I've been offered a 4" blue Lawman MK III in trade for a gun I have for sale. I really don't know much about this model. What can y'all tell me about it and its current value?

I'd pass. There's a reason they never sold all that well. Terrible DA.

Lots around, IMHO nothing special especially compared to any Smith in same caliber. Now if you have 50 bucks in your trade then maybe. Remember if you do the deal and after a while don't like it ...you're stuck with it

The big problem was the firing pin . You were to NEVER dry fire it as it , many times ended up with a broken firing pin and ONLY the factory could fi it -- takes very special tools that no gunsmith has . Colt was trying out " sintered metal " parts . It was a try at " mim " parts . They are hard but brittle . You need to check out the firing pin , first and foremost .
You didn't say what your gun was so I can not comment on the value of the trade . The lawman served LEO's well . I talked to a retired Dallas officer that carried a Lawman his entire career and thought it was the best firearm he could of had . It was a present from his soon wife to be . He spoke well of that model , his eyes lit up and a smile on his face as we talked . Yes , the DA trigger is heavy . The action was changed from the python models so they could be made cheaper , less hand fitting . They are good guns , but it's really comes down to what you think of it . Regards, Paul

I don't care for this model. My lieutenant at the sheriff's office carried one and he bumped it on a patrol car and broke the hammer spur off. As stated, the DA is heavy.

A lot depends on what you are trading. If it is a Raven .25 ACP, do the trade and sell the Colt.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The MKIII Lawman was a service grade 357 designed with LEO's in mind. I have only ever heard of the broken firing pin phenomenon from the internet. I own a MKIII Border Patrol (same as Trooper) bought by my father, new in 1972. It's well used and still functions fine. The MKIII's are robust heavy duty revolvers. You can read about them here:
Mark III

What's the other part of the swap consist of? My limited experience with them doesn't offer much to answer your question. The last Lawman Mk3 I had was the 2" RB model. I never cared for the trigger and was so-so shooter so I sold it year before last at big Tulsa show for $475 IIRC. Used the money to go towards more Smiths.

ETA:
Also, IIRC, the hammer/trigger on the Lawman and latter Troopers were of sintered metal.

I love mine. I only dryfire it with snapcaps thanks to the meddling internet, but it is a great shooter. I traded a beater Victory Model to my brother for it - he was going through a WWII phase and had to have it.



I think they look great.



The parts may be sintered, but they are well made.







I like to bust off a few rounds in my leisure suit and green aviators from the steps of the clubhouse after a nice wine and cheese tasting.



They don't bring the crazy prices Pythons are getting these days, but they are real Colts and fine guns. I'd rather have it than any of the currently made Smiths.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

As I mentioned above, this was purchased in '72. I had it to the range last weekend. This target was shot a couple of years ago.

Attached Images

IMG_0917.jpg (81.3 KB, 70 views)

I don't own any Lawmen just Troopers and I've had Zero problems with them. However; here is one of my favorite MARK IIIs in 22 Magnum with the scarce Electroless finish! it's an excellent shooter.
Jim

Attached Images

colttroopermkiii 002.JPG (112.0 KB, 42 views)

Thanks for the info. But he was wanting too much for it. I decided to pass.

It is no smith and i wouldn’t trade a smith for one but for 400-500 bucks it can’t hurt to add one to the pile. Here is my Lawman and trooper.....

I know that they are no Python. I have read about some inherent problems with them. Specific issues don't come to mind. There is a dealer near me that has a nickel one for sale for 1500.00. Way overpriced. I would not trade for it

The first revolver I ever bought was an 8" Electroless Nickel in .22 LR. Here it is with its matching big brother in .357. The pair has given me, about three and a half decades of enjoyment... and counting. :-)

I don't know what the specific differences are between the Lawman and Trooper models but I have had some great fun shooting the boxed MARK III example I show above!
However: I will say in 22LR I prefer my Model 17s!
Jim

The Lawman Mark III series is the same basic model as the Mark III Trooper series, differing only in the lack of adjustable sights.

Owned a 6" .357 Trooper model back in the late 1970's. Owned a 4" .22 Trooper back in the early 1980's. Basically good solid revolvers, but I never could get in love with the heavy "stacking" DA trigger pull (heavier and heavier as you approach let-off point, probably due to the coil spring mechanism). No problems to report, just my personal preferences kept me going back to Smith & Wesson revolvers.

Since they are discontinued Colt revolvers from 30-40 years ago there is probably a fair collector market, so I wouldn't ignore an opportunity to turn a profit.

Regarding MkIII triggers. I own several MkIII, a few Pythons and a "pile" of S&W K and N frames. Comparatively, each has a different trigger "feel". The V-spring Pythons definitely stack some at the end of the trigger pull. Not particularly objectionable to me, however. The S&Ws can me made "butter smooth" and trigger pull weight adjusted way down the point of assuring reliable ignition. The double action MkIII triggers are not the "creme dela creme" for target or competition purposes, but IMO, are certainly more than suitable for a service revolver.

Do you mind sharing how much the seller was asking?

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

I know you decided to pass. Photo just for the heck of it. I purchased mine for around $800. It was mint in box with factory grease still on it. Never fired by owner.

Attached Images

DSC_0016.jpg (98.9 KB, 316 views)