Purchased a Colt Lawman MkIII snubbie

Checkman · #1 03-21-2010, 12:33 AM

I know I know this is the S&W forum, but sometimes I wander over to the other guys. What can I say I'm only human.

Went to one of my favorite pawnshops yesterday. The owner is known to pay fairly well for interesting pieces and I've always been impressed with his selection. In the past couple of years I've purchased a pre-war S&W Heavy Duty with a 5" barrel and a Webley Mk VI from him.

Today was no exception.I wasn't intending to bring anything home, but in the past that's when I've found some of my favorite pieces.

There was a beautiful Lawman Mk III 2" with the original service grips. Actually the grips have the serial number written on both panels so perhaps it's the original factory installed grips? Anyway I traded an Model 1914 Erfurt P08 Luger (mfd. 1916) for it. No regrets. The Luger was a nice piece, but I've had a jones for a mid-size .357 magnum snubbie for a few years now and they sure aren't easy to find. This Lawman Mk III was too good to pass up.

It's serial number is 38XXXL. I've triple checked that serial number and it's my understanding that the serial number dates it to 1979 so if that is correct it was made near the end of the 2" production life. It's in excellent shape. It's blued with a blue trigger and CH hammer.

I wish I had a couple pistols that I was willing to part with. Sitting next to the Mk III in the display case was a 2nd generation Colt Detective Special made in 1956. Also in excellent shape with the original grips. It was a tough call.

Well anyway for those of you who are still reading this post here a few photos. I'm still a Smith guy, but there are a few Colt models out there that I lust after.

GatorFarmer · #2 03-21-2010, 01:46 AM

I have a Lawman MKIII snub myself. They're an interesting gun. The only other people I've talked to with them tended to use them as working guns. The Revolver Armorer in Suffolk VA can work on them. The general advice was old timers was that the MKIII snubs were durable guns and would take a lot of full power magnum ammo without problems, but could break firing pins if dry fired extensively without caps. The snubs use a different grip than the regular ones, so replacement options are limited, but mine wears Colt logo rubber ones gifted me by another forum member. I also have a set of custom limited run wood boot type grips for mine.

These guns seem to be a bit of a forgotten gem. I didn't know that they were that sought after. They're interesting to handle alongside a DS, since they're somewhat like a bulked up DS I suppose, though more akin to a K frame snub in terms of size.

m657 · #3 03-21-2010, 09:16 AM

I've got a 4" Mk III in 22LR that's absolutely wonderful. Certainly from another era. Reminds of the impassive bulk strength of a fine Ruger but with the sensitivity of a proper Smith.

CAJUNLAWYER · #4 03-21-2010, 11:03 AM

I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat-the Lawman MK III is a very underrated revolver

JcMack · #5 03-21-2010, 12:43 PM

I'd like to have one of those. Off the top of my bald head it seems to me that other than spring changes, trigger internal trigger work is not recommended. Dry firing any Colt revolver with a frame mounted FP will result in expensive damage. I took a pass on one of those a few years back. Now I really regret it. When I do see them for sale prices are near $700.

dozer · #6 03-21-2010, 01:21 PM

Awesome heavy duty snub, grips are hard to come by as the round butt frame was unique for the 2 inch only.Jim Badger has a round butt frame and made these for my gun.Similar to S&W combats but a little thicker.

DFrame · #7 03-21-2010, 02:37 PM

The entire MK III series were sturdy durable guns that should last several lifetimes. The snubs are hard to find. Congrats on a great gun.

WoodSmith · #8 03-21-2010, 03:07 PM

Hard to beat a Lawman snub for heavy-duty carry. Made a couple modifications (bobbed hammer & stocks) for convenience. Works well for woods carry.

wyo-man · #9 03-21-2010, 04:03 PM

Very nice find.

wyo-man

Checkman · #10 03-21-2010, 04:41 PM

Thanks. It's neat little powerhouse. I've fired the scandium .357's in the past and they're a handful with full house loads. I imagine this chunky little bulldog will be slightly more manageable with it's all steel frame, but it will still be interesting. I have some of the old Remington 125 grain semi-jacketed hollowpoints that I'm saving for it.

I've heard the same thing about the firing pin breaking (if dry fired extensively) on the Mk III's without snapcaps so I went ahead and purchased some. Why push my luck?

m657 · #11 03-21-2010, 06:58 PM

here's one view of my Mk III

bummer · #12 03-21-2010, 09:12 PM

I owned a Mark III 6" for about 1 year. One day after I cleaned it, I cocked the hammer and the trigger broke( at the pivot point) I purchased a new trigger and promptly traded it towards a M-19. Good luck with yours

gunnut44 · #13 03-21-2010, 09:31 PM

I have a MKlll 2" just like yours. Awesome gun and for the $300 I gave for it was even better! It could possibly be unfired and doesn't have a mark on it and it will stay that way! I very rarely see these up for sale so I feel lucky to have it. Congrats on your new gun!

safearm · #14 03-22-2010, 09:47 AM

Great guns. Decades ago when I was a patrolman in Illinois, I carried a Python as my duty gun and a nickel Mark III as an off duty gun. It was bigger than a Detective Special, which was bigger than a J- frame, but it was comfortable to shoot with our issued round, W-W 158 grain LHP+P. I still have the Python, but I traded the Mark III off for a nickel Detective Special, which I still own, but my wife carries. Good find.

Gary · #15 03-22-2010, 04:22 PM

I had a 6" MkIII for years. It was a nice gun. If I remember right I put a set of Trapper springs in it when I bought it. They helped a lot to get the double action trigger pull to a more manageable level. I took it to a gun show once and sold it for enough to buy a real nice 6" model 28. I like it even better.