jdmb03
Member
Can anyone tell me about this model? I seen one in a local shop NIB for $250. I haven't found much info on the internet. Thanks
Colt Metropolitan
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BluesBear
member
I'll go out on a limb here (then again maybe I shouldn't, one broken back is enough) and surmise that you have a Colt Metropolitan MkIII.
It's a heavy barrel version of the Official Police and was only made for a few years 1969 to around 1972 or 73 if I recall.
It looks like a Lawman except it's .38 instead of .357.
If it's really NIB the price sounds a little low to me.
It would make a great bedside gun.
It's a heavy barrel version of the Official Police and was only made for a few years 1969 to around 1972 or 73 if I recall.
It looks like a Lawman except it's .38 instead of .357.
If it's really NIB the price sounds a little low to me.
It would make a great bedside gun.
dfariswheel
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In 1969 Colt was forced to discontinue most of the old Colt revolvers due to the high cost of the necessary hand fitting needed to build them.
Colt's replacement for these was the "J" frame, Mark III series of revolvers.
These were the:
Trooper Mark III
Lawman Mark III
Metropolitan Police Mark III
Official Police Mark III
And a VERY few Officer's Model Match Mark III's.
These guns used a new, transfer bar ignition system, sintered (moulded) steel small parts, and a super-heavy duty frame and cylinder.
The Mark III series was modified in the mid 1970's into the Mark V series which included the:
Trooper Mark V
Lawman Mark V
The Peacekeeper.
In the later 1970's, Colt added a new barrel to the Mark V, made it initially in Stainless steel, and sold it as the King Cobra.
These post-1969 series guns are absolute tanks. Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen's opinion was, that these were probably the strongest mid-frame revolvers ever made, due to Colt's high-grade forged frames and heat treating.
The Metro was essentially a .38 Special version of the .357 Magnum Lawman, made for those police departments that used .38 Special ammo only.
The Lawman and Metro were fixed sight "Service" guns for departments not wanting to buy more expensive revolvers with adjustable sights and the "target" features like over-sized grips and hammers.
It's hard to imagine a stronger, sturdier, and more durable revolver than the Metro.
In it's .38 Special chambering, one would last about forever and two days.
Colt's replacement for these was the "J" frame, Mark III series of revolvers.
These were the:
Trooper Mark III
Lawman Mark III
Metropolitan Police Mark III
Official Police Mark III
And a VERY few Officer's Model Match Mark III's.
These guns used a new, transfer bar ignition system, sintered (moulded) steel small parts, and a super-heavy duty frame and cylinder.
The Mark III series was modified in the mid 1970's into the Mark V series which included the:
Trooper Mark V
Lawman Mark V
The Peacekeeper.
In the later 1970's, Colt added a new barrel to the Mark V, made it initially in Stainless steel, and sold it as the King Cobra.
These post-1969 series guns are absolute tanks. Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen's opinion was, that these were probably the strongest mid-frame revolvers ever made, due to Colt's high-grade forged frames and heat treating.
The Metro was essentially a .38 Special version of the .357 Magnum Lawman, made for those police departments that used .38 Special ammo only.
The Lawman and Metro were fixed sight "Service" guns for departments not wanting to buy more expensive revolvers with adjustable sights and the "target" features like over-sized grips and hammers.
It's hard to imagine a stronger, sturdier, and more durable revolver than the Metro.
In it's .38 Special chambering, one would last about forever and two days.
The Metro was a large frame, heavy barrel Mark III design. A decent but obsolete service revolver. The Mark III action isn't as smooth as the older Colt revolvers. If you are looking for a collector piece I have no idea but as a shooter the Metro should probably be around $200. I picked up this one last year for $150.
JNewell
Member
Dfariswheel, can you describe what were the modifications made from the Mark III series to the Mark V?
dfariswheel
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The Mark V mods were:
Changed the full profile square butt frame to a rounded profile.
Changed the sintered steel hammer and trigger to cast steel.
Changed the outward appearance of the hammer slightly including a change from the Trooper MK III's checkering to grooving on the spur.
Changed the hammer to a "short action" design. (Colt's first short action).
Changed the mainspring and it's guide to a longer unit with a different seating location lower in the frame.
Changed the barrel to a vent rib design.
The King Cobra is really nothing but the Mark V with a different barrel.
For some reason Colt also changed the KC frame designation to the "AA", from the Trooper Mark V's "V" designation.
For the first time in major gun making history, Colt introduced the KC in Stainless steel FIRST, with the blued version following.
Changed the full profile square butt frame to a rounded profile.
Changed the sintered steel hammer and trigger to cast steel.
Changed the outward appearance of the hammer slightly including a change from the Trooper MK III's checkering to grooving on the spur.
Changed the hammer to a "short action" design. (Colt's first short action).
Changed the mainspring and it's guide to a longer unit with a different seating location lower in the frame.
Changed the barrel to a vent rib design.
The King Cobra is really nothing but the Mark V with a different barrel.
For some reason Colt also changed the KC frame designation to the "AA", from the Trooper Mark V's "V" designation.
For the first time in major gun making history, Colt introduced the KC in Stainless steel FIRST, with the blued version following.
Just about any wheel gun is obsolete by now as a service pistol. I frequently carry revolvers as an armed citizen but were I a soldier or police officer I would want a semi-auto. The weight of this gun with its .41 sized frame and bull barrel would also be objectionable for belt wear during an 8 hour shift. The original idea of the heavy frame and barrel was so that the officer could use the gun to club suspects into submission when shooting them wasn't warranted. I suspect any cop using a gun that way today would be fired and sued if not arrested. The Metro was a 1930s design sold in the 1970s. It did not sell well or long for obvious reasons. It was obsolete (as a law enforcement tool) before it was introduced.
JNewell
Member
Great info -- thanks!
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BluesBear
member
POPPYCOCK! That may be true if you are a total wussy!
Even more Bullspit.
jdmb03
Member
Thanks for the good and not so good opinions.
Gordon
Member
I'm with Blues Bear. The metro is a great gun and a sleeper-you will make money if it's clean and the prancing pony clear.
So, I take it that I am the not so good opinion? I never said it wasn't a good gun. Please note that I own one. I just said that by the time it came out the revolver for police use was in decline and that this particular model wasn't popular. Excuse me, but I am right and the fact that this gun never caught on and was discontinued after only a couple of years would seem to support my position.
Blues Bear, I don't know why you are so angry with me, but take my word for it, in the olden days cops carried guns with heavy barrels with an eye towards using them as impromtu saps if the need arose. Please peruse the writings of the late Skeeter Skelton, the late Charles Askins, the late Bill Jordan and several others I can mention if you don't believe me. They have all written of cops thumping people with their guns. As for the weight, again, trust me when I say that the average officer walking a beat didn't relish the 40 ounce pistol on his belt by the end of the day. There's a reason why the 4" K frame became the most popular police revolver. It was easy to pack around. Of course, the days of walking a beat are mostly long gone and motorized cops are not so sensitive to the weight of their guns.
It seems my opinions are not welcome. I'll try to keep them to myself from now on.
Blues Bear, I don't know why you are so angry with me, but take my word for it, in the olden days cops carried guns with heavy barrels with an eye towards using them as impromtu saps if the need arose. Please peruse the writings of the late Skeeter Skelton, the late Charles Askins, the late Bill Jordan and several others I can mention if you don't believe me. They have all written of cops thumping people with their guns. As for the weight, again, trust me when I say that the average officer walking a beat didn't relish the 40 ounce pistol on his belt by the end of the day. There's a reason why the 4" K frame became the most popular police revolver. It was easy to pack around. Of course, the days of walking a beat are mostly long gone and motorized cops are not so sensitive to the weight of their guns.
It seems my opinions are not welcome. I'll try to keep them to myself from now on.
jdmb03
Member
The reason I asked about the gun was to get the good and bad opinions. I didn't expect everyone to have something good to say. Both opinions help me to decide wether to buy or not.
BluesBear
member
Trust me, I'm not angry at all.
While I greatly respect the writings of Messrs. Skelton, Askins and Jordan (in fact I grew up in the 60s reading them) and while they indeed may have, on occasion, experienced the need to use their revolvers as an impromptu thumpstick, I don't recall any of them advocating it. Having said that I stand my my opinion that the "original idea" of the heavy barreled revolver was not that usage. There were writings from the late 1800s mentioning damage done to Colt Peacemaker revolvers from skull thumping. Take my word for it, most of the damage done, to a swing-out cylinder, double-action revolver, resulting from impacts, is frame/crane warping. I believe the illustrious Skeeter Skelton has written about that as well.
As for the weight issue, I freely admit that I have never spent an entire eight hour shift with a heavy 4" K-frame on my duty belt. But I DID spend many such shifts on my feet with either a 4" N-frame, or a 6" N-frame as well as a full sized steel Colt O-frame, or 6" Colt I-frame. (That same duty belt always carried FOUR full reloads and TWO pair of cuffs.) Trust me, the weight of my handgun NEVER bothered me. Take my word for it, a high quality leather duty belt, holster and pouches, in good condition, goes a long way to comfortably distributing the weight.
I still prefer the weight of a steel N-frame or O-frame on my belt for CCW. Take my word for it, after 30 years I am so acoustomed to it that I truely don't even notice it's there.
I am looking forward to the day when I can get out of this damn body cast and strap on an N-frame and CCW it all day long again.
Trust me, everyone's opinions are welcome here on The High Road.
Even those of a smart-alec like me.
While I greatly respect the writings of Messrs. Skelton, Askins and Jordan (in fact I grew up in the 60s reading them) and while they indeed may have, on occasion, experienced the need to use their revolvers as an impromptu thumpstick, I don't recall any of them advocating it. Having said that I stand my my opinion that the "original idea" of the heavy barreled revolver was not that usage. There were writings from the late 1800s mentioning damage done to Colt Peacemaker revolvers from skull thumping. Take my word for it, most of the damage done, to a swing-out cylinder, double-action revolver, resulting from impacts, is frame/crane warping. I believe the illustrious Skeeter Skelton has written about that as well.
As for the weight issue, I freely admit that I have never spent an entire eight hour shift with a heavy 4" K-frame on my duty belt. But I DID spend many such shifts on my feet with either a 4" N-frame, or a 6" N-frame as well as a full sized steel Colt O-frame, or 6" Colt I-frame. (That same duty belt always carried FOUR full reloads and TWO pair of cuffs.) Trust me, the weight of my handgun NEVER bothered me. Take my word for it, a high quality leather duty belt, holster and pouches, in good condition, goes a long way to comfortably distributing the weight.
I still prefer the weight of a steel N-frame or O-frame on my belt for CCW. Take my word for it, after 30 years I am so acoustomed to it that I truely don't even notice it's there.
I am looking forward to the day when I can get out of this damn body cast and strap on an N-frame and CCW it all day long again.
Trust me, everyone's opinions are welcome here on The High Road.
Even those of a smart-alec like me.
BB, keep in mind that a bigger man will not be affected by a few ounces of equipment weight as quickly as will a smaller one. I have never met you, but in my experience guys with the nickname Bear are usually big men. The average man is about 170 pounds and an extra six ounces of gun weight will feel heavier to him than to a man who goes 220. Just because you feel comfortable with a big gun doesn't mean everyone does. I quickly tire of packing a gun weighing more than my 2" S&W. Plus, a cop has a lot of other stuff to carry, like handcuffs, a radio, a baton, and other gear. Any extra weight is unwelcome to many officers. The late Tom Ferguson wrote of the desire by many officers to shed some equipment weight by going to lighter guns.
You're right, the authors I cited never advocated using a pistol as a club. In fact, they advised against the practice. But they did report that in their police days they saw it happen a lot. I wasn't claiming that they advocated clubbing suspects with a sidearm, but I offered their work as evidence that it happened. I have also seen advertising literature from the 1930s and 1940s from Colt aimed at police officers and the Colt's heavy barrel was hinted to be a useful sap in the ads. They didn't come right out and say it, but it was implied.
I read the post regarding your recent injury and I hope you are making a speedy recovery. I know what it's like to be laid up in a cast (not as bad as your) so I know how much you are suffering.
You're right, the authors I cited never advocated using a pistol as a club. In fact, they advised against the practice. But they did report that in their police days they saw it happen a lot. I wasn't claiming that they advocated clubbing suspects with a sidearm, but I offered their work as evidence that it happened. I have also seen advertising literature from the 1930s and 1940s from Colt aimed at police officers and the Colt's heavy barrel was hinted to be a useful sap in the ads. They didn't come right out and say it, but it was implied.
I read the post regarding your recent injury and I hope you are making a speedy recovery. I know what it's like to be laid up in a cast (not as bad as your) so I know how much you are suffering.
Hannibal Barca
Member
I don't know, I like autos and definitely see the advantages in shape of reloads, capacity, whatnot, but I would feel really good with the 4" 686 I had for awhile, it had a brilliant trigger and was like a laser for me, plus those single-movement Safariland speedloaders are pretty quick.
Hawk
Member
Thanks and welcome to the man of few words that joined in 2008 and finally posted in 2010.
And since I didn't know about the ".38 only" Metros till I read this thread this particular work of necromancy is one I appreciate.
Still, the intertubz can be a fun time capsule - 250.00 for an ANIB .38 version of the Lawman MkIII? What I need is a time machine.
...and money.
And since I didn't know about the ".38 only" Metros till I read this thread this particular work of necromancy is one I appreciate.
The individual you are addressing hasn't been around since June of 2006.
Still, the intertubz can be a fun time capsule - 250.00 for an ANIB .38 version of the Lawman MkIII? What I need is a time machine.
...and money.
Blue Brick
Member
Ruger Six
uh if these were meant to be used as clubs wouldnt a shrouder ejector rod make sense?
my model 10 heavy barrel; is indeed pretty sturdy but i imagine 1 or two cracks on a skull and that rod would be bent all out of shape making reloads very difficult...
my model 10 heavy barrel; is indeed pretty sturdy but i imagine 1 or two cracks on a skull and that rod would be bent all out of shape making reloads very difficult...
Hawk
Member
On a tangential note, there's a fundamental difference between your M10 and the Colt's unshrouded ejector.
Obligatory Cunningham link:
http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/5a52819ec8570dac43637b5dbc9b60df-146.html
It still makes a lousy club but nobody that's signed on in the last 3 years has made a suggestion to the contrary in this going-on-6-year-old thread.
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