1966 Colt Trooper

Toyman · #1 02-02-2023, 02:14 PM

I stopped at a shop I had not been to recently. Found this Colt Trooper 38 special, shipped 1966
I bought it for the grips !!!

stansdds · #2 02-02-2023, 02:39 PM

So... in other words... you bought a set of stocks and a nice Colt revolver was part of the deal.

bigmtnman · #3 02-02-2023, 10:57 PM

Congratulations for picking up that nice Trooper and some vintage "Fitz" ....LOOKING GOOD !!
This is a post of mine from a few years ago .....
I got this old Lawrence holster some years ago from the "$5 box-o-stuff" at a gun show. I was attracted by it's obvious well worn "character". The first gun I slipped into it was a 5" bbl M10-5 and it fit "perfectly" (I thought at the time) I thought it was MADE for a 5" bbl and how uncommon that was.
I noticed the other day that when I put a different M&P in it, the fit was actually not matching up with the worn inside of the holster or the outside "molded by use" that I could see. It looked like it would match up better with a 4" bbl and a little bigger frame. I tried my 4" M28 in it - NOPE - not for a N frame !.... I then tried my 4" M586 in it. Wow, that was a "perfect" fit ! But wait.... I don't think the L frame was around when this holster was getting all it's usage. Hmmmm .... let me try this Colt Trooper .357 in it --- BINGO !! The inside cylinder and top of the frame "usage marks and molding" matched with the Colt perfectly as well as the outside "molded" areas. The overall fit of the Colt to the holster just said "welcome home" So now I had the right gun in the right holster from the same "era", but the aftermarket grips I had on the Trooper were not the right "era". I dug out the old vintage faux stag Fitz to complete the "all from the same era" package. When I look at it now, I see 1955 + or - a few --- and all is well

SuperMan · #4 02-03-2023, 12:12 AM

Nice find...

A few years ago I picked up a 1954 Colt Trooper .22 from a friend...liked it so much I bought a 1968 4" .357 to go with it...

Bob

ps...they both now wear 1950s vintage fully checkered Target stocks...

DWalt · #5 02-03-2023, 12:46 AM

My most prized revolver is a .357 Trooper, and it is my “If I could own only one revolver...” gun. In second place is a Colt 357, much the same as the Trooper but with a 6” barrel and in a little lower condition. Both are very close relatives to the Python, which I do not have. But I really do not need a Python with those two around.

cowboy4evr · #6 02-03-2023, 11:39 AM

I also have a mid 60's Colt Trooper , 4" barrel in very very good condition . I contacted my local gun smith , who has been smithing for about 40 years and asked if he could take it apart , clean and oil as I figured it hadn't been serviced since leaving the factory . He told me he had owned lots of older colts in the past and had no problem " servicing " it . It has been the best $50 I have spent in a long time and No , it's not for sale . The same can be said for the Colt Police Positive Special ( late model ) chambered in 38 special I got last year . In very nice condition and needed being " serviced " also . It's not for sale either Regards Paul

rockquarry · #7 02-03-2023, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWalt

My most prized revolver is a .357 Trooper, and it is my “If I could own only one revolver...” gun. In second place is a Colt 357, much the same as the Trooper but with a 6” barrel and in a little lower condition. Both are very close relatives to the Python, which I do not have. But I really do not need a Python with those two around.

I had two 6" Pythons for many years along with a couple of .3-5-7 models and a Trooper, all older guns that have been fired regularly. I sold both Pythons in the last year. Neither were any more accurate than the Colts I kept.

I did like the muzzle heavy feel of the Pythons as I thought it helped to steady the gun, but there was no evidence of this on targets, at least for me shooting at 25 yards. Maybe at longer distance it would have made a difference.

DWalt · #8 02-04-2023, 02:23 PM

Once, long ago, I considered converting my 357 to a Python by swapping barrels, as I had found a fairly nice Python barrel cheap. But I came to my senses before I did anything stupid.

DevilDog72 · #9 02-23-2023, 12:50 AM

right---- got it

mikeruns · #10 02-23-2023, 01:34 AM

You bought it for the grips!! COME On MAN! :->

CH4 · #11 02-23-2023, 03:45 AM

Classic heat!
Those grips and $5 will buy you a caramel macchiato.

Breadman1 · #12 02-23-2023, 06:54 AM

I’ve bought guns before just for the stocks, but they didn’t look like that, nice gun��

BLACKHAWKNJ · #13 02-23-2023, 11:10 AM

Had my 1968 Trooper .357 since 1972. They are extremely hard to beat. IMHO the S&W L frame was introduced to compete with them.

rockquarry · #14 02-23-2023, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACKHAWKNJ

Had my 1968 Trooper .357 since 1972. They are extremely hard to beat. IMHO the S&W L frame was introduced to compete with them.

Good guns, no doubt, but I think the original Trooper Model ( as mentioned in these posts) was long out of production when S&W introduced the L frame.

SnidelyWhiplash · #15 02-23-2023, 12:15 PM

I think an argument can be made that the L-frame Smith and its full barrel lug was to mimic the Colt Python and King Cobra and maybe the Ruger GP100 (not sure if the dates correlate)...but I do believe the prime motivation of the L-frame was to address durability issues with the K-frame magnum revolvers. The styling of the barrel was maybe more marketing than necessity.