colt pre trooper???

[mulehide9]

I have owned this .357 COLT for quite awhile, and would like to know what it is. COLT 357... 357 magnum on left side of barrel. COLTS MFG.CO. HARTFORD CT USA on right side of barrel.

Serial number seems to be scratched into grip frame on both sides................. VO 454710. Yoke number 4400. No numbers any where else.

It's 4" barrel, adjustable rear sight, target hammer and trigger.

Small checkered grips with Colt medallion. What do you think it is???

 

[gunseller2]

It sounds like a Colt Model .357. I stole one for 200.00 recently in about 90% shape. It shoots great and has the best trigger of any stock revolver I own. Below is a link to a thread on the gun from years back.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-121125.html

 

[Majic]

You have the Colt 357 Magnum. It is Colt's first medium frame .357 magnum revolver and daddy to the Python. It was made as a target revolver so it got the same action tuning as the Officers Models. The number in the crane is the serial number and your Colt is a 1954 model. Only about 15000 of them were made. I have both the 4 and 6 incher. They are great shooters and will give the Python a run for it's money. I prefer to shoot mine over my Pythons. It has been a big sleeper for many years and could be found for very good prices. Being that many were not made (it was made for only 7 years) most folks think they are Troopers since they are basically the same.

 

[rayman]

sounds like a lawman

 

[Vern Humphrey]

No, it's essentially a Python -- call it a pre-Python. It has the same lockwork as the Python and, except for cosmetics is identical to the Python. I carried one my first tour in Viet Nam, and still have it.

 

[Walkalong]

I handled one at a gun show. Action was smooth as butter, far nicer than my Pythons action, but it was about 40% and he wanted $550.

 

[10X]

You have a Colt model 357. As others have said this was the predecessor to the Python. This was Colt's premier model until the Python. The model 357 is just as accurate as the Python.

Colt used the same action and hand fitting on the Python. The differences were the barrel, of course, and the exterior finishing.

As Vern Humphrey said the model 357 is properly called a pre-Python.

They are not well known, but are a fine, fine Colt revolver.

 

[Majic]

As Vern Humphrey said the model 357 is properly called a pre-Python.

No it's properly called the Colt Model 357. How could you call it a pre-Python when there wasn't any Pythons as they first came out? I think Vern simply made a suggestion so the OP could distinguish the revolver from others.
I also don't think any of them came with a target trigger. You did have a choice of hammers and stocks.

 

[Shade00]

A contender for my favorite gun.

It now wears the service stocks and a Tyler grip. Feels great in the hand and the action is unlike any of my other guns. Is it like a Python? I can't say, as I've never fired one. But - the .357 was designed as a premium version of the Trooper and history says it morphed into the Python. So I would agree that it's a pre-Python, as it has fine tuned action and other accoutrement.

 

[10X]

Majic, you are correct the correct name is the Colt Model 357.
Because that model is not well known many people in describing it incorrectly call it the pre-Trooper. Realistically, it is the predecessor to the Python.

That is what I was trying to get across.