Lawman MK III

That's a deal if it's a nice snub with original grips. It's a real deal if it's all that and nickel....If is a 4", is an ok price if it's really nice.

A quick look on the internet suggests they are going higher than $500.

BOARHUNTER

Styx

It's a great price for one with a 2" barrel! I would go for it, provided you understand that parts and service might be a problem as the Mk.III has been out of production for quite a few years.

What about the grips?. The original ones fit only that gun. They are somewhat hard to find.

Probably nickel.

It is nickel. They weren't made in stainless. It's worth the asking price. I'd buy it.

Nickel. Colt never made any MKIIIs in stainless.
For $500 I'd grab it quick.

Styx

So did you get it?

With a little bit of effort and some Flitz Metal Polish that nickel plating should clean up nicely!

Styx

The Mk.III series (Trooper, Official Police, Metropolitan, and Lawman Mk.III), was introduced by Colt in the late '60s as a means of revitalizing their revolver line-up. Using new designs and manufacturing methods Colt had hoped to retake back some of the revolver market that they had lost to S&W while still trying to hold manufacturing costs down. They were produced until 1983.

The Colt Cobra and Python were older designs that required more parts to be hand fitted and were labor intensive to build. The overall quality of these older revolvers is very good and is reflected in the demand for them in the used gun market.

The MK III guns are built like tanks, and often very accurate. I'd LOVE to find a snub for $500. Around here it isn't going to happen. Pay attention to coltpythonelite admonition above. Original stocks (if missing) are very hard to find, and pricey.

Id pass. The MK3 triggers are sintered metal and prone to breakage at the hinge pin. I've personally seen two of these with broken triggers, although one gun was still functional- the owner didn't realize the extra "click" when pulling the trigger wasn't normal.

We had a heck of a time tracking down a spare trigger and that was 10 years ago....cant imagine they are easier to find now.

I avoid any of the MK3s myself, and seek out a 1st Gen Trooper if you really want a .357 Colt for less than Python money, as the internals are forged. Its a shame as the MK3s look nice, but I don't trust the lockwork.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

I had one. Neat little gun. Finally traded it off. That’s a good price and, will serve you well. IF something breaks, it may be tough to find parts.

I’ve got a 2 3/4” Ruger Speed Six an SP101 and a couple 3” S&W 65’s. All great guns.

If I wanted a new 6 shot Snub .357, I’d look hard at the Kimber.

Buy it, shoot it, and don't worry about broken parts. If it breaks, fix it or sell it for parts. I wouldn't worry about "what ifs" on a 500 buck gun.

I've heard MK IIIs can come out of time prematurely if shooting a lot of magnums. I've also heard they are built like tanks. The Trooper MKIII I had worked great and I would definitely buy that nickel Lawman for $500.

No problem finding parts or grips for a Trooper MKIII, Lawman or any other J frame Colt but they are expensive. Parts can be found at Numrich or Jack First gun parts. I think the only sintered metal parts are the trigger and hammer. Jack First has both parts, forged, on this page https://jack-first-gun-parts.myshopify.com/collections/colt-trooper-mkiii-revolver?page=3 .

Main thing to remember is not to dry fire without snap caps as a some firing pins were over hardened and could break while dry firing. This requires a trip to Colt. Apparently replacing the firing pin is a factory only job.

cwelch said:

No problem finding parts or grips for a Trooper MKIII, Lawman or any other J frame Colt but they are expensive. Parts can be found at Numrich or Jack First gun parts. I think the only sintered metal parts are the trigger and hammer. Jack First has both parts, forged, on this page https://jack-first-gun-parts.myshopify.com/collections/colt-trooper-mkiii-revolver?page=3 .

Main thing to remember is not to dry fire without snap caps as a some firing pins were over hardened and could break while dry firing. This requires a trip to Colt. Apparently replacing the firing pin is a factory only job.

Click to expand...

Very cool, will make me reconsider next time I see a MK3 for sale. I dont see where they say these are forged, though. In fact, Im pretty sure the MK3 trigger they show has a casting line down the center......

Still, with proper heat treating they can be good- Ruger has been making excellent castings for a loooooooong time.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Very cool, will make me reconsider next time I see a MK3 for sale. I dont see where they say these are forged, though. In fact, Im pretty sure the MK3 trigger they show has a casting line down the center......

Still, with proper heat treating they can be good- Ruger has been making excellent castings for a loooooooong time.

Click to expand...

Well maybe not forged but:
"Reproduction

This part is manufactured of high quality tool steel and heat-treated to precise specifications in our Midwest facility, using an original factory part for duplication. Some parts may need additional fitting to accommodate wear in old firearms." on both hammer and trigger pages.

I think that is a good price as long as it is still timed like it should be and I can't imagine one in that condition being shot enough to get out of time. I just regretfully sold a Lawman MKlll snubby that was blue and probably 98% for $700. Hated to sell, but owed a guy a huge favor and he collected by buying a nice gun he had his eyes on a while. I think the reputation for Colts getting out of time is a little exaggerated. I've got some with thousands of rounds through them and are function like new. I've had about as many Smiths get out of time as Colts

cwelch said:

Well maybe not forged but:
"Reproduction

This part is manufactured of high quality tool steel and heat-treated to precise specifications in our Midwest facility, using an original factory part for duplication. Some parts may need additional fitting to accommodate wear in old firearms." on both hammer and trigger pages.

Click to expand...

Well tool steel is NOT cast, thats a good thing. The firing pin can break and then it it back to a factory repair place . Never dryfire it. I like the Lawman Snub and had two, they handle and shoot very well with full magnum loads. They have a true 2" barrel so are very loud with magnum loads (understatement) . Yours has a shrouded ejector rod, the last and best of the lot. They had two weights of barrels in the unshrouded generation . The nickel finish adds a lot to the actual value. That gun if kept nice will go up in value. Flitz is your friend, stay away from copper solvent bore cleaners, it will damage the nickle !

Gordon said:

Well tool steel is NOT cast, thats a good thing. The firing pin can break and then it it back to a factory repair place . Never dryfire it. I like the Lawman Snub and had two, they handle and shoot very well with full magnum loads. They have a true 2" barrel so are very loud with magnum loads (understatement) . Yours has a shrouded ejector rod, the last and best of the lot. They had two weights of barrels in the unshrouded generation . The nickel finish adds a lot to the actual value. That gun if kept nice will go up in value. Flitz is your friend, stay away from copper solvent bore cleaners, it will damage the nickle !

Click to expand...

God bless, Gordon, but tool steel covers a very wide range of alloys and does not necessarily refer to the part- forming process-
https://www.milwaukeeprec.com/tool-steel-casting.html