I know I'm going to the Dark Side, but I have an opportunity to trade for this early Trooper with a nickel finish. No box or other accessories.
Does the finish look factory? He has it on GB for $850 but lives locally so I can see it this week. What is a fair value for it? After researching the model, I was thinking $500-550. He says the pearl stocks are real rather than plastic.
Thanks in advance!

Ummm... did you intend to post photos? Can’t help on the finish without them.

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50 Years of DSOTM

Where’s a picture?

I have seen early Troopers, but I don't own one. While the lettering is clean and sharp, I can't confirm that it is factory nickel plated. I have my suspicions since I don't remember the rear sight having been nickel on the versions I have seen. I can't help on the value.

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Judge control not gun control!

It looks like a 1954-55 Trooper in .38 Special (E-frame, not I-frame). While it was offered with a nickel finish, I do not remember ever seeing a nickeled version. I really can’t tell from the pictures whether the finish is likely to be original or not. The later I-frame Troopers chambered in .357 are somewhat more desirable, especially those with the factory Gen 1 checkered target grips. The MOP grips do nothing to add value, especially as one panel seems to be damaged, at least from the picture. If it talks to you, I would assume your price range estimate is pretty much on target for today, but I would try to negotiate a little better price. I would not go higher.

Hard to tell if it’s been refinished by those pictures. But that’s an early Trooper and is not a 500 dollar gun. However, it is missing correct grips, depends on the condition of the nickel…..if it is not flaking nor cloudy I should think it would sell for 700.

I see a definite refinish.

I don't see the rampant colt on the side plate.

The edges of the side plate are rounded off.

The cylinder charge holes are rounded off.

I'll need to do some research but I am quite sure the rear sight was not nickeled, I can't recall if the hammer and trigger were.

Personally I would not be interest but put the value at no more than $400.00

Original grips, if you can find them, will not be cheap (targets $300+, service minimum $100)

That is most definitely NOT factory nickle in my opinion. The edges aren't sharp and clear. Rear sights on Colt are not nickled on factory weapons. The top strap itself shows the effects of a bad buff job. That is a really bad re-nickle job. The only thing they got right was to not eliminate the letter on the barrel. I don't think it is worth $200 as bad as the job is. The alledged pearl stocks add nothing since they undoubtedly didn't come from Colt and have a big chip out of the bottom.

IF the finish is original and in good condition and IF the grips are what he says ….. $650 or so wouldn’t surprise me this day and age. And of course IF there’s no issues with timing.

Heck, the right “Colt guy” may think those grips are worth $200.00.

Also, not sure if it's the picture, but I don't see any markings on the left side of the barrel.

Absolutely an after market re-finish and a poor one at that. Ditto on the previous opinions on those grips. Its not worth half of what he's asking. I would just pass that one by.

Everyone has different tastes, but that’s a hard pass for me. The Trooper is a great gun, but you can find better condition shooter examples that one…

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NRA Life Member

Thanks everyone. I made an honest offer based on the info I had and he moved on.

An aftermarket plating job.
The polishing is a dead give-away.

An other easy way to tell on a Colt is to look at the Colt final inspection mark punched into the gun frame in the Range after firing and final visual inspection.
That is the small 'VP' in a triangle. Some call it their Violent Proof mark.
On handguns it's generally on the left side of the foreward portion of the trigger guard where the guard flares out. Or on the frame itself just above the guard at that point.

This mark is stamped THRU the bluing or the plating. It will disrupt the factory finish a small amt and push the metal upwards as any stamp will do in displacing metal.

If that hand stamped mark is buffed or otherwise polished over,,blued or plated over, the disturbed raised metal formed when it is stamped has been taken back down to the surface,,then the gun has been refinished.

On this gun, enlarging the left side view, that VP mark is just about polished & buffed away before replating.

Colt refinish will usually have an '&' or a '*' on the same area of the trigger guard but on the rear portion and can be on either side of the guard.
It could also just signify repair work done.
Sometimes they too used a date number like 651 for June,1951 stamped on the inside of the grip frame.