The Chiappa Rhino features a unique revolver design whereby the handgun barrel aligns with the bottom of the cylinder in the 6 o’clock position instead of the top of the cylinder in the 12 o’clock position. In other words, the .357 magnum bullets fired from the Chiappa Rhino come from the lowermost chamber of the revolver’s cylinder. The Rhino comes in either a stainless steel finish or a blued finish and is available with a 2″, 4″, 5″, or 6″ barrel.
The Spearmint Rhino, the international a chain of strip clubs, is suing Chiappa Firearms over the logo used on their Chiappa Firearms Rhino revolvers. They claim that consumers could confuse the revolver with one of their strip clubs or branded g-strings, brassieres and corsets.
Milord & Associates, a law firm which specialize in patent, trademark & copyright law, report that the lawsuit is going to be difficult to win ...
Although the registrations cover goods and services in the adult entertainment industry, e.g. cabarets and “panties, g-strings, brassieres and corsets for semi-nude and erotic dancers,” Rhino sued Chiappa Firearms for allegedly using a confusingly similar Rhino design on its handguns: “Chiappa’s use of the Rhino Outline marks is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive because, among other reasons, consumers are likely to believe that there is an affiliation, connection, or association between” Rhino and Chiappa. Seriously? Maybe I’m a bit daft, but will consumers really confuse panties and guns?
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Whatever Rhino’s belief, counsel should’ve advised that this is a very difficult case to prove. If Rhino owned a copyright on the work, there would be more of a case. But where the goods or services are so unrelated, confusion among consumers is highly unlikely.
Richard has reviewed the Chiappa Rhino Revolver ...
Felt recoil from .357 Magnum loads is almost non-existant.
Sounds like a pretty bold statement, I suppose. But after shooting the Chiappa Rhino at the 2011 Media Day at the Range, that sums up my feelings exactly. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning…
After I do a lot of shooting with heavy(ier) caliber guns, I find it really hard to judge recoil. By the time I got to the Chiappa guns I had done so much shooting I could not accurately judge the recoil. I can say that at the time the recoil did not seem bad. Bryan, who was with me at Media Day, took these photos of the Rhino ...
American Rifleman have gotten their hands on the Chiappa Rhino Revolver and posted a review of it online.
While the U.S. market has never shied away from “ugly” guns as long as they’re reliable, accurate and easy to shoot—just look at the success of Glock—Norton questioned whether the North American market would embrace such an “unorthodox” design, even though it was innovative. With his heart on the pulse of the American market, Norton suggested a few profile changes, including a snub-nose variant, and prototypes were turned around almost immediately.
Heh.
Chiappa's Rhino Revolver is now available in a very attractive brushed electroless nickel finish. Both the aluminum frame and steel cylinder get the nickel treatment.
Pricing is $799 (2" barrel), $899 (4"), $925 (5") and $980 (6").
The Chiappa Rhino .357 Mag Revolver is finally shipping. Initially the 2" barrel model will be on sale which will be followed by the 3,4 and 6" model in the next few months.
2" barrel model (MRSP: $775)
4" barrel model (MSRP: $899)
From the press release ...
Rhino Revolver has finally cleared all the import requirements and tests for sale in the United States and are now arriving for distribution by MKS Supply, the exclusive marketer for the Rhino.
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The Rhino, especially in the 2-inch version is an unusual looking firearm but form really does follow function. The recoil and muzzle flip from hot loads is greatly reduced thanks to the bottom chamber firing position. It just Works! And people who have shot it are amazed by the glass smooth action of this revolver.
Italian firearms manufacturer Armi Chiappa have developed a very cool looking .357 Magnum snubnosed revolver called the Chiappa Rhino Revolver.
It sure does resemble its namesake
Its angular design and the fact that it fires from the bottom chamber, unlike most other revolvers, gives it an appearance that closely resembled the legendary Mateba Autorevolver. Having a barrel fire from the lower chamber is supposed to help tame recoil and reduce muzzle flip.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
357 Mag. |
| Capacity |
6 rounds |
| Barrel |
2" |
| Rate of twist |
1:18.5" |
| Weight |
24 ounces |
Gun Holsters and Gear spoke to the company and found out that they may be available stateside at the end of the year.
Mateba Model 6 Unica autorevolver. Production of this pistol has ceased.
UPDATE: Daniel points out below in the comments that the Rhino and Mateba were both designed by the same person, Mr Emilio Ghisoni.
![rhino tm tfb The difference between a Gun, a Stripper & a G String. Spearmint Rhino Sues Chiappa [SFW] photo](http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/rhino-tfb.jpg "rhino tm tfb The difference between a Gun, a Stripper & a G String. Spearmint Rhino Sues Chiappa [SFW] photo")
