Tell me this Colt Trooper Mark III

[StrikeFire83]

Below is a picture of my Dad's big wheelgun. He says that it's a "Trooper" and this is EXACTLY what's stamped on the barrel:

TROOPER MK III
*357 Magnum CTG*



Also, it has Pachmyer (sp) grips with the little gold Colt "coin" on each side.

He says he got it in trade from someone who owed him some money in 1980. He said there was a "presentation case" with knife and a belt buckle, all of which was subsequently stolen in the early 1990s when we moved.

Can anyone out there tell me any more about this piece. I was wondering with the crazy prices the Pythons are going for what a piece like this would go for on the used market.

 

[Black Knight]

It is a Trooper MarK III. They were made to compete with Smith & Wesson for the police and non-police markets. They cost about 2/3 that of the Python. They basically were in the price range of the S&W's. They also had the newer coil spring lockwork instead of the leaf spring used on the Python. From the photo I would say you have a decent revolver there. Go out to the range and enjoy it. They will take the same loads as a S&W K-frame (Models 13, 19, 65 & 66). They make good home defense guns to. Your father did not get stiffed, he got a very good gun.

 

[Croyance]

While a NIB might get $1200 in the right markets, a Trooper Mark III might get $500 if you are lucky. I have seen used ones in very good condition for $350.
IIRC, the frame is stronger than the K-frame S&W's and was meant to be stronger than a Python. Probably more comparable to the L-frames.
Some say the trigger can be as good as a Python.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Some say the trigger can be as good as a Python.

In my experience, no, not quite, but the accuracy can be every bit as good as a Python's.

 

[Croyance]

I don't suggest the feeling is universal or that it is true of every Trooper Mark III.

 

[FilJos]

This is my old man's Trooper. I've "borrowed" it from him for a trip into black bear country. It has some holster wear (What the Antiques Roadshow people call "patina") and the grips had to be replaced, but it shoots like a dream. Locks up like a bank vault, and the trigger is nice and smooth with a crisp break and no creep. I did hear that he had some work done on the trigger once.

My mom bought this gun for my dad just after they were married for his first job as a cop. She went and picked it out and almost bought the Python, but it was $50 more and they only made $300 a month. My dad still laments that he didn't get the python, but I lke the trooper.

As for the grips not being stock: One night the old man was chasing a burglar down the street and the Trooper was in a swivel holster. Sure enough, the gun dropped out and the grips cracked right off. Dad kept running though and after another block shouted, "Stop, or I'll shoot!" The perp stopped, Officer Filjos Sr. cuffed him up and as he was walking back to the squad, scooped up the trooper. He got one of those "ah, crap" looks from the perp who informed him, "Dang it, if I had seen you drop that you never would have caught me."