s Elite GIGN Counter Terror Unit Still Has A Cult-Like Affinity For The Revolver

Updated Dec 1, 2019 6:42 AM EST

The Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, better known by its abbreviated name GIGN, which translates to National Gendarmerie Intervention Group in English, remains France’s premier counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit. Since its founding in 1973, shortly after the terrorist acts in Munich, GIGN has risen to prominence among the world’s counter-terrorism community. But one piece of gear in particular not only differentiates the unit from others, but it is also deeply ingrained in its lore and tradition—the revolver, and in particular, the French-built Manurhin MR73.

A few years ago, I did a big feature on the revolver-toting GIGN operatives as well as France’s other counter-terror units. You can read that in full here . But the advent of a Twitter page belonging to the Commandant of GIGN has provided us with unique insights into the renowned unit. In a video posted on the page’s feed, we see just how central the MR73 is to the unit’s esprit de corps:

The revolvers are issued to each GIGN member for symbolic reasons as well as utilitarian ones. A passage from a 2014 issue of the official Gendarmerie information magazine states:

“Respect of human life and fire discipline have always been taught to group members since inception, and each new member is traditionally issued with a 6 shot .357 revolver as a reminder of these values.”

GIGN’s deep relationship with the revolver gets pretty intense beyond any outright symbolism. Apparently, the unit still practices a ‘trust shot’ as part of new member initiations where a team member wearing body armor puts a clay pigeon over their center of mass and the newly minted GIGN operator shoots the disc from 15 yards. This type of thing is very rare, at least officially, in elite Western law enforcement and special operations units these days, but GIGN seems to have continued with the practice, which is also tied directly to the MR73 revolver.

1/8 Un petit fil aujourd’hui pour parler du fameux tir de confiance pratiqué au #GIGN . #Thread #RdV #TOT estimé 11h00 pic.twitter.com/vqSzDQTO6z — Laurent Phélip (@PLP178151) July 20, 2017

1/8 Un petit fil aujourd’hui pour parler du fameux tir de confiance pratiqué au #GIGN . #Thread #RdV #TOT estimé 11h00 pic.twitter.com/vqSzDQTO6z

There is a thread on the aforementioned Twitter page that explains the justification and meaning for GIGN behind the ‘trust shot’ (Google translated):

After 14 months of training, each, the day before receiving his patent, passes a final test: a shot at one of his comrades. It is a 15m shot to the revolver, weapon used for instruction, on a clay pigeon, fixed on the bulletproof vest of the “target.” This shot takes on a particular symbolism, beyond the technical gesture, mastered at the end of formation. He illustrates trust in itself: “I have received training that makes me confident, sure to reach my target without a doubt. I will not fail. “ Mutual trust: “He trusts me, he will not move, for fear or bad reflex, the second I fire.” Mutual trust always: “I trust the one who is aiming at me. Trained like me, he will not miss his target.” Finally, my former, already patented, with whom I will leave on a mission from tomorrow can now grant me their confidence.

After 14 months of training, each, the day before receiving his patent, passes a final test: a shot at one of his comrades.

It is a 15m shot to the revolver, weapon used for instruction, on a clay pigeon, fixed on the bulletproof vest of the “target.”

This shot takes on a particular symbolism, beyond the technical gesture, mastered at the end of formation. He illustrates trust in itself: “I have received training that makes me confident, sure to reach my target without a doubt. I will not fail. “

Mutual trust: “He trusts me, he will not move, for fear or bad reflex, the second I fire.”

Mutual trust always: “I trust the one who is aiming at me. Trained like me, he will not miss his target.”

Finally, my former, already patented, with whom I will leave on a mission from tomorrow can now grant me their confidence.

The truth is, the MR73, which is commonly chambered in .38 Special/.357 Magnum, isn’t just about style, tradition, or French pride. Tactical revolvers still have critical advantages over auto-loading pistols for counter-terror and SWAT-type units. Because they don’t have a slide, they can fire through small openings in and alongside armored shields far more reliably than their semi-automatic pistol counterparts.

Remise des MR73 pour les stagiaires et des insignes d'épaule pour tous. Frères d'armes, s'il le faut jusqu'au sang versé. La grande famille du #GIGN s'agrandit. https://t.co/tmizXsS6Cu pic.twitter.com/nPXmlKMTqc — Laurent Phélip (@PLP178151) October 6, 2017

Remise des MR73 pour les stagiaires et des insignes d'épaule pour tous. Frères d'armes, s'il le faut jusqu'au sang versé. La grande famille du #GIGN s'agrandit. https://t.co/tmizXsS6Cu pic.twitter.com/nPXmlKMTqc

A modern autoloading pistol’s slide can interact with a shield or even another member’s body while in tight formation and cause malfunctions at the absolute worst possible time imaginable. Keep in mind, if you are pushing a shield into a possible gunfight than you are likely the point man. In fact, tactical units in the U.S. went to Smith and Wesson with this same problem, which resulted in the R8 eight-round tactical revolver and the TRR8 that came shortly after it.

Revolvers are also very accurate and extremely reliable, which is really important when you have to know your weapon will go bang and that the bullet will hit what you are aiming at during tight close-quarter combat scenarios, like engagement on planes, trains, buses, or in crowded buildings. These settings don’t usually require huge volumes of fire either, so the capacity limitations of a revolver become less of an issue.

Over the years, semi-automatic pistols have become more reliable and accurate, so the revolver’s relevance outside of very specific situations has waned. But still, the MR73, in particular, is a very well-built, heavy, and highly accurate revolver and is widely regarded as being among the finest ‘wheel guns’ ever built. Clearly, GIGN sees it as a lightsaber of sorts—an elegant weapon whose time may have largely passed for all but the most capable operators. But for those who can employ it with extreme efficiency, it still remains a potent, if not superior in some respects, tool for many applications.

So even though GIGN furnishes modern high-capacity autoloading pistols to its operators for many operations, the MR73 still serves in something of a ceremonial and utilitarian role for the unit to this very day, and that doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2019年12月1日上午6:42

法国国家宪兵干预小组（Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale，简称GIGN，意为国家宪兵干预小组）是法国首屈一指的反恐和人质救援部队。自1973年慕尼黑恐怖袭击事件后不久成立以来，GIGN在世界反恐领域迅速崛起。然而，有一件装备不仅使这支部队与其他部队区别开来，而且深深植根于其历史和传统之中——那就是左轮手枪，尤其是法国制造的马努兰MR73型左轮手枪。

几年前，我曾专门撰写了一篇关于法国国家宪兵特勤队（GIGN）队员以及法国其他反恐部队的专题报道。您可以在这里阅读全文。但GIGN指挥官的推特账号的出现，让我们得以深入了解这支著名的部队。在该账号发布的一段视频中，我们可以看到MR73左轮手枪对于这支部队的凝聚力有多么重要：

出于象征意义和实用目的，每位法国国家宪兵特勤队成员都会配发左轮手枪。2014年法国宪兵官方信息杂志的一段话写道：

“自成立以来，我们一直向成员们灌输尊重生命和遵守火警纪律的理念，并且按照传统，每位新成员都会获发一支 6 发装的 .357 口径左轮手枪，以提醒他们这些价值观。”

法国国家宪兵特勤队（GIGN）与左轮手枪的渊源远超任何直接的象征意义。据悉，该部队至今仍保留着一项名为“信任射击”的新成员入队仪式：一名身穿防弹衣的队员将一个飞碟靶放在自己身体正上方，新入职的GIGN队员则需在15码（约13.7米）的距离外将其击中。如今，这种仪式在西方精英执法和特种作战部队中已极为罕见，至少官方层面如此，但GIGN似乎仍然保留着这项传统，而这又与MR73左轮手枪有着直接的联系。

1/8 Un petit fil ajourd'hui pour parler du fatux tir de confiance Pratiqué au #GIGN 。 #Thread #RdV #TOT 预计 11h00 pic.twitter.com/vqSzDQTO6z — Laurent Phélip (@PLP178151) 2017 年 7 月 20 日

1/8 Un petit fil ajourd'hui pour parler du fatux tir de confiance Pratiqué au #GIGN 。 #Thread #RdV #TOT 预计 11h00 pic.twitter.com/vqSzDQTO6z

上述推特页面上有一个帖子解释了GIGN拍摄“信任照”的理由和意义（谷歌翻译）：

经过14个月的训练，每位学员在获得专利的前一天都要接受最终考核：向一位同伴射击。这是一次15米的射击，目标是一个固定在“靶子”防弹背心上的飞碟靶，射击对象是训练时使用的左轮手枪。这一枪的意义远不止于训练结束时掌握的技术动作，它具有特殊的象征意义。它体现了信任本身：“我接受的训练让我充满自信，确信自己能够毫无保留地击中目标。我不会失败。” 相互信任：“他信任我，在我开枪的那一刻，他不会因为恐惧或反应迟钝而移动。” 始终如一的相互信任：“我信任瞄准我的人。他和我一样训练有素，绝不会失手。” 最后，我那位已经获得专利的前学员，明天将与我一同执行任务，他现在可以向我表达他们的信任了。

经过 14 个月的训练，每个人在获得专利的前一天都要通过最终测试：向自己的一名战友开枪。

这是用左轮手枪在15米外射击，左轮手枪是用于教学的武器，射击的是固定在“目标”防弹背心上的飞碟。

这一击超越了技术层面，蕴含着特殊的象征意义，是训练结束时才能掌握的技巧。它展现了信任本身：“我接受的训练让我充满自信，确信自己能够毫无保留地击中目标。我不会失败。”

相互信任：“他信任我，我开枪的那一刻，他不会因为恐惧或不良反应而移动。”

相互信任至关重要：“我信任瞄准我的人。他和我一样训练有素，不会失手。”

最后，我那位已经获得专利的前任，明天我将和他一起执行任务，他现在可以给予我信任了。

事实上，MR73（通常使用.38 Special/.357 Magnum弹药）的意义远不止于其造型、传统或法国的骄傲。对于反恐部队和特警队而言，战术左轮手枪相比自动装填手枪仍然具有关键优势。由于没有滑套，它们能够比半自动手枪更可靠地穿过装甲盾牌上的狭小缝隙进行射击。

MR73 的纪念章和徽章。 Frères d'Armes，s'il le faut jusqu'au sang versé。 La grande famille du #GIGN s'agrandit。 https://t.co/tmizXsS6Cu pic.twitter.com/nPXmlKMTqc — Laurent Phélip (@PLP178151) 2017 年 10 月 6 日

MR73 的纪念章和徽章。 Frères d'Armes，s'il le faut jusqu'au sang versé。 La grande famille du #GIGN s'agrandit。 https://t.co/tmizXsS6Cu pic.twitter.com/nPXmlKMTqc

现代自动手枪的滑套在紧密队形中可能会与盾牌甚至其他队员的身体发生碰撞，导致在最糟糕的时刻发生故障。请记住，如果你正推着盾牌冲入可能发生的枪战，那么你很可能就是尖兵。事实上，美国战术部队就曾就此问题向史密斯威森公司寻求解决方案，最终促成了R8八发战术左轮手枪及其后不久推出的TRR8的问世。

左轮手枪的精准度和可靠性都非常高，这在需要确保武器能够正常击发且子弹能够击中目标的近距离作战场景中至关重要，例如在飞机、火车、公共汽车或拥挤的建筑物内。这些场景通常也不需要大量的火力输出，因此左轮手枪的弹匣容量限制就显得不那么重要了。

多年来，半自动手枪的可靠性和精准度不断提高，因此左轮手枪在特定情况之外的用途有所减少。但即便如此，MR73 仍然是一款做工精良、重量不轻且精准度极高的左轮手枪，被广泛认为是史上最优秀的“转轮手枪”之一。显然，法国国家宪兵特勤队（GIGN）将其视为某种意义上的光剑——一种优雅的武器，对于大多数人来说，它的时代或许已经过去，只有最顶尖的特勤人员才能驾驭。但对于那些能够极其高效地使用它的人来说，它仍然是一款威力强大，甚至在某些方面更胜一筹的工具，适用于多种用途。

因此，尽管法国国家宪兵特勤队 (GIGN) 为队员们在许多行动中配备了现代化的大容量自动装填手枪，但时至今日，MR73 仍然在该部队中扮演着某种礼仪性和实用性的角色，而且这种情况似乎不会很快改变。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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