Colt .357 Magnum

[turnerriver]

Great revolver but you forgot to show the holster.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[iPac]

Yes flutes, top strap, top and bottom of frame are matte. Rest is highly polished blue. Front of sight is rounded, also has a target hammer.

Yep, was going to point this out, but late to the game.

From 1948 to 1954 Colt was doing the "dual" tone polishing. They also changed how the company name was stamped during this time too.

Yours has this dual tone finish. Yours should also have a white muzzle, not blued, that was done to the first so many years of production.

The target hammer was an option, as was the target grips. Due to this, any combination of hammer and grips can be found, and nothing concrete can be determined about the original factory configuration based on the presence of one or the other. Of note, Colt never had different trigger options like S&W. Even hammer options weren't common, and this is about the only time I recall. Everything was pretty much factory issued, with no choices.

However in this case, it looks like the service grip medallions are gold, and that means they were Python service grips. So it may very well have originally came with target grips, or it may have come with silver medallion service grips. Anyone's guess, as it usually is. Also, this 3-5-7 should have the early rear accro sight with a flat base (no hump) and rounded blade cut-out, which it appears it has.

When it comes to the classic Colt V spring action, the 3-5-7 is just like them all, a really great revolver. Will shoot just as good as a Python and feel the exact same too. Although I think the Python did get some special barrel treatment for accuracy, along with the premiere polishing (at least until peak production redefined "premiere").

Honestly, if Colt would have made a 3-5-7 or Trooper magnum with 2.5/3/3.5" barrel, I would have bought one instead of a snub Python for conceal carry. It wasn't the Python I wanted as much as the V spring action it's based on.

You got a great gun OP, and it looks practically new. Maybe a little blue loss, but that's probably because it spent more time in the holster than out on the range. The turn line proves that. Better heal up and start enjoying it. I imagine you will forget all about the Python once you start shooting this 3-5-7. Splurge a little and have someone that knows what they're doing give that piece some action refinement. Might change your view of things.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Neat gun. Great that you were able to get one for a good price.

Don't worry about the past. I sold my nickel Python 4" barrel for around $1,150.00 made close to $300 on it and thought I was doing good. And I did for the time.

The one I kick myself over is when I first started collecting or rather having interest in revolvers, I went to a gun show and an old timer had NOS Colt grips/stocks for $20.00 basically anything you wanted. Trooper, Python, diamondback grips, service, etc. I seem to recall he had around 30+ pairs some from the late 1950's/early 1960's all new old stock. Needless to say you could go on one heck of a vacation or buy an older used Harley for the the value now.

I remember at the same show a guy about 10-15 years older than me was trying to sell a Remington RAND 1911 for $850.00 in excellent condition. Times change and value is determined by the market............

 

[clang444]

I had both a 4" Python and 357 Magnum. Sold the Python and kept the 357. I just think its a better gun. Balances and points better. Doesn't hurt that it look more "Colt-ish" than a Python either

The T-Grip and Service stocks are a great combo on these guns.

 

[Capt. F.]

Yep, was going to point this out, but late to the game.

From 1948 to 1954 Colt was doing the "dual" tone polishing. They also changed how the company name was stamped during this time too.

Yours has this dual tone finish. Yours should also have a white muzzle, not blued, that was done to the first so many years of production.

The target hammer was an option, as was the target grips. Due to this, any combination of hammer and grips can be found, and nothing concrete can be determined about the original factory configuration based on the presence of one or the other. Of note, Colt never had different trigger options like S&W. Even hammer options weren't common, and this is about the only time I recall. Everything was pretty much factory issued, with no choices.

However in this case, it looks like the service grip medallions are gold, and that means they were Python service grips. So it may very well have originally came with target grips, or it may have come with silver medallion service grips. Anyone's guess, as it usually is.

When it comes to the classic Colt V spring action, the 3-5-7 is just like them all, a really great revolver. Will shoot just as good as a Python and feel the exact same too. Although I think the Python did get some special barrel treatment for accuracy, along with the premiere polishing (at least until peak production redefined "premiere").

Honestly, if Colt would have made a 3-5-7 or Trooper magnum with 2.5/3/3.5" barrel, I would have bought one instead of a snub Python for conceal carry. It wasn't the Python I wanted as much as the V spring action it's based on.

You got a great gun OP, and it looks practically new. Maybe a little blue loss, but that's probably because it spent more time in the holster than out on the range. The turn line proves that. Better heal up and start enjoying it. I imagine you will forget all about the Python once you start shooting this 3-5-7. Splurge a little and have someone that knows what they're doing give that piece some action refinement. Might change your view of things.

The elderly gent I bought this from said he bought it new somewhere in the vacinity of 1954. So I assume what's on it for stocks, hammer etc is how it came. I can't believe it could be made smoother. I have a Model 28 police gun that had extensive action work done and it still isn't as smooth as this is.
If Maine doesn't get blown out into the Atlantic by the storm coming the next two days, I'm hoping to hobble to the range on Wednesday.

 

[Capt. F.]

I had both a 4" Python and 357 Magnum. Sold the Python and kept the 357. I just think its a better gun. Balances and points better. Doesn't hurt that it look more "Colt-ish" than a Python either

The T-Grip and Service stocks are a great combo on these guns.

Like the T- grip.

 

[DWalt]

I have both a 6" ca. 1960 .357 and a 4" mid-1960s .357 Trooper. So far as I can tell, both are original. The .357 has the full checkered silver medallion Gen I target grips, but the standard hammer and trigger. The Trooper has service grips (or did when I bought it), but TH and TT. It now sports a pair of Gen 2 target grips. I cannot detect any difference between them in fit and finish. Aside from some extra bling on the Python, both the .357 and the Trooper are identical to it. I have often felt that if the day ever came when I was limited to having only one revolver, either of those Colts would be my choice.

 

[824tsv]

I would be interested in seeing a pic of the Trooper's target trigger if you could post a pic.

 

[SuperMan]

Those 357s are nice guns...you got quite the bargain...

I've been a S&W guy since 1970. Had a couple of Pythons pass through my hands in the 1980s but just didn't care for them. About 10 years ago I spotted a late 60s Trooper in .22 Long Rifle for sale and told my friend about it who liked Colts. He bought it and when I shot it told him if he ever sold it I would like to be first in line... A few weeks ago my friend decided to sell off a bunch of his guns and I ended up with the Trooper that turns out was made in 1968.

Liked it so much I decided to get one just like it in .357....found a mint one on GunBroker that turned out to also be a 1968. Both are 4" guns...and very sweet shooters... In reading the older SHOOTERS BIBLE and GUN DIGEST catalogs they make no mention of Troopers being available in .22. The retail price was $92.75 and for $5.00 more you got the Target Hammer and Grips. The .357 is so equipped but the the .22 standard.

Not sure if it is true or not but recently read that one can tell if a Trooper came from the factory with target grips or not by the upper sideplate screw. If it is a flat head then the gun was equipped with target grips. If it is domed then it has service stocks... My .357 is flat and has target grips. The .22 is domed but came with aftermarket grips...

Bob

 

[iPac]

I would be interested in seeing a pic of the Trooper's target trigger if you could post a pic.

Almost certain Colt never had "target" triggers. Probably why you see so many trigger shoes on Colts. Like I mentioned above, Colt never had the "target" options that S&W did.

I don't "specialize" in pre-war2, but post-war2 is definitely this way. Colt's guns came with a factory hammer and factory trigger, no options. In the case of the 3-5-7, Trooper, and Trooper 357mag, this is the only post-war2 model with hammer options.

Different triggers never existed, it was whatever Colt decided, and they did change slightly over time. Like checkering to serrations, then less serrations, then smooth.

 

[iPac]

The elderly gent I bought this from said he bought it new somewhere in the vacinity of 1954. So I assume what's on it for stocks, hammer etc is how it came. I can't believe it could be made smoother. I have a Model 28 police gun that had extensive action work done and it still isn't as smooth as this is.
If Maine doesn't get blown out into the Atlantic by the storm coming the next two days, I'm hoping to hobble to the range on Wednesday.

If the medallions are in fact gold, they are definitely Python grips. Not that it matters, but just to keep the facts straight for future readers. Grip swapping was very common. Hey, the gold medallion Python grips are more valuable than silver medallion service grips anyway.

It sounds like it has a great action already. Perhaps somebody already had it worked on. I just highly recommend tuning them because of the results that can be achieved.

Not sure if it is true or not but recently read that one can tell if a Trooper came from the factory with target grips or not by the upper sideplate screw. If it is a flat head then the gun was equipped with target grips. If it is domed then it has service stocks... My .357 is flat and has target grips. The .22 is domed but came with aftermarket grips...

Bob

Good thing you pointed that out, as I forgot all about that tidbit of information.

I believe this is mainly the post-war2 era, but the rear sideplate screw "should" indicate what type of stocks a gun had.

Service grips leave the rear screw uncovered, so Colt would use a domed head screw to match the front. However, when target grips were installed they covered the rear screw, so Colt would use a flat head screw so the grips would sit flush.

It appears the OP's gun has the rear domed screw, so most likely it came with service grips, but they would have been silver medallion. Colt was pretty strict with Pythons only getting gold medallions until the mid '70s when that was tossed out the window.

With anything though, it's never a definite. People swap grips frequently and always have. So it wouldn't have been hard to swap a screw too if needed, especially when target grips don't mate up properly due to it. I had to do this on my 2.5" Python when installing Nill grips, swap the rear screw for a flat head.

 

[824tsv]

"Almost certain Colt never had "target" triggers."
Exactly, thats why I asked.