I'd been doing a little horse trading recently so when I saw this pony at the LGS I decided to bring it home. It's not the prettiest gun I've ever seen, but it looked worse before I cleaned it up some. The grips appear to be Colt, but have been sanded down to fit some previous owners hand. They just happen to fit mine too, which is a happy coincidence. All the mechanical stuff checks out.

Colt Trooper 357 from 1966 according to Proofhouse.

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John 3:16 .

One of the better guns for many rounds of enjoyable shooting, you "done good". Best, Joe.

Congrats!

It should make a great shooter.

The Trooper's a great revolver. The trigger on mine is 98% as good as a Python's, IMHO. Nice score!

THE COLT TROOPER IS A VERY NICE REVOLVER. YOURS LOOKS QUITE PRESENTABLE IN IT'S CLEANED UP CONDITION, AND SHOULD BE A GOOD SHOOTER. CONGRATS---AND DON'T FORGET TO GIVE US A RANGE REPORT……….

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I also stumbled upon a Colt double action. May I ask how much it costs you? Thanks Macinaw

I paid $550.00 for it. No idea if that's good, bad, indifferent. It seemed reasonable for a finish challenged, but tight, 357 Colt these days.

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John 3:16 .

Being a Colt, the cost is of no concern.

My brother had one and it was awesome.

aint nothing wrong with that poor mans Python other than it got a good home

Buyers like you, I like.

I don't know about that. I've owned a few Colts and while I liked them, they ain't THAT good.

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John 3:16 .

I should have said, what you paid is of no concern. It's done. If you thought it too much, you wouldn't have bought it.

You all can undercut his price without showing a receipt..

Well, somebody did ask, or I wouldn't have mentioned it.

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John 3:16 .

Nice!

By the thread's heading, I thought for sure I was going to see a picture of a Rossi 97401 - a 'poor man's python'.

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But then, what do I know?

Great find, I envy you! Gotta ask about the action: is it in time? I've always had bad luck with Colt's timing.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Despite the fact that I have multiple S&Ws in 357, my Trooper remains my favorite gun chambered in 357.

They fantastic and really underrated guns.

I had one years ago and was dumb and sold it. I could kick myself for sure. :-(

Sent from the Telegraph Office

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RudyN
NRA Patron Life Member

All the mechanical stuff checks out just fine.

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John 3:16 .

Before the .357 Trooper, there was the Colt Trooper in .38 Special (ands .22 lr) and the Colt 3 5 7. They were launched in 1953, the Trooper as a Service Grade weapon for police departments and the 3 5 7 as a premium holster weapon for those looking for better fit & finish and/or .357 Magnum capacity.

What mucked things up was the introduction of the Super Premium Python in 1955. Original concept was a .38 Special target gun, it was instead made in .357 Magnum and the original 3 5 7 soon lost its purpose.

With the end of the 3 5 7 (in 1961 I believe), the Trooper was converted from 38 Special to 357 Magnum.

Here is my 3 5 7:


Had a 4" Python too, sold it years ago but kept the 3 5 7. Maybe not as sexy, it handles better in the hand and looks more "Coltish" to me.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Very nice. I have had a few in 4 and six inch over the years. The action is the same as the Python. Very accurate and I never had any problems with them. I would like to have all of mine back.

As I understand the Colt action, what we S&W owners would call the "hand" (Ruger owners call it the "pawl") is designed to take the great stresses of firing, as it remains in contact with the cylinder at the moment of firing. This means premature wear on that part, and if you shoot quite a bit, far more frequent trips to the gunsmith than with S&W and Ruger.

Now, that was not a problem when Colt built revolvers and there were: (1) plenty of spare parts and (2) plenty of qualified armorers to fit that part.

These days, however, Colt revolver parts are hard to find and expensive, and within a few years there will simply be no remaining TRAINED gunsmiths with experience with the Colt action. There are very few now, and as they get older, there are none to replace them.

I am one of those people who wish Colt would get back in the revolver business. It is, however, just not realistic as all of those who say they are on board for a new Python will simply not "Pony up," if you will pardon the expression, when it comes to paying the likely prices of $1,600.00 and up for one.

That said, there is room for Colt to make its improved D Frame, especially the Agent and perhaps other models to fit what the market now calls for, but I simply cannot see a new batch of Official Police or similar models as the market for self-defense guns is now the high capacity 9mm or .40 caliber autos. Colt, has the 1911 market covered pretty good, and the Model O autos they turn out these days are truly the best that have ever come from Colt.

Would a lightweight D frame 38 Special with an improved action that is less costly to build and easier to maintain sell? I don't know, but I would certainly buy one, and I will "Pony up."

Let all of us S&W people do our best to make sure our friends down the road at West Hartford maintain good employment. Buy a Colt this year to go along with the S&Ws you will likely buy.