Noob Questions...

[M2]

First and foremost, I am new to firearm ownership so I apologize for the "noob" questions...

I recently became the new owner of two revolvers and about 150 rounds of ammo. The revolvers are a Colt .357 Magnum and a Taurus .38 Special. They were my Dad's until he recently passed away. My mother didn't like them in the house, so I brought them home.

First and foremost, I was wondering if there is any way to ID the Magnum. I cannot find a serial number anywhere on the pistol, unless it is hidden somewhere I didn't look (and I looked all over). It does not say 'Python' or 'New Service' anywhere on it, is there any way I can acertain the model? It has what I believe to be a 4" barrel on it and it holds six loads.

Second, the ammo could be anywhere from 20-30 years old. It is not rusting but spent most of its life in a garage in Florida. I plan to get some fresh ammo and use the old stuff on the range, I read that it shouldn't be a problem with firing it off but I wanted to know if I should have any concerns.

I plan to get my concealed handgun license here in Texas, it shouldn't be too hard as I have a clean recond. Here is a fact sheet from DPS...

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/faq.htm

Anyone have any experience with taking a CHL in Texas? Anyone know of any good schools for taking the course? I am in the San Antonio area.

Thanks in advance!

M2

 

[461]

First of all, Welcome! You've come to the right place. The old ammo shouldn't pose any problem at all and if it shows no corrossion (green) on it it should shoot just fine.

As to identifying the Colt, I'm afraid I know less than nothing about Colt revolvers but I'm sure someone here does. You need to provide all the markings that you can see on it and may want to remove the grip sas often markings are under there. I'm sure someone here can identify it if you post the markings in full. If you have a digital camera, a picture in this case is indeed worth a thousand words. Good luck with it and enjoy what may become a new obsession, best advice is to find quality training before seeking a permit and get lots of practice.

 

[Standing Wolf]

First and foremost, I was wondering if there is any way to ID the Magnum. I cannot find a serial number anywhere on the pistol, unless it is hidden somewhere I didn't look (and I looked all over). It does not say 'Python' or 'New Service' anywhere on it, is there any way I can acertain the model? It has what I believe to be a 4" barrel on it and it holds six loads.

The revolver sounds like a Colt .357 magnum. The serial number will probably be stamped on the frame behind the crane under the barrel. You'll need to pull the cylinder release latch back and ease the cylinder to the left. If the serial number isn't on the frame and/or crane there, it will most probably be stamped on the butt of the grip frame.

Post your gun's serial number as 1 2 3 4 X X X to obscure the last three digits. Old Fluff or Dfariswheel will probably be able to tell you the year the gun was manufactured.

If your revolver is, indeed, a Colt .57 Magnum, it's a precursor of the Python: same wonderful action with a lighter, more traditional barrel. It'll probably turn out to be very accurate. It might also be a Trooper, which, to the best of my knowledge, was another name for essentially the same gun.

As long as there's no visible corrosion anywhere on the ammunition, I'd fire a few rounds as a test, then shoot it all if I encountered no problems. Some shooters are more cautious about old ammunition.

I whole-heartedly applaud your decision to keep and bear arms on a daily basis. Best of success to you, eh?

 

[M2]

Thanks, I checked and lo and behold, there was a number stamped there, but it was only a four digit number! So now I am confused, but hoping someone here could enlighten me on what Colt .357 Magnums only had a four-digit serial number??

Thanks again in advance.

M2

 

[cslinger]

I'll let you in on a little secret......NOOOBs are the best gun owners. You guys and gals are what keep us growing.

Welcome to the fold. Shoot safe and do all of us proud.

You will find lots of good information here and lots of good folks.

Chris.

 

[dfariswheel]

The Colt will have the actual name stamped prominently on the barrel, with the caliber stamped just below it in smaller letters.

In 1954 Colt introduced a new model named "The 357". This was both the name of the model as well as the caliber.

Here's a picture of an early 1950's Colt 357:


The 357 was made from 1954 to 1960, with only about 15,000 guns made.
These did have serial numbers running from 0001 to "about" 28000.

You can look these early guns up here:
http://proofhouse.com/colt/

Page down to the Colt Double Action Revolvers section, and the last entry is for the Trooper Model and 357 Model.

As above, the 357 is a little known Colt model, and was intended to be Colt's premium Magnum holster model.
The Colt Python is basically a 357 with a different barrel, a brighter polished blue job and a more tuned and refined action.

The 357 is often known as a "pre-Python" or a "poor man's Python".
These are extremely high-quality pistols, and were Colt's top-of-the-line when it was introduced.

If your gun has a 4 digit serial number, it would have been made between 1954 and 1957.
It should have the early 1950's Colt "two-tone" blued finish, in which the flats of the frame and outer diameter of the cylinder were polished, and th edges of the frame and the flutes in the cylinder were bead blasted to a flat black finish.
The muzzle was left "in the white" polished bare metal.

The 357 was available in a 4" or 6" barrel, and with the customer's choice of Service hammer and grips, or Target hammer and grips.
The early Target grips would be the valuable fully checkered First type Colt Target versions.

The 357 is a valuable gun, being a Colt premium model.

 

[M2]

Thanks much, that pretty much looks like the Colt 357 Magnum I have. And based on the web site you provided, it must be a 1954 model, as the serial number is <7600. Actually, it must be an early 1954 model as the serial number is <2000! The barrel does say 'Colt .357' on the left side.

Heck, let me make this easier...here are some pics...


(Click on pics for full-sized versions)

Can you give me any idea of what this gun might be worth? I am not looking to sell it, as it was my Dad's and for that reason alone I will not part with it. I am just curious.

Also, what would be the best ammo to use in this revolver? My Dad kept it loaded with .38 Special loads, but I might try a box of .357 loads just to see what they feel like.

By the way, although these are the first handguns I have owned, I have experience with weapons as I was in the USAF for over 20 years. I have qual'd on M-16s and M-9s, as well as fired a variety of other weapons when the opportunity arose. I am in the process of retiring in a few weeks, and guess one of the reasons I am keeping these guns (other than they were my Dad's) is that I won't be shooting courtesy of the USAF anymore...

Thanks! M2

 

[M2]

So, anyone care to give me a guess at what my Colt .357 is worth??

Cheers! M2

 

[Sistema1927]

So, anyone care to give me a guess at what my Colt .357 is worth??

Since it was your Dad's, it is priceless.

However, in all my years, I haven't ever seen a pre-Python, and I imagine the fact that it is a first year of manufacture, and is in such nice condition, will give it a premium price.

 

[Steve C]

So, anyone care to give me a guess at what my Colt .357 is worth??

I bought this like new condition 4" Trooper like yours but a little later year model after the name change at a gun show in December and paid $500. That may have been a little over the current book value but the condition made it worth the few extra $'s to me. Nice Colts are appreciating in value almost as fast as real estate. I would say to an individual the value would be in the $450 and up range.

 

[M2]

Thanks, I am only asking as I would consider getting it insured if the value was more than my homeowner's policy would cover. As you said, as it was my Dad's, it is priceless to me and I would never part with it.

I am looking forward to actually firing it. I don't know the last time it was fired, but my Dad did keep up the maintenance on it so it is in pretty good shape. Anything I should know about cleaning/oiling it?

Cheers! M2

 

[M2]

Just an update, I am still a "noob" but I am now one with a Springfield XD-45 Service model in his collection. The Taurus and Colt were a lot of fun to shoot, but I wanted something that held a few more rounds and I honestly felt I shouldn't fire the Colt all the time as it is a pretty valuable gun to me (in more than just monetary terms) and I wanted to preserve it. Plus I was itching to get the XD ever since a buddy showed me one at a shop!

I've put around 200 rounds through the XD and I gotta say I love it! I bought an extra clip to load some Federal low-recoil hollow points into, so I can keep a clip loaded with the right rounds for home defense, and the other two with ball ammo for the range. I took my Texas concealed handgun license course last Saturday and submitted my application package the following Monday, I should have my license in a few weeks.

Thanks again for the help ID'ing the Col, it has really drawn a lot of attention every time I have taken it to the range. And it is a blast to fire!

Cheers! M2

 

[Quinch]

.45s are cool.


I'd oil up my dad's guns and put them in the safe too. Heirlooms.

 

[Brian Dale]

I oil up my Dad's guns and shoot them. He was a shooter, and he taught me.

Thanks for sharing the good news, M2. Please accept a very belated "Welcome to THR" from me, too.

 

[lyricsdad]

Wow those are small treasures, I know if my dad passed away, I would never sell the .22 single shot I learned to shoot on. Keep it, give it to your son/daughter, and tell them to pass it on and keep them in the family. Keep them oiled. Welcome to THR!

 

[Third_Rail]

M2 - keep those guns cleaned and well-preserved. That .357 is a beauty!

 

[TX1911fan]

Deleted--I should read past posts.

 

[M2]

Just an update, my Mom found my Dad's files on his guns which included the original invoice for the Colt .357 Magnum when it was first purchased in 1955 for $89.95. My Dad bought it off the original owner, a US Army lieutenant, in 1959. That makes me the third owner.

Just for kicks I checked to see what $90 in 1955 dollars was worth in 2005(based on the commodity price index (CPI)), and the answer is $657.00.

Still a great gun, but I have since bought a Springfield XD-45ACP, M1911-A1 GI, Mossberg Persuader 12ga tactical shotfun and a Mossberg .410 shotgun, so I don't plan to shoot the Magnum except on special occassions.

Cheers! M2

 

[22-rimfire]

The "357 Magnum" is a great gun. Does not have the aah factor that Pythons have, but I bet is shoots just as well. Wish I had a 357 Model.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I would say to an individual the value would be in the $450 and up range.

I'm no Colt expert, but first production year in ~90% condition? I'm bettin' twice that, easy. If it has the box and original papers/manual, much more.

Newer Pythons in that condition are going for $700+

 

[Eightball]

and I wanted to preserve it

I DARE you to shoot-out a revolver. It'll outlast you, me, your kids, your dog, turtles, parakeets, or anything else that lives for a while--so long as you keep it clean.

 

[M2]

Just an update, since it's been a while...

The Colt now resides in a display case in our living room. I love shooting it but I also want to preserve it to hand down to my son one day. I got the original paperwork from my mother, from the receipt from when the first owner bought it on 10 March 1955 from Dixie Sporting Goods in Alexandria, Virginia (their phone number was KIng 9-7369) to the bill of sale when he sold it to my Dad on 7 January 1959. My Dad kept stringent records throughout his life. I wish he had the original box, but I am not even sure the original owner had it when he sold it to my Dad.

I myself have bought a few more guns, to include an XD45 and a Springfield GI M1911 as well as a few AK-47s and some shotguns. I recently shot my first IDPA meet and have a short list of guns I want to add to my collection, to include a couple more Springfield M1911s (Loaded Target in black stainless steel and an Operator).

Cheers! M2

 

[hangtime]

sounds like a story with a happy ending. . . . .

old Colts are phenomenally nice guns and the fact it was your Dad's gives it an added value. I bet you don't find anything you like better than you XD45 service model though. I have one and it is so reliable its boring - no misfires or malfunctions of any kind with any ammo ever. Just point it at the target and good things happen. Mine likes the heavier bullet weights - 200 to 230 grains so I keep it loaded with Hornady 230gr XTP's. Thanks for the update on the heirloom pieces.