Colt Trooper Value

[Wingmaster]

I am not much of a Colt guy. Heck, I am still learning about Smith&Wessons.
My father in law just called me and asked if $575.00 for a Colt Trooper .357 Magnum Nickle in excellent condition in original box, was a good price.
I thought if it was a Python I would be all over it. I am not too sure about a Trooper.
What do you think?
Thanks

Wingmaster

 

[mkk41]

Are ya talking about an original Colt Trooper , a Trooper Mk.III or Trooper Mk.V?

 

[feralmerril]

Hopefully, it looks like this old model trooper, this one is .38 special, but likely with the larger target grips like the python. If its like this older trooper I would be all over it. Newer one with the rib wouldnt excite me quite as much.

 

[PH-2]

Wing,

Here's my .38 trooper from , I believe '53.

It's action is as slick as either of my Python's. It is sometimes referred to as a "poor man's Python" because the actions, as I have been told, are the same.

I might take $575.00 for the grips, if I was the kinda guy who would seperate them from their original frame (but I'm not that kinda guy!).

Mike

 

[sigp220.45]

I no expert on Colts (or anything else) but I'd sure look hard at an excellent condition Trooper with a box. I think the nickel deserves a premium, and if the grips (stocks, in Coltspeak) are original I think that's a pretty decent deal.

Of course, I like shiny guns.

 

[dmar]

I no expert on Colts (or anything else) but I'd sure look hard at an excellent condition Trooper with a box. I think the nickel deserves a premium, and if the grips (stocks, in Coltspeak) are original I think that's a pretty decent deal.

Of course, I like shiny guns.

I agree, that is a good price on a LNIB Trooper. Even better if it's an original Trooper... Plus, Colt nickel is beautiful.

 

[feralmerril]

Like a lot of guys here discribe a model 28 is a poor mans model 27, it`s also said a trooper is a poor man`s python. My most carried revolver years ago was my 4" 357 trooper. I still own two troopers, a 22lr and the .38, stupidly sold my 357. I also own two pythons, a 2 1/2" nickle and a 4" blue. The trooper doesnt have the heavier ribbed, vented and ejector shrouded barrel. Supposedly, the python also has a better hand fitted action but the same lockwork. Sounds good, but I think that is open to speculation. To pack, because of weight, I actualy like the trooper better.

 

[Onomea]

Wingmaster, the original 357 Magnum, which predates the Python, is a different animal from the Trooper. In '61 or so, when the 357 Magnum merges with the Trooper line, the gun loses a lot of its attraction because it is no longer manufactured to be the premium gun the original was. The original is just like a Python, but without the rib and 'royal blue" finish.

 

[Jebus35745]

Just sold a .22 Trooper with the rib last weekend for 500.00. It was abt 95% and blued. The guy didn't hesitate. If I want to research any gun I use guns international to get a ball park idea of price. Larry

 

[mkk41]

Wingmaster, the original 357 Magnum, which predates the Python, is a different animal from the Trooper. In '61 or so, when the 357 Magnum merges with the Trooper line, the gun loses a lot of its attraction because it is no longer manufactured to be the premium gun the original was. The original is just like a Python, but without the rib and 'royal blue" finish.

My first year Colt .357 , ser.n. 8xx

Muzzle face still 'in the white'.

 

[Onomea]

That's a beauty, mkk41! And a 3-digit, first year. Wow!

 

[Wingmaster]

Thanks guys,
I will have him check into it a little bit closer.
I have a Red Hawk that he has been wanting for a while. Maybe I could talk him into a trade. HMMM
Thanks again

Wingmaster

 

[doublesharp]

I'd want to take a good look at it.

I've got a few .357s and some Mk IIIs too. I like them all but especially early ones like this.

 

[HEAD0001]

Alot of the Colt revolvers(double action) are a complete enigma to me.

I worked in the gun industry through the 80's and 90's. And I worked for a very large wholesaler that was also a very large Colt distributor.

I dealt first hand in day to day operations with small dealers. And I enjoyed the job.

I remember the Colt Trooper's, and the King Cobra's, and the Anaconda, as well as other Colt revolvers. The funny thing was you couldn't give them away. No one bought them. They were true dogs of the market. Everyone's comment was too expensive for a low quality revolver.

Now it seems like all these revolvers that were dogs are now the darlings of the revolver world. And I can't understand why?? Why would someone pay a premium for a revolver that a dealer could not give away when it was new??

Maybe the fact that they were so unpopular led to their mystery?? Or the lack of sales then, makes them more rare in today's market. I do not really know.

But short of the Python(early model's), I can't put much faith in any of the other Colt double actions. And notice I said earlier models. I can't tell you how many of the later model Python's I had trouble with(as a % of delivered product). And had to send back to Colt!!

When stacked up against a S&W?? I just don't get it!! Tom.

 

[Onomea]

Colt workers, represented by the UAW, went on a four-year strike in January 1986. The strike ended in 1990 when Colt sold its firearms division to the state of Connecticut, private investors, and the Colt union workers. (It was renamed the Colt Manufacturing Co.) It was one of the longest strikes in US history. In 1992 the company entered Chapter 11, bankruptcy. In 1994 the company was relocated….

The years leading up to the strike, and the years after, were turbulent, difficult times for Colt and its workers, and quality, unsurprisingly, suffered. Doesn’t mean no good guns were produced in that period, but it does mean that overall quality took a hit. Buyers of Colts from that period should be wary.

Here's a refinished .357, 1958 or so, that Grant Cunninham tuned for me. Prewar factory ivories and a Tyler-T:

 

[skeezix]

Colt .357

Colt .357, serial number 74.

 

[2152hq]

The older Colts,,the .357 & Trooper were built on the same frame size as the OP,,which is the same as the Python.
They used to call it their '41 size frame' way back when the Army Special was built on it.
All have the same lock work with minor engineering changes over the years.

The smaller framed Police Positive & PP Special ( D frame?)have the same lockwork too but in a smaller version of course.

They can be tricky to tune and to keep in tune. Good parts are getting real scarce. Whats around mostly is parts scavanged from revolvers no longer fit for shooting and the parts are worn out anyway.

The workmanship put into those .357 model and Trooper revolvers was first rate.

At that price, an original Trooper in original nickle in that condition with the box would be on the way home with me. No second thoughts.

The later MkIII versions are completely different revolver. They are reliable and great shooters and have come into their own as far as price is concerned.
But when they were available retail, as someone already said,,you almost couldn't give them away.
Sintered metal components, coil and torsion springs as opposed to the V spring and milled steel componet actions of the original lockwork.

The MkIII action is tough though, and reliable.
Rarely goes out of time or has a problem. The trigger return spring (torsion) seems to be a particular weak point & breaks occasionally. But even then it's after multiple thousands of rounds.
Maybe a bad batch from a vendor was involved when they were assembled at Colt.
A Wolff replacement is (was?) available.

 

[wbraswell]

There's a MKIII 6" Nickel at a local pawn shop that looks great, has the later grips, and they have $799 on it. A buddy of mine has one like it that he's had a long time, and it's a fine gun to me. ( I like it better than the Python for looks.)