[DMK]

I've been looking for a 4" barreled .357. I've had my eye out for an S&W K frame or a Ruger Vaquero, but so far no luck. However, recently I came across a 4" barreled Colt Trooper Mk III with beautiful bluing, very tight lockup and a decent trigger. It seemed to have lived a well pampered life. However, they wanted a bit over $400 for it. Is that a fair price for a nice Trooper Mk III? It's a little out of my budget, but I just can't get it off my mind. It's probably as close as I'd ever get to a Python.

[HSMITH]

That is TOP dollar for a Trooper in like new condition.

If you like it buy it, they aren't going to get any cheaper in the coming years. You can shoot it for a few years and then get nearly all if not all of your money out of it so long as you keep it looking nice. The Colt name does a lot for retained value whether the gun is all it is cracked up to be or not. The Troopers I have had were good guns, pretty accurate and reasonably smooth actions for non-S&W revolvers. I HATED the stock grips on them, but that was really the only complaint. You can have a good Colt smith tune up the action on a Trooper where it is every bit as good as a Python is right out of the box, that would save several hundred dollars too.

If you hold out for a nice K-frame you won't be disappointed. I have had a couple of both and still own ALL of the K-frames I have ever bought except one. Shoot a well tuned K frame and a Python at the same time, the lust for a Python will end. Then you get the bonus of two-for-one prices when you buy good S&W's.

[tc300mag1]

I paid 275 for a like new in box 6 inch last year but 400 isnt bad since i havent seen one since near that rest i have seen are 500

[tc300mag1]

Hsmith which model K-frame i still lust for a python but dotn forsee getting one anytime soon but a kframe i could see

[Standing Wolf]

I've seen Mark III Troopers in .357 magnum with price tags from $275 to $650. People seem to think they're going to fill the price niche vacated by Pythons.

[HSMITH]

TC, find a M15 or a Pre-15 which would be a K38 Combat Masterpiece. My second choice in a pure shooter gun is a M-14 or a Pre-14 which would be a K-38.

The M19 is my 3rd choice in all time great K-frames.

[DMK]

Yea, I have a friend with a 4" barreled model 15. It's one of the nicest target revolvers I've ever shot. I'd love to find one like that.

Is the Trooper III about the same frame size as an S&W K frame?

[gopguy]

$300 to $400 is the market around here.

[DMK]

Man, you guys aren't making it easy to pass on this one.

Of course that "Colt picture thread" a search on 'Trooper' came up with didn't help either.... :)

[HSMITH]

DMK, a trooper is a lot closer to L-frame like a 686 than it is to a K. Weight is about like an L too.

[Sisco]

DMK; I picked one up very much like you descibed at a gunshow in Feb, gave $300 for it. Talked them down from $350.

[treebeard]

I have a 1961 Colt Trooper, which I only paid $175 for. It is my favorite revolver (next to my 586)! Buy it and you won't regret it.:D :D

[HiWayMan]

I'd pay $2 for one. The grip angle is all wrong, the cylinder release is backwards, and the damn cylinder turns the wrong way. On second thought maybe you should pay me to take it.




.....HiWayMan puts on kevlar suit and locks himself in his concrete bunker.......
.....He won't be coming out of this one alive...............................................

[COK]

$400 is pushing the upper end of the price range in my area, but they are a nice quality firearm and not getting any cheaper as time goes by.

[sarge83]

Paid $225 for mine 13 yrs. ago. Really nice revolver. I haven't seen one around here in years at the gun and pawn shops.

[tc300mag1]

Thanks Hsmith ill have a look for them