| Chiappa Rhino | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chiappa Rhino 40DS and 20D | |
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Emilio Ghisoni & Antonio Cudazzo[1][2] |
| Designed | 2008 |
| Manufacturer | Chiappa Firearms |
| Unit cost | $775–1652MSRP (depending on version)[1][3] |
| Produced | 2010–present |
| Variants | 20D, 20DS, 30DS, 40DS, 50DS, 60DS, 60DS Charging Rhino (competition version for 9×19mm), 120DS (UK legal Long Barrel Revolver version) All variants in Black or Hard Chrome finish. Charging Rhino version only in Black.[4][5] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Barrel length |
|
| Cartridge | |
| Action | DA/SA,DAO orSAOrevolver[6] |
| Feed system | 6-round hexagonalcylinder[6] |
| Sights | Fixed open sights[6] |
TheChiappa Rhino is a series ofrevolvers produced byItalian manufacturerChiappa Firearms. The Rhino's frames areCNC-machined from a solid block of high-tensilealuminium alloy and all internal parts are CNC-machined fromsteel.
Chambered for the.357 Magnum/.38 Special,9mm Parabellum,.40 S&W, or9×21mmcartridges, their most distinctive feature is that thebarrel is on a much lowerbore axis, as the Rhino fires from the lowermostchamber of thecylinder rather than from the topmost chamber as in conventional revolvers.[8]
Designed byEmilio Ghisoni and Antonio Cudazzo, the Rhino differs from traditional revolvers in a number of ways. Stylistically it resembles Ghisoni's earlier design, theMateba Autorevolver, and was his last design before his death in 2008.[1][2][9]
In order to reduce weight, the frame of the Rhino is made ofErgal (analuminium alloy), and the receiver is CNC-machined from a solid block of high-tensile aluminium. Virtually all components are CNC-machined as well; this manufacturing process yields a very precise fit with minimaltolerances. For models other than the 20D, the trigger may be used in eithersingle-action ordouble-action mode. Only the 2-inch 20D model comes indouble-action only.[10]
The externalcocking lever is not actually ahammer as on most revolvers. Instead, it is merely alinkagehandle used to cock an internal hammer, and immediately falls back into place after cocking is complete, minimizing the number of externally moving parts andreciprocating mass. An additional feature of this gun is, unlike most revolvers, it comes with anaccessory rail (except for the 2-inch and 3-inch models), on whichtactical lights andlaser sights can be mounted.[10] The aluminium-based revolver is available in anodized finishes resembling traditionalbluing, as well as a version resemblingelectroless nickel finish referred as the "White Rhino".[3] A gold-colored version was displayed at the 2014SHOT Show.[11]
Firing from the lowermost chamber in the cylinder as opposed to the uppermost is intended to reducemuzzle flip by aligning therecoil more into the shooter's wrist, rather than above it.[8] A downside of this design is that it increases the vertical distance between thesight line and thebore axis (sight height), meaning the gun will have a greaterparallax error when aiming at close range. Another distinctive feature is that thecross-section of its cylinder ishexagonal (though with rounded corners) instead ofcircular; this is intended to narrow the weapon's profile inconcealed carry applications.[3][6][12]
Chiappa manufactures the Rhino in a number of sizes, barrel lengths, finishes, and calibers, including a frame that is made from polymer instead of aluminum.
