Colt .357 info Sought

[gfors]

Hi All!
I've recently become the caretaker of this fine old revolver, and I know nothing about Colts. It belonged to my wife's dad. Any advice or cautions, before i take it to the range?
Where can I find a set of original grips, what do they look like?
Any idea as to value of the package?
Thanks, in advance!
George

 

[KalamazooKid]

Wow, nice! I believe that would be called a "pre Python" and are very desirable.

 

[gfors]

Wow, nice! I believe that would be called a "pre Python" and are very desirable.

Thanks!
Good to know

 

[CheyenneBodie]

The ".357" is a Python without the vent rib barrel. I've got two of them one dated 1953 the other 1960. Both of them shoot like a laser beam. They are good guns and like all old Double Action Colt revolvers going up in value.

It was Colt's premium revolver before the Python was introduced in 1955. After that sales lagged for a few years and Colt dropped it from their catalog. Good luck with it!

 

[Imshootin]

Help with identification of Colt 357 possibly pre python CTG | Colt Forum

This link will help you out.

 

[gfors]

Awesome stuff guys! Thank you all, so much!

 

[s&wchad]

Nice package! The early .357's are great guns and it's worth getting the correct stocks for yours. Expect to pay around $250 for a nice set.

They look like the early full checkered Python grips, only the medallions are silver colored instead of gold. I bought a .357 over a decade ago that was drilled for a Bushnell Phantom scope, just to get the grips!

They look like this:

 

[Old_Cop]

There is a current thread with a price discussion of Colt target stocks.

 

[rockquarry]

I've had two of the .3-5-7 models for years along with a .357 Trooper. They only made around 15,000 of the .3-5-7s from about '54 to '61, I think. I can see no difference in quality, finish, or anything else that would separate the .3-5-7 from the Trooper or the .38 Special Officer's Model Match I used to have except for the stamped lettering on the barrels.

My .3-5-7s and Trooper shoot at least as well, maybe a little better, than a couple of Pythons I've also had a long time.

Unless you need your gun all original, the older Trooper, Officer's Model Match, and I suppose Official Police stocks will fit. These might be cheaper, but I haven't bought any Colt stocks in years and am not up on current pricing.

 

[BlackAgnes]

If I recall correctly, the Trooper had the firing pin on the hammer and the 3-5-7 had a frame-mounted firing pin. This was the difference between the E and the I frames.

 

[jringo8769]

well congrats on the new find
they are one of my favorites
they shoot so nice and very accurate
and you need a set of those full checkered grips for it too
thank u for sharing it with us
God Bless,John
love the short barreled ones the best too
i would also join over on Colt Forums too
i am sure someone can help u find a beautiful set of them too

 

[model17]

Colt 3-5-7

My '58 with repro grips. These handguns are real jewels!

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun! The handy Colt SN online lookup dates it to 1961.

"Any advice or cautions, before i take it to the range?"

If you don't shoot as well as Mr. Engelhardt did sixty years ago, keep practicing.

Enjoy!

 

[rockquarry]

If I recall correctly, the Trooper had the firing pin on the hammer and the 3-5-7 had a frame-mounted firing pin. This was the difference between the E and the I frames.

Both my .3-5-7s have frame mounted firing pins and so does my Trooper .357. Maybe the .38 Troopers had the firing pin on the hammer?

 

[gfors]

Cool gun! The handy Colt SN online lookup dates it to 1961.

"Any advice or cautions, before i take it to the range?"

If you don't shoot as well as Mr. Engelhardt did sixty years ago, keep practicing.

Enjoy!

You made me chuckle!
Thanks for the SN lookup

 

[sodacan]

Yours is a later production. You can tell by the finish, the hump in rear sight, and the squared off sight leaf. Nonetheless, the box and test target do add value. Here are some photos of mine. It is very early production. The Duo-tone finish, unblued, polished muzzle, and rounded sight leaf went away very early in the production cycle.The stocks that came on yours may not be fully checkered. As previously stated, the gun was the immediate progenitor to the Python, sharing the same attention to finishing and mechanics. You can get some good info on coltfever.com. Also the Colt forum has many experts, like this one. Great gun. Enjoy it.

 

[DWalt]

The 3-5-7 was essentially the predecessor to the Python, and was Colt's first .357 revolver. As previously described, it was basically a Python without the later ribbed 6" barrel. Colt decided that it did not need two top-of-the-line revolvers, so it dropped the 3-5-7 from its offerings in the early 1960s, and replaced it with the Python. It also offered a lower-priced version of the same revolver called the Trooper. Initially the Trooper was chambered only in .38 Special, and later, in .357 (with a firing pin in the frame, like the 3-5-7 has). It is very similar to the Colt 3-5-7, except its barrel length was normally 4", and it was marketed as a law enforcement service weapon. Some say that the fit and finish of the 3-5-7 was superior to that of the Troopers. And the Trooper did not have target grips as standard equipment. However I have one of each, and I cannot detect any significant differences in fit and finish. I did put a pair of Gen 2 grips on that Trooper later (it originally had plain service grips as shown below). I have often felt that, were I limited to having only one revolver, my choice would probably be that .357 Trooper. I believe it's that good.

 

[DWalt]

Unless you need your gun all original, the older Trooper, Officer's Model Match, and I suppose Official Police stocks will fit. These might be cheaper, but I haven't bought any Colt stocks in years and am not up on current pricing.

The (old) Trooper, Python, 3-5-7, OMT, OMM, Official Police, and Army Special are all built on the same frame, and the same grips should fit all of them. I have noticed that there are presently some very nice-looking repro Colt target grips available. They are lower priced than used originals, but still not what could be called cheap. BTW, all Colt target grips came with gold medallions for the Python, and Silver medallions for all other revolver models. However, those grips having Silver medallions originally are somewhat scarcer than those with Gold medallions, because so many of the Silver medallions were later replaced with Gold medallions by Python owners wanting them. Obviously, that will significantly decrease the value of those target grips having non-original Gold medallions. Just something to be aware of if you intend to buy used target grips for a Python.

 

[murphydog]

Good information above, except I think the prewar New Service was made in .357?

 

[DWalt]

Good information above, except I think the prewar New Service was made in .357?

I had forgotten about that one, but you are correct. I don't remember ever seeing a NS in .357. And then there are the SAAs in .357. I forgot those also.