COP .357

[MolonLabeTX]

Recently bought a used COP .357. Came with box and docs, box sleeve, and even came with the original bill of sale from the single owner. I thought it was a pretty sweet deal as I have always wanted one.
One thing confuses me. The receipt for the gun is dated 1980 but I thought these were not made until 83? Any experts out there that could explain this?
Also, if anyones interested, the original owner paid $180 for it. I didnt get that good of a deal obviously!

Thanks

 

[Bakebfr480]

Gonna need alot more info.........brand of gun and model number would be a good start!

 

[ispcapt]

You are correct on the date. The COP 357 came out towards the middle of the 1980s not in 1980. 1983 would be real close. I remember when they 1st came out a buddy had to be the 1st to get one for backup, called the company and had one shipped to the department. That was 1983 or 84. I shot it right after he got it. Don't recall just how accurate it was but I do recall the trigger pull was very heavy. I don't know if that was just the one he got or if they all had the heavy trigger. I thought depending on how his was I'd order one for me. I didn't get one after shooting his.

 

[Andyd]

Are you sure that you are reading the receipt right? What you read as a zero might be something else. 1980 is a little early, my quick search found that it was started in 1981, Wikipedia claims 1983.

COP 357 & Mini COP - Mythic Armory

I had seen some for sale over the years and what interested me in the gun was the fact that my youngest son was born in Torrance, CA.

 

[Old_Cop]

I remember one sergeant bought one right away after they became available. I handled it and thought that it was awfully heavy and only four shots. Lost interest after that.

 

[ken158]

Tried to qualify a guy with one of those... never happened and it ended up in a pawn shop.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

They were famous for not "rotating" to the next shot even under warranty. The LGS I dealt with, stopped handling them and won't take one in on trade!

I had planned on using on against vicious dogs during service calls (I could carry on in a meter case on my tool belt.) But I went with You pay the service call charge in advance, If the dog is loose or gets loose, I walk without a refund. If you turn the dog loose on me, I file charges (did that twice!). An A/C and furnace repairman has all the work he needs anyway! This worked out better, I didn't have to shoot the dogs or the owners!

Ivan

 

[TomkinsSP]

...An A/C and furnace repairman has all the work he needs anyway!...

Ivan

Yes, mankind can develop a multi stage rocket, capable of landing two humans on the moon, and returning them safely to earth...

But no company on earth can design and build a furnace and air conditioner unit that will keep my home 70'F in winter and 80'F in summer, without annual "fiddling"?????

 

[Muley Gil]

Gonna need alot more info.........brand of gun and model number would be a good start!

That IS the make and model. It was based on the Sharps pepperbox of the 19th century. I looked at one once. I didn't like the way it fit my hand. Cost too much for this poor old po-leese.

 

[ACORN]

I'd question the 1983 date. When we had our shop we had one that my buddies fiance wanted to buy for him and we closed in 1981.
They are big and bulky. I'd just carry a J frame.

 

[MolonLabeTX]

The receipt definitely says "29 May 80". It is hand written from a gun store in Colorado that is no longer in business. Could be fake. No idea why he would fake it as it adds no value to the gun in my opinion..... S/N is "0078XX"

I have not shot the gun. Bought it as a collector's piece as it was at a decent price. It is definitely cool! Excited to take it to the range and find out just how terrible the trigger is

 

[BEEMER1]

Here is a picture of my COP alongside a Rohrbaugh R9.

It has to have the worst trigger I have ever pulled and weighs 27 oz if I remember right. It is still cool.

 

[lawandorder]

Yep, unless my memory is really messed up by all those years of living I bought one in 1981. Immediate reaction after getting my hands on it, too big, way too heavy. Immediate action traded it off.
Left the PD I worked for in the fall of 81 so it had be before that.

 

[stykshooter]

I had one for a very short period of time. I bought it used.... I was the third owner in about a months time. Very heavy and an atrocious trigger pull. I sold it and used the proceeds to buy a 2 1/2" model 19. That would have been in about 1984.

 

[Mdclinks]

The COP 357 is the one handgun that stands out in my mind which I really disliked shooting. I remember the trigger was awful, the grip was uncomfortable and the recoil just plain hurt with full power 357 loads. The COP 357 stands out just ahead of the Kel-Tec PF9 on my do not want to shoot list. I wouldn't mind having one as a novelty/conversation/decorative piece.

 

[2152hq]

I engraved one for a customer back then. Did the work through a local shop. The gun was NIB. I'll go back through the book and see when that was. IIRC it was when they first came out.,,but then the log-book may prove my memory anything but sharp!

They were heavy, I do remember that. Investment cast parts as was the 'thing' at the time for any smaller mfg to get off the ground.
Never were very popular w/ LE,,just too heavy I suspect and the reliability of them was not always there. That alone was enough for potential customers to leave them on the shelf.

 

[pittpa]

The COP 357 is the one handgun that stands out in my mind which I really disliked shooting. I remember the trigger was awful, the grip was uncomfortable and the recoil just plain hurt with full power 357 loads. The COP 357 stands out just ahead of the Kel-Tec PF9 on my do not want to shoot list. I wouldn't mind having one as a novelty/conversation/decorative piece.

PF9 on do-no-want-to-shoot list? Where does the 45-70 derringer stand?

 

[Mdclinks]

PF9 on do-no-want-to-shoot list? Where does the 45-70 derringer stand?

Maybe I should have said do not want to shoot again list. A 45-70 derringer, nope, not interested. Not even slightly interested in that.

 

[oink]

Yeah, I have a PF9 and I never thought anything unusual about shooting it other than sights wise it's more of a belly gun, which is what it's for.

 

[Spg007]

Your post got me thinking about the cop 357. Looked on line they are selling for high prices, not bad for a unpopular gun lol. Hold onto yours the price will only go up.