For years I've had exactly two Colts. A 3rd generation Colt DS made in 1974 and a Colt OP made in the 1950's. Great revolvers but I resigned myself to thinking I would never get any others. I figured Colts were just "too expensive".
During that same time period I've had various Smith & Wessons, GLOCKS, a Browning Hi-Power, Sigs, Rugers, and even a Taurus and a Rossi go in and out of my safe. And during all those years I've thought about picking up some of my favorite classic handguns like a Colt .357 magnum, Python, New Service etc. I've also longed for a Webley Mk VI, P08 Parabellum (Luger), Mauser C96 and even a Manurhin MR73. But just figured the Colts and other handguns were just "too expensive".
Well as you've probably figured out I realized that I had spent alot of money on many handguns that really didn't interest me. If I had just excercised a little more restraint I might have owned some of my "holy grails". So in the past couple years I've been ruthlessly purging my safe in order to get the models that I really want. In some case I've been trading two and even three models for one that I was really interested in. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to make it work I guess.
The result? Well my safe is roomier and I now own a Webley MkVI, a Colt Combat Commander (mfd. 1973),aModel 1905 3rd Change M&P, a 4" Model 28, a Luger P-08, an MR73 and a couple days ago I came across a Colt Trooper .357 Magnum with a 4" barrel. The serial number gives a date of birth sometime in 1967 so it was at the tail end of the models production. It has the Python hammer and the Python target grips on it. It's in excellent shape.
I don't believe it's been fired all that often. Actually I'm thinking it was last fired a couple decades ago - if not longer. I'm very pleased with my find.No it dosen't have that amazing Python finish, but it does have that incredible Colt action. In case you're curious I traded a Sig P245 and a S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. Oh well so it goes. I got the Colt though.
It's time to slow down though. I'm really truely tapped out on the guns that I'm willing to part with now. The older ones that I still own are ones that I really like and don't want to get rid of.
As you can see it doesn't have the finish of a Python, but it's clean - rust free. The bore is very crisp and the internals were dry, but a little lubrication brought it back to like. The whole revolver is very clean. I think it's been sitting in a safe for the past couple decades. It really hasn't been fired very much. As you can see there isn't much holster wear. The grips (which are correct) are also in very good shape.
The timing is dead on and there is no endshake. But this is the last one for awhile. I'm simply tapped out.
New to Me. Colt Trooper.357 mag, Pre MkIII
Linear Mode
