My amendment went through, so I picked up the old Colt Trooper I posted about last week. Here are a few more pics











The only thing I can see, based on what I read in Kuhnhausen's book, is that the recoil plate (shield?) looks like she's been shot a bit. There is a little ejector peen marking on the plate. Since I intend to shoot 99% light .38 wadcutters, I don't think its much of an issue.




As I have said, this is my first Colt. Colt experts, any observations would be welcome.

Not much to add. Looks great for the vintage. If you indeed only shoot light target loads, it’ll survive you, no matter how old (or young) you are.

Hello Patrick L, Not a Colt expert here, but I had a 6" pre MK III Trooper just like it years ago. Also had a 6" MK III Trooper. Much preferred the pre MK III like yours. The DA of the earlier V-Spring Trooper was far superior to my MK III gun. I've owned only a few Colts, but the earlier ones like yours are very fine revolvers IMHO. I currently have a 3 5 7 model, quite similar to the old Troopers.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Nice gun....and you even have the $5.00 "upgrade"... Back in the 1950s and 60s for $5.00 more one got the target hammer and target grips...

Always liked the COLT .357 and TROOPER .357 over the Python for some reason. A really nice COLT .357 4" just sold on GB last week for $3100.00!! Didn't even have a box!!

I have not owned very many Colt revolvers over the years but about 10 years ago I found a 1954 vintage TROOPER .22 for a friend. It was so nice I asked that I be first in line when he sold it... About two years ago my friend downsized his collection and I ended up with the gun. Liked shooting it so much I went out and found a 1968 TROOPER .357 to go with it...

The COLT .357 was made from I believe 1953 to 1960 and the TROOPER .22 and .38 Special from 1954 to 1960. Colt then combined the two coming out with only the TROOPER .357 and dropping the .357, .22 and .38. That said I have seen a few .38s that serialized to the 1960s. Also the TROOPER .22s were serialized with the OFFICERS MODEL MATCH not the TROOPER .38.

Grips...as mentioned above, for $5.00 one could upgrade from the service stocks and hammer to target. To tell if the gun came from the factory with target stocks, the top sideplate screw would have flat head and slightly recessed. If service stocks a round head. It the gun has a target hammer and service stocks...then a previous owner replaced them. The stocks alone are worth a lot of money...

From the early 1950s to 1958/9 area, the target stocks were fully checkered. In the late 1950s Colt changed to the pattern above. Fully checkered stocks in excellent condition will bring $400+ on a good day. The post-58 stocks will bring $200+. These same target stocks were also on the Python and Officers Model Match.

The TROOPER, .357, PYTHON and OMM all had the same lockwork. From what I have read somewhere about 1964 there was some changes made to the Python and TROOPER but not sure exactly what that was. In 1969 Colt dropped the TROOPER and replaced it with the TROOPER MKIII which has a completely different lockwork.

...that's about all I know about TROOPERS....

Bob

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SuperMan,

Thank you for the info!

I haven't ventured inside to clean out the old oil, etc. but I did pull the grips to look for rust etc, and I did notice the hidden sideplate screw was flat, so I guess she shipped with these grips.

I plan a range trip later this morning.

Had mine since 1972, if there's a candidate for an all round revolver that one's a sure winner.

Nice gun, congratulations. I'd like to find one of those some day soon.

On another subject ...... your "amendment" is a regional thing?

Those are very nice Colt revolvers.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

Hittman77,

A NYS thing. A NYS permit is not a permit to have pistols in general, it is a permit to have very specific handguns, right down to the serial number. In other words, let's say I have a 6 inch K38. That specific gun is listed on my permit. If I were pulled over and had an IDENTICAL six inch K38, but with a different serial number, I'm in big trouble.

Every pistol I have is listed on my permit by make, model, caliber, revolver or auto, and serial number. Every time you buy or sell a pistol, you have to file an "amendment" with the County Clerk's office (NY permits are issued by county) and the judge that originally signed your permit signs the amendment. So when you buy a gun,you make the deal, the gun stays at the shop, you take all the pertinent information and a sales receipt and go file the amendment. Once the amendment gets approved, you get a letter telling you, you go back to the county clerk's office and you receive a little piece of paper called a purchase coupon, and you then take that back to the store and you get your gun. So in NY there is a built in waiting period of how long it takes this whole process to go through.

The real problem is that the counties are very inconsistent. In more liberal (in the sense I mean gun friendly) counties like mine thank God, it can be as quick as two or three days, its never been more than a week for me. And when it takes a week I know its not anti gun BS its just that they are that busy. I hear horror stories about other counties taking 4 or 5 weeks for amendments to go through, primarily because they don't like guns there.

Excelsior!

Thank you for that explanation. I have relatives in upstate NY ( a huge place, I know ) but they're not gun folks and didn't know.

All the best.

Nice Colt!!...I love them, closest thing I have are OMS and OMM...they're great....still interested in early Trooper or 3 5 7 ....

Original target grips on the Colt .357 and Trooper .357s are a big plus. They are in three broad categories. The fully checkered type is generally called the Gen 1, and is the most expensive. In high condition, maybe $400 and up. The Gen 2 has a curved top of the checkered area, and those in high condition will go for $200-$250. The Gen 3 grips have a flat top of the checkered area, go for $150-$200. See picture below. There are also plain service grips, but even those will run $100-150 in top shape. Only those target grips for the Python have gold medallions, others have silver. Actually, the silver medallion style seems to be more scarce, as many of them were converted to Python grips by swapping out medallions. I have both a 6" .357 and a 4" Trooper .357. If the day comes I could have only one revolver, it would probably be the Trooper .357.

Patrick L , I hope you enjoy your Trooper as much as I enjoy mine . Last yr I bought a trooper , 357 with a 4" barrel . It has the gold medallions on the target grips . It's a 1967 model . It has the same lock work as a python . It had been a safe queen it's entire life . I paid less than $500 delivered . I have no intention of selling --- ever . I had thought of getting a 6" barrel , same model but haven't found what I would call a " great deal " . I enjoy " the hunt " . Regards Paul

I found this Colt Trooper 38 special stock grips. A 1966 issue.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Service grips were standard on the Troopers, but Target grips were extra cost items - like about a dollar extra. Most I have seen have service stocks. This is mine:

Another here with a 38 Trooper. Mine is also from 1966. Or maybe 65. I don't believe it has been fired outside the factory. I personally doubt I'll ever shoot it. I just liked it when I saw it.





It came with the box, and some of the papers.


65.
A target that was folded inside the box, dated 12/27/65. Five shots from 15 yards.

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John 3:16 .

Dwalt, do the Gen 2 grips have the little flat on the top of the left panel? My guns right grip looks like the center one, the left looks like the one on the far right. See my pics in previous post

Patrick L, That's a fine looking Colt Trooper. This one was my F-I-L's service revolver bought in Jan 1968 for $85.

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Nothing like an old Colt 357. Very sweet shooters. Mine was purchased by my dad in 1954, so not a Trooper, but a "Colt 357". He gave it to me in 1977 when I entered the Academy. Carried it for many years, and still take it to the range regularly. I'm usually the only shooter with a wheel gun. Yes, I'm old!

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BEAUTIFUL old Colt! Shoot it well!

DWalt...thanks for posting about the 2nd Generation grips...did not know about them... What years were they made? I had also forgotten about the Trooper/OMM grips having silver medallions and the Python gold.

I was able to pick up two sets of Gen I grips off GB a few months ago. The first set along with two others were for sale at the same time. The first set sold for $413, the second set I got for $285 and the third set for $405...no clue why people who bid on the other two sets didn't drive the price of the set I bought up... That set is now on the .22.

The second set was in a parts kit. They had some wear and chips but I got the stocks and all the parts to a 1948 OMM for $125.00. A friend who is a master wood refinisher fixed the chips and refinished the grips and they are now on the TROOPER .357 as I like the feel of the Gen I grips over the Gen III.

Bob

wrkerr...you are not "old"...everyone else is just "younger"....

Hey Patrick L;

That's a nice, nice Trooper! You done good gettin' that one.

Do you know about when it was produced? A factory letter's best, but Colt offers an online lookup feature that will yield the year. Colt's Manufacturing LLC

I love traditional Smith & Wessons best, but am doubly afflicted and also love old Colts.

This early "first year" 3 5 7 from 1953 has been roosting in the safe for some years now. In my view both the 3 5 7 and the Trooper are way ahead of the Python and its over the top styling.

It's been said that the 3-5-7 has a better fit and finish than the Trooper, but my personal observation is that they are much the same. At one time, the 3-5-7 was the top of the Colt line until the Python came out. Colt decided that it did not need two top-of-the-line models, and dropped the 3-5-7. The Trooper was intended mainly for law enforcement sale, sort of like the distinction between S&W's Models 27 and 28.

I've had two 3-5-7 models and a single Trooper .357 for a long time. I know some say there was a difference between the Troopers and 3-5-7 models, but the only difference I can see is the roll stamping on the barrels. Actions feel the same and the finishes appear to be identical.

bmcgilvray,

1968 I think, according to my sn. So it would be towards the tail end of this models history. I believe the Trooper Mk III replaced these in 1969.