Colt Metropolitan MkIII

[Colt Smith]

I recently saw a revolver I was unfamiliar with in my LGS display case. It looked like an early Trooper or Lawman. The Salesman said it was a MkIII. Thinking it was possibly an early Trooper and having a nice MkIII Trooper which looks very different at home I said "I don't think so". Upon closer inspection of the barrel I noticed it was indeed a MkIII, but a Colt Metropolitan MkIII! I have never heard of that model. I'm obviously no expert. But it was in very nice shape and I enjoy learning new stuff. Did Colt make a lot of these? What would the value of a 4" model be in approx. 95% condition?

 

[SaxonPig]

Made 1972-74 as I recall.

I sold one a year ago for $350.

 

[Colt Smith]

Wow. Someone got a good deal. There is one on GB right now for $575 and a "buy it now" of $800.

 

[waidmann]

My source indicates it ran from 1969-83. It was a successor to the Official Police and was produced with an eye toward agencies that demanded a .38 Special chambering. It was not the result of a grading approach e.g. Lawman>Trooper>Boa mentality.

Sorry I can't give you production numbers. The 2009 Standard Catalog says $750 NIB, $525 Exc., $350 VG. I could not find it in my 2009 Blue Book.

 

[SaxonPig]

Asking ain't the same as getting. Any bids on that $575 Metro? I didn't think so.

I shopped mine around for 6 months at $400 with no takers and sold it for $350 (I paid $150 5 years ago). The Metro was not popular and did not sell well. It was meant to be a cop revolver brought out just as cops switched to autos.

 

[dfariswheel]

In 1969 Colt discontinued all the medium framed revolvers except for the Python.
The models discontinued were the:
Official Police.
Original Trooper.
Officer's Model Match.

The new replacements for the old models was the new Mark III transfer bar safety-ignition action built on a new design frame and action.

The new Mark III guns were the:
Trooper Mark III...a .22LR, .22 Magnum and .357 adjustable sight, target hammer and trigger revolver with 4" or 6" barrel.

Lawman... a fixed sight .357 with service hammer and trigger and a 4" or 2" heavy barrel.

The Official Police Mark III... a fixed sight .38 Special with the old style Official Police "skinny" barrel.

The Metropolitan Police...a fixed sight .38 Special with a 4" heavy barrel.

The Officer's Model Match Mark III, a .38 Special adjustable sight target revolver. This was basically a Trooper Mark III in .38 Special with a 6" barrel. Only about 500 were made.

The Lawman, Metropolitan Police, and Official Police Mark III were all the same basic fixed sight revolver, differing only in the caliber and weight of barrel.
The were intended to be basic police type revolvers.
The Lawman would be for departments wanting a fixed sight heavy barrel .357, the Metropolitan Police for departments limited to the .38 Special, and the Official Police Mark III for those wanting a lighter .38 Special gun.

By the time they hit the market, the fixed sight revolver was being phased out by the police and production of the Metropolitan Police and Official Police Mark III was low due to lack of demand.

 

[Colt Smith]

Interesting. Thanks!

 

[ky40601]

Colt Metropolitan Mark III .38 Sp (1969-72 c.)

 

[ky40601]

There was also the Colt Border Patrol (2d Issue) with 5356 manufactured.

Colt Border Patrol (2d Issue) .357 Mag (1971)

 

[Colt Smith]

Oooh, me likey the Border Patrol (2nd issue). How is that different from the Trooper Mk III?

 

[ky40601]

They were built on the MK III Trooper frame in .357 Magnum with less polishing on the frame. I believe but not sure they had a little different firing mechanism that caused soft fire problems.