Colt Trooper DPS Marked; Sans Border Patrol

[InfantryCop]

Google located about the only knowledge i could find about a Colt Trooper marked DPS on this site, HOWEVER, this is not the MK III and does not have Border Patrol on the barrel. I'm at my wits end so decided to join the party here.

The s/n dates it to '64 & condition seems high with some minor holster wear. The frame is stamped DPS & what I assume is an internal s/n. Does anyone have any further information about where these possibly came from & an idea of value?

I'm located in Texas & plan to letter it when I get the 4473 done. Best hope is it letters to Austin and maybe some extra info but that's wishful thinking on my part.

Thank you, experts.

 

[InfantryCop]

All photos didn't take so here is the link.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

 

[cherrypointmarine]

DPS , isn't that the Texas Rangers ?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

DPS probably means Department of Pubic Safety. That and the following numbers are not Colt applied.

The Texas Rangers come under Texas DPS. Start looking there for some history.

 

[glenwolde]

"DPS" is used in more than one State. Arizona comes to mind.

 

[InfantryCop]

Rangers fall under the umbrella of DPS but multiple states use DPS as a moniker.

 

[InfantryCop]

It does fall under but not a confirmation it is Texas DPS. I tried a buddy of mine at Texas DPS & he isnt sure where to point me.

 

[InfantryCop]

I know the DPS and the folling number are not factory but I'm also not certain it is Texas DPS but there's a good chance it is. Will make a good first Trooper, either way.

 

[glenwolde]

It does fall under but not a confirmation it is Texas DPS. I tried a buddy of mine at Texas DPS & he isnt sure where to point me.

You might try the Texas Ranger Museum.

 

[Ameshawki]

I've got an earlier Trooper in 38 Special. Nice pistols. Either a poor man's Python or a deluxe Official Police. Colt collectors argue endlessly about that. As others have said, DPS could belong to dozens of agencies. By 1964 Colt was well on its way to losing market share with law enforcement, mostly due high price. Probably worth a letter but that's a $100 bet.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

By 1964 Colt was well on its way to losing market share with law enforcement, mostly due high price. Probably worth a letter but that's a $100 bet.

Colt lost law enforcement market share for a number of reasons. One was higher price than S&W...not substantially so but on a large order it could make a big difference. Another was lack of aggressiveness on the part of Colt's sales team but that was from another issue...Colt's parent company...Colt Industries which was originally the Penn-Texas Corporation an original corporate raider company...starved the firearms division's commercial side while concentration on M16 government sales.

Colt Industries wouldn't fund factory upgrades to modernize the line...it was somewhat of a miracle the Trooper/Lawman Mark III series was allowed to be made which did use more modern manufacturing techniques.

Once the M16 contracts went away the corporate overlords dumped Colt's carcass by the side of the road which...even under several new ownerships over several decades has only recovered within the last ten years or so with a bright future.

As far as buying an archives letter goes...it is a gamble but one that can often pay off. While most Colts I've lettered have gone to non-remarkable shipping locations...some have pleasantly surprised me. Several have gone to places like military CID, a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, several police officers, the US military in the Philippines and other interesting recipients.

 

[glenwolde]

I found this interesting. Not the same but a lot of similarities. A Colt letter might be a good idea.

Texas DPS Colt Border Patrol Model .357 Magnum Revolver & Letter, 1972 C&R | Lock, Stock & Barrel Auctions

 

[Ameshawki]

Colt lost law enforcement market share for a number of reasons. One was higher price than S&W...not substantially so but on a large order it could make a big difference. Another was lack of aggressiveness on the part of Colt's sales team but that was from another issue...Colt's parent company...Colt Industries which was originally the Penn-Texas Corporation an original corporate raider company...starved the firearms division's commercial side while concentration on M16 government sales.

Colt Industries wouldn't fund factory upgrades to modernize the line...it was somewhat of a miracle the Trooper/Lawman Mark III series was allowed to be made which did use more modern manufacturing techniques.

Once the M16 contracts went away the corporate overlords dumped Colt's carcass by the side of the road which...even under several new ownerships over several decades has only recovered within the last ten years or so with a bright future.

As far as buying an archives letter goes...it is a gamble but one that can often pay off. While most Colts I've lettered have gone to non-remarkable shipping locations...some have pleasantly surprised me. Several have gone to places like military CID, a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, several police officers, the US military in the Philippines and other interesting recipients.

My one and only Colt letter on a fairly average Detective Special came back to the OSS. So, yeah, they can payoff.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

My one and only Colt letter on a fairly average Detective Special came back to the OSS. So, yeah, they can payoff.

That letter turned a fairly nondescript Colt snubby into a trophy worth about five or more times what it was worth on the market before the letter.

 

[Ameshawki]

That letter turned a fairly nondescript Colt snubby into a trophy worth about five or more times what it was worth on the market before the letter.

Yep. I think I paid 350 or so about five years ago. 1944, in the last batch that went to the OSS supply depot in Virginia.

I think I've got four or five letters over the years. None of my Smith letters were very interesting. My Ruger letter on the GPNY GP-100 confirmed it went to NYPD. And I think it was only $10.

 

[InfantryCop]

I found this interesting. Not the same but a lot of similarities. A Colt letter might be a good idea.

Texas DPS Colt Border Patrol Model .357 Magnum Revolver & Letter, 1972 C&R | Lock, Stock & Barrel Auctions

I did see that one when I began researching. But that one says Border Patrol right on the barrel. I am just gonna send it. Buy and send for a letter. Make it a future me problem.