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11-27-2011, 03:48 PM
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4" Colt Trooper (.38 Spl).
Well I picked up a Colt Trooper 4" (.38 Special Heavy Barrel) yesterday. I was looking for either a . 38 Special Trooper, Official Police or a pre-1972 Detective Special. I found this Trooper. I haggeled with the owner a little bit and he dropped the price to $375.00. It helped that I could pay in cash. I went in with my Surefire flashlight and a jeweler loop. I had him take the grips off and checked it as completely as I could. The previous owner (or owners) had taken very good care of it. The serial number gives it a DOB sometime in 1960.
According to the store owner it is one of several revolvers that he is selling for a widow. Her husband passed away a few months ago. She had given him some leeway in the prices. Evidently her late husband knew how to take care of his firearms. I've been wanting a clean little Trooper for awhile so this wasn't an impulse buy. I spent Saturday shopping and I found one worn out OP and two Post-1972 Detective Specials for sale (I already own a post-72 DS).
The Trooper was at the end of the day and a pleasent surprise. It had what I believe are Herrett grips on it. I think they're Herretts, but I couldn't find any identifying marks. I took them off and put them on my OM Target. They just seem to fit better on the OM. I then installed the duty grips that were on the OM onto the Trooper. They also just "look" right on the Trooper in my opinion.
I've gotten into buying the older 38 revolvers - both S&W and Colt. Not as many people want them, I tend to find examples that are in better shape and the prices are usually lower than they are on the .357 magnums.
Anyway a couple photos. Of the Trooper and laying next to the Officer Model.
Hope my Smiths don't get angry with me.
I now own
Detective Special (post-72)
Lawman MK III snubbie
.38 Special Trooper - 4"
Officer Model Target - 6"
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11-27-2011, 04:11 PM
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Checkman,
I'll bet you will enjoy shooting that old Trooper, the action on mine is like "buddah".
Mike
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11-27-2011, 04:49 PM
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Sweet! I have a first year .357. Ser.no. 8xx.
I truly believe that the Colts and S&Ws from the 50s-60s are the high water mark for American revolvers.
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11-27-2011, 04:52 PM
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11-27-2011, 05:00 PM
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Feral,
Nice Case Stag Folding Hunter, too!
Mike
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11-27-2011, 05:13 PM
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Troopers used to be sleepers in used guns. But like all Colts they are now in the stratosphere price-wise.
I got these 357s about a year apart for $210 and $375. The better one also had the early target stock on it making it a very good deal since these will sell for $300+ by themselves. I added the stocks to the cheaper one.
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11-27-2011, 06:02 PM
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PH-2, Here is another case, I think centennial model I have. I once found another old one by a deer gut pile. I still have that one but I made the mistake of lending it to a kid who was going camping. He broke the stag handle throwing it! I wonder if someone can restore it and put on another stag grip?
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11-27-2011, 06:14 PM
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feral
I'll bet you Patrick Grashorn could make it whole.
My most recent ex-wife took umbrage at the joy I had in collecting old Case knives, I had many double "X'es", even a few old "Circle C's".
In a misguided effort to please a woman who could not be pleased, I sold them off. With the profit, she bought furniture we didn't need. Apparently we didn't need an appreciating collection of fine American knives more!
I hate the old me!
Mike
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11-27-2011, 07:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SaxonPig
Troopers used to be sleepers in used guns. But like all Colts they are now in the stratosphere price-wise.
I got these 357s about a year apart for $210 and $375. The better one also had the early target stock on it making it a very good deal since these will sell for $300+ by themselves. I added the stocks to the cheaper one.
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And the crazy thing is compared to other Colt DA revolver models the Troopers are still a pretty good bargain. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep buying Colt revolvers. The prices are almost always between $50 - $100 higher than second hand Smiths. Compared to second hand Rugers the price difference seems to average between $150 - $200 dollars higher. I also like Smith & Wesson revolvers and the Ruger Six series isn't to bad either.
Oh well I'm happy with the Trooper and Officer Model as well as the others.
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11-27-2011, 07:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by feralmerril
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I've meant to tell you in the past that i like your old hunting photos. That is one beautiful nickle plated Trooper you have there as well.
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11-27-2011, 10:33 PM
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Just happen to have an early model myself.
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11-27-2011, 10:51 PM
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Here is mine
My father got this from a cop buddy who left the force
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11-28-2011, 01:39 PM
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Very nice Trooper! Congrats!
The Colt Trooper was my fathers duty gun for 27 years on the Nassau County Police department. He is very ill these days and has given it to my younger brother.
He gave me his off duty Cobra and a Nassau County commerorative 4" 66-2 in a wooden presentation case. Regards 18DAI
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11-28-2011, 04:07 PM
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I have a few pony revolvers, these two officers models are both from late 30's the .22
is in really nice shape and is a great shooter. The .38 (I have some proper wood grips for it)
is not quite as nice but is still a great shooter. The next one to purchase is an Officer's Model Target in .32. These are as scarce and expensive as the K-32
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11-28-2011, 05:10 PM
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The next one to purchase is an Officer's Model Target in .32. These are as scarce and expensive as the K-32
Hey give me a day or two. In the past week I've doubled the number of Colt revolvers that I own. I have to pace myself.
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12-07-2011, 04:39 PM
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A couple better pictures.
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12-08-2011, 10:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mkk41
Sweet! I have a first year .357. Ser.no. 8xx.
I truly believe that the Colts and S&Ws from the 50s-60s are the high water mark for American revolvers.
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My "Colt .357" is also a first year gun - s/n 74.
Update: Since this original post, I also acquired this 1966 Trooper .357. It looks to be unfired.
Colt Trooper 357.JPG
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Last edited by skeezix; 11-27-2012 at 09:16 AM.
Reason: update with new acquisition
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12-08-2011, 10:54 AM
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my newest revolver...
Although it isn't a very well lit photo (didn't have the light tent set up) this Trooper .357 heavy barrel is from 1964 and other then some wear at the muzzle and a very small spot on the left grip I am quite pleased with how it looks.
I bought this Trooper and a S&W Performance Center/Lew Horton 25-12 (1917) that came with 5 different sets of grips for a total of $1250. Alone, the seller wanted $900 just for the Smith.
I posted pictures of the Model 25 on the "Modern" S&W Revolvers 1980 to present...
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12-08-2011, 11:11 PM
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Those are some good looking Troopers.
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12-08-2011, 11:50 PM
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Since we're talking "Old Colts" here's my oldest; a US Army Model 1901. Unfortunately its been re-blued somewhere along its way:
There are 3 more digits to the serial number; when I originally posted the photo of the gun's s/n I was concerned about showing the complete s/n...
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12-09-2011, 01:22 AM
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The Trooper-especially in 357-is one of the great underappreciated revolvers IMHO.
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11-26-2012, 04:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cwo4uscgret
Since we're talking "Old Colts" here's my oldest; a US Army Model 1901. Unfortunately its been re-blued somewhere along its way:
There are 3 more digits to the serial number; when I originally posted the photo of the gun's s/n I was concerned about showing the complete s/n...
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Very very nice.
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11-26-2012, 08:04 PM
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I like my colts. The thing that hurts them is the fact that not many people are left that knows how to work on them plus the conception that they go out of time fast. That one is overblown, however its said that they do need maintance sooner than smiths do.
I mostly carried colts for my 35 years. We were issued 4" offical polices that I belive were bought durring the korean war to arm the lockheed guard department. I took to carrying a 4" .357 trooper I bought new for $108s around 1970. I put service grips on it so it looked like our company guns in the holster. I quit doing that to keep my chief out of trouble when another gun savey guard ratted me off. Its the same one I shot that buck with thats shown earlier on this old thread. I always thought it was colts answer to smiths model 19. In my experiance I used to find colts gave me a little better accuracy shooting them off the bench as opposed to smiths, and I have had plenty of each. I still have two pythons and these two troopers. The blue one is a .22lr and I bought the nickle one from a well known guy here. Thanks allen! I am showing them along side my m&p. About the same size.
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centennial, colt, detective, galil, herrett, lew horton, model 25, performance center, presentation, stag, surefire, trooper |
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