Colt Trooper MK III 357: Value, Quality?
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
That’s to me on the low side I seen 6” in electro nickel for $1,400. I’d offer starting at $500 for a shooter. My brother had one and it was awesome. The action was smooth.
I'm not an expert but I own a LNIB Colt Trooper MKIII from 1973. The fit and finish is excellent, at least as good as my smiths from that era. The trigger is a bit heavy and not as good as my Smiths but other than that it is a beautiful gun. I paid 750.00 a couple of years ago for what it's worth.
The Trooper MKIII's don't have that "bank vault" lock up like the earlier ones, but are rock solid guns that are extremely strong and were built to handle the magnum cartridge with aplomb. Accuracy is equal
to any other top notch revolver.
If you don't care about the "stacking" double action, this is a great gun that will serve you well.
Price quoted is probably about par for one of these around here.
to any other top notch revolver.
If you don't care about the "stacking" double action, this is a great gun that will serve you well.
Price quoted is probably about par for one of these around here.
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Skyhunter
Member
I can't help you on the price for a Trooper as I don't remember seeing one in any condition for sale in the last 10 years!
I have one from 1973 w/4" barrel (Christmas gift from my Wife) that has been and is one of my favorite revolvers. Accuracy is as good as any of my S&W's. Double action takes a bit of practice, but the single action is light and "crisp".
That revolver has been my companion on innumerable hikes, hunts, or just walking in the woods. it's on the short list of "NEVER to be sold" firearms.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
I have one from 1973 w/4" barrel (Christmas gift from my Wife) that has been and is one of my favorite revolvers. Accuracy is as good as any of my S&W's. Double action takes a bit of practice, but the single action is light and "crisp".
That revolver has been my companion on innumerable hikes, hunts, or just walking in the woods. it's on the short list of "NEVER to be sold" firearms.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
$700, that's a typical low end price. The Mark III was a modern replacement for the Official Police/Trooper/Python frame, no hand fitting so reduced labor cost. It's a nice gun but I don't understand the pricing.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
Fishinfool
Member
Was it with the introduction of the MK111 that Colt began using sintered metal lock work parts to reduce cost? (Never had my Lawman apart).
I have never been a big fan of Colt DA revolvers because of the way they fit my hand, and the funky DA trigger pull Colts have compared to S&W's. But they are very nicely finished, and anything with "Colt" stamped on it brings money these days. I do own a Lawman MK111 snubby, which I believe is the fixed sight version of the Trooper. Beautiful gun, but more of a safe queen to me as I just don't shoot it as well as my similar Smiths.
Larry
I have never been a big fan of Colt DA revolvers because of the way they fit my hand, and the funky DA trigger pull Colts have compared to S&W's. But they are very nicely finished, and anything with "Colt" stamped on it brings money these days. I do own a Lawman MK111 snubby, which I believe is the fixed sight version of the Trooper. Beautiful gun, but more of a safe queen to me as I just don't shoot it as well as my similar Smiths.
Larry
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sigp220.45
US Veteran
That's a good question. The hammer on mine is nicely case-colored, and I don't know if you could do that on sintered metal. I've also never opened mine up - I'm sure parts would fly everywhere and I'd spend the rest of my years roaming the earth with a shoebox of gun parts looking for the last living Colt smith.
These best part of owning a Trooper is knowing that this cool guy had one, too.
squidsix
Member
I have the snubby lawman, which is like packing a steel baseball in a holster, but it is cool.
I had a 4-inch and it was accurate but I hated the trigger and sold it at a profit to a friend, who loves it. Very pretty guns.
I had a 4-inch and it was accurate but I hated the trigger and sold it at a profit to a friend, who loves it. Very pretty guns.
Grayfox
US Veteran
I've got a 6" Trooper MK III that I picked up a few years ago for $600. Excellent revolver. I like it! 
I shot this one single action at 25 yards against a 6" Model 19-4. The Colt won!
I'd have no hesitation in buying a 4" at that price.
I shot this one single action at 25 yards against a 6" Model 19-4. The Colt won!
I'd have no hesitation in buying a 4" at that price.
I've read that the hammer and trigger on the mk3 are cast and then case hardend. What ever they did the case color on mine is exquisite. One thing that I've been told is the trigger is what it is as you cannot polish cast parts that are case hardend.
cowboy4evr
Member
I would take my time , find one at a better price . I recently bought an OM trooper 357 , 4" . It had a great finish , tight lockup and spot on timing . It was obvious that it had been shot very little , then just put away . I pd less than '$500 . I'm making it my 38spl gun that shoots 357 occasionally . I reload so my magnum loads will be tempered towards my everyday carry mid range loads . I wanted a colt for yrs , but had to wait for the one that I could afford . Regards, Paul
Texas Star
US Veteran
They do use sintered (powdered) metal action parts and there were problems with those. You heard little of that, as gun editors didn't want to offend Colt. (Big advertiser then.)
The late David W. Arnold, who edited, Petersen's Handguns for a time after coming here from South Africa was a Colt fan. But he told me that he changed out the hammer and trigger in his MK III for MK V parts, which he felt cured any potential problems.
Supposedly, MK V and King Cobra hammers and triggers are okay, and Ayoob wrote that Colt intended the guns to remain in time MUCH better than their former designs.
Personally, I won't buy a MK III. I'd look for a stainless King Cobra if I wanted a Colt of that generation.
But I'm glad that some here have been pleased with their MK III's. If you don't mind the long trigger take-up before anything happens and the short, abrupt action and the very long SA cocking stroke, they're probably excellent guns, apart from those sintered parts, not the same as S&W's MIM parts.
It's my understanding that MK V and King Cobra actions are forged steel, not sintered. But I've never read a full article about that.
The late David W. Arnold, who edited, Petersen's Handguns for a time after coming here from South Africa was a Colt fan. But he told me that he changed out the hammer and trigger in his MK III for MK V parts, which he felt cured any potential problems.
Supposedly, MK V and King Cobra hammers and triggers are okay, and Ayoob wrote that Colt intended the guns to remain in time MUCH better than their former designs.
Personally, I won't buy a MK III. I'd look for a stainless King Cobra if I wanted a Colt of that generation.
But I'm glad that some here have been pleased with their MK III's. If you don't mind the long trigger take-up before anything happens and the short, abrupt action and the very long SA cocking stroke, they're probably excellent guns, apart from those sintered parts, not the same as S&W's MIM parts.
It's my understanding that MK V and King Cobra actions are forged steel, not sintered. But I've never read a full article about that.
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The last Colt DA I had was sold at Tulsa a couple years ago for $450. It was the short barrel blued Lawman, goodyears with no box. It didn't last long before selling but I don't miss it. Fit/finish were fine but trigger was typical.
I've said this before, I'd like to have all the colt DA's I've owned back so could resell at today's prices.
I've said this before, I'd like to have all the colt DA's I've owned back so could resell at today's prices.
DOUBLESHOT
Member
My son bought a blued, 6 inch MkIII last year for $800. The finish is 90-95%. Action is smooth as silk and the last time we had it to the range I shot it better than I did with my Python. He originally wanted a S&W TRR8 but was holding back because of the $$$. I found the MKIII at my LGS and told him he had to see it. I also let him know that in 20 years it will be worth much more than he paid for it.
Old Corp
Member
My first issued revolver was a Colt MKIII .357.
I was young, single and a full-fledged gun geek and constant shooter by then. All the issued Colts on my entry to the PD were used. Some very used.
Anyway, through copious amounts of range time and recreational shooting, I seemed to go through a number of those MKIII's.
Rear sights would occasionally go missing and not found, and I'd receive another one. IIRC, had issues with trigger return on one, got another.
Think the last one was one I recall the most.
I'd been out shooting the MKIII at a large Corps of Engineers lake-building project before it was flooded. (Simpler time, no one cared)
Ran a mix of the usual variety of .38's and .357's through it.
Came home, a quick cleaning as I was scheduled to work 2300-0700 that night.
Worked several nights and somewhere near the end of the shift cycle, went shooting again. 'Click'. No primer indent.
Checked - firing pin in frame was absent. Just not there.
Evidently, around the last shot fired several days before, the firing pin went missing.
Meaning - I'd worked about 5 or 6 night shifts without a functional revolver and was completely unaware.
So, armorer was called in from off-duty and issued me another.
Soon after that the department went to S&W M66's. Did my best to wear that out too, but real adulthood was on the horizon and I never did.
So, just that little exposure to the Colt MKIII's has always colored my feeling about them.
I was young, single and a full-fledged gun geek and constant shooter by then. All the issued Colts on my entry to the PD were used. Some very used.
Anyway, through copious amounts of range time and recreational shooting, I seemed to go through a number of those MKIII's.
Rear sights would occasionally go missing and not found, and I'd receive another one. IIRC, had issues with trigger return on one, got another.
Think the last one was one I recall the most.
I'd been out shooting the MKIII at a large Corps of Engineers lake-building project before it was flooded. (Simpler time, no one cared)
Ran a mix of the usual variety of .38's and .357's through it.
Came home, a quick cleaning as I was scheduled to work 2300-0700 that night.
Worked several nights and somewhere near the end of the shift cycle, went shooting again. 'Click'. No primer indent.
Checked - firing pin in frame was absent. Just not there.
Evidently, around the last shot fired several days before, the firing pin went missing.
Meaning - I'd worked about 5 or 6 night shifts without a functional revolver and was completely unaware.
So, armorer was called in from off-duty and issued me another.
Soon after that the department went to S&W M66's. Did my best to wear that out too, but real adulthood was on the horizon and I never did.
So, just that little exposure to the Colt MKIII's has always colored my feeling about them.
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I just picked up a Colt MKIII, Trooper a few weeks ago. I think they were asking $800.00 for it, and I talked them into $775.00, which I felt was a major accomplishment considering they'd just gotten it in. Normally, something has to be around at least a couple of weeks before they'll start dropping the price. It's got a little wear and maybe a scratch or two, but I guess it'll do to fill in my 357 Trifecta of a Model 19, a Ruger Security-Six, and the Colt.
Personally, I can't tell a lot of difference between it, and a Smith and Wesson. Sure they're different, but I can't say one is "better" than the other. I doubt I'll shoot it enough to worry about parts. Actually I haven't shot it yet, but over the years I've owned a couple of MK III Official Police 38's that I liked quite a bit.
I freely admit that at my age, I look at my guns, a lot more than I shoot them.
Personally, I can't tell a lot of difference between it, and a Smith and Wesson. Sure they're different, but I can't say one is "better" than the other. I doubt I'll shoot it enough to worry about parts. Actually I haven't shot it yet, but over the years I've owned a couple of MK III Official Police 38's that I liked quite a bit.
I freely admit that at my age, I look at my guns, a lot more than I shoot them.
