Colt Trooper Mark 3 357

[Huntolive]

Where does the Colt trooper Mark III fit in in the colts 357 hierarchy?
I'm very familiar with the Python and the king cobra.

Prices are totally out of control on both the king cobras and the pythons if you can find them, including the 2020 versions.
In this current sellers market what would be a reasonable price for an excellent condition near mint nickel 1970s era Colt Trooper Mark 3 with a 4-in barrel with No box?

How would you compare the function and finish of The Trooper Mark III versus a python or king cobra? Reliability accuracy longevity and finish/quality?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Mk3s usually have excellent fit and finish- unless made during one of Colts frequent labor strikes, resulting in the Coltguard matte nickel and several dark phosphate finishes. They lock up tight and have strong actions, but with one achilles heal- the sintered trigger and hammers are brittle and vulnerable to cracking. Hammers usually only break if dropped on the spur, but the trigger pivot hinge is very thin, and chunks of it will sometimes break off. Depending on where it breaks, the shooter may not even realize its broken.

Jack First was making billet replacement hammers and triggers since the Colt parts have long been discontinued, but they were pricey and Im not sure if they have any left.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks.
How common is it for those triggers to break compared to other models of colts or Smith & Wesson's from the 1970s?
is that something I should be seriously concerned about and also my fundamental question is about price as well

 

[entropy]

Mk3s usually have excellent fit and finish- unless made during one of Colts frequent labor strikes, resulting in the Coltguard matte nickel and several dark phosphate finishes. They lock up tight and have strong actions, but with one achilles heal- the sintered trigger and hammers are brittle and vulnerable to cracking. Hammers usually only break if dropped on the spur, but the trigger pivot hinge is very thin, and chunks of it will sometimes break off. Depending on where it breaks, the shooter may not even realize its broken.

Jack First was making billet replacement hammers and triggers since the Colt parts have long been discontinued, but they were pricey and Im not sure if they have any left.

https://jack-first-gun-parts.myshop...ii-revolver/products/colt-troopr-mkiii-hammer

https://jack-first-gun-parts.myshop...er/products/colt-trooper-mkiii-trigger-smooth

Looks like $198 + shipping.

Ironically, my MKIII withstood repeated pounding from my hot reloads, while they cracked the hammer of my Dad's Python, right during his Quals. (He was a cop,) He came home, confiscated my MkIII, and finished his quals. I had to order the hammer and put it in.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Lockwork of the MK III is very much (theory wise) like the S&W action. Early ones with sintered (MIM) parts were prone to breakage. Colt refined the process of MIM with by later productions/models.

entropy - interesting story about your father's Python. My brother did something similar by dry firing w/no snap caps. First time we got to the range, click! Tried it several times and still click. My Ruger went boom with each drop of the hammer. Anyway, his Python went back for a new firing pin.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ive seen two Mk3 Troopers with broken triggers. In one case, the gun was rendered inoperative, in the other the giveaway was an extra clicking sound as the trigger was pulled, but it still cycled fine.

Some endure thousands of rounds without a problem- it doesnt seem to be a wear issue. I would postulate that either only a small percentage had embrittlement problems, or it takes a certain action to break them, perhaps allowing the trigger to snap back on reset.....just a guess.

If I was looking to buy one, I would seriously consider getting a spare trigger just in case they become unavailable again in the future.

Honestly, I prefer the earlier E and I frame Troopers. These share the Python frame and lockwork minus the fancy barrel and polish job. They arent cheap, exactly, but you dont pay a "snake gun" name premium either.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If you dont particularly care about the ability to fire Magnum rounds, hands down the best value in a Colt revolver is an Official Police, Army Special, or Commando (they are basically the same gun). Clean ones still pop up regularly in the $500-600 range, and cosmetically challenged or refinshed examples can be had for a bit less if youre patient.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks.
That's a little spooky about the triggers.
So what would you say an excellent near mint condition nickel 4-in from the mid-70s trooper Mark 3 should go for in our current inflated seller's market?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I would expect the gun you describe to have 800-900 on the tag at a local gunshop or show these days. What "should" it go for, well.......thats up to the buyer, I suppose. Lol.

BTW, this is an excellent site for a quick overview of pretty much every Colt double-action revolver-
http://www.coltfever.com/

 

[Electricmo]

A nickel trooper in excellent condition should easily push a $1000.

 

[wgp]

Mid 2020 I was able to buy a 6" Trooper from an estate. I had it valued by an independent local gun shop, which said it was 95% condition and was $800 to $850 retail. It's a very good looking gun, excellent blue finish. I have seen the Trooper described as "the poor man's Python".

 

[4v50 Gary]

The original Troopers had a Python lockwork and earned the nickname "poor man's python." The MK III had an easier to produce lockwork (assemblers could be less skilled) that was cheaper (cost and time wise) to produce.

 

[Huntolive]

So it seems every gun has its weak point. Even the venerable old pythons are critiqued for developing timing issues and so forth.

So relative to other cult revolvers where does the Trooper Mark III stand in terms of general reliability as a carry revolver when compared to a python a king cobra or a Smith & Wesson 27-2?
Is the potential issue some have with triggers that big of an Achilles heel or is it just the Achilles feel that that model has and not necessarily any more worrisome than the idiosyncrasies of the others?
Speaking of the king cobra what is there a weak point?

 

[AustinTX]

Speaking of the king cobra what is there a weak point?

Are we talking about the old King Cobras or the new ones? The old ones are very strong, rugged revolvers. Their main drawback, in my opinion, is that they're crude and clunky, all of them having been built after Colt's best days had long passed. In the case of the ones made from 1986 to 1990 (during the four-plus-year strike by Colt workers), they were built during Colt's all-time nadir in quality.

As far as the older Colt revolvers go, I wouldn't give even passing consideration to taking any of the ones either designed after 1955 or built after 1969 over a S&W Model 27-2. (Unless, of course, it was one of the very mediocre limited-run guns like the Boa, Grizzly, or Kodiak that nonetheless command insane prices from insane Colt collectors, and I could flip it for a nice gain.)

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well....I dont know about "carry" for any of these, but, IMO, overall a Mk3 would rank well below an M27, Python, or either the new or old King Cobras.

The M27 can have timing and end shake problems, but usually only in extremely high mileage situations. The fit and finish of a M27 is impeccable and the trigger action very good. The M28 Highway Patrolman is the same gun with a slightly lower grade finish, but is also usually a bit less expensive.

Pythons are Pythons, $$$$ but smooth. Id rank durability as similiar to the S&W. Yes, you can wear them out, but it takes lots and lots of rounds.

The old King Cobras, as Austin said, suffer from (relatively) poor machining and finsh, but are strong guns. They replaced the sintered metal parts with more durable castings. Their main drawback now is scarcity and high pices given their overall lack of refinement.

The new King Cobra would be the best for carry, being built on a medium-small frame. Time will tell, but so far they have been reliable.

None of this means the Mk3 is a bad gun- its not. But out of all these choices, it would be my last pick.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I love the Mk3. Have yet to break one or seen one broken. One issue, which is due to the sintered parts, is that you cannot polish the action. Doing so removes the hardened steel on the surface and you will soon have a rough action. It is a strong enough gun and I put it as an equal to my 686. My current Mk3 I bought in 2010 for $500. 6" blue, it had a light ring on the cylinder. The owner didn't feel it fit in his collection of perfect guns. I added Pachmayr Presentation grips and made it a shooter.

 

[bannockburn]

For something a little bit off the beaten path you might try looking for a Colt Mk.V instead of a Mk.III. The Mk.V had a few changes made to it like replacing the sintered metal parts with more durable cast steel ones, altering the lockwork for a smoother trigger pull, and redesigning the grip frame for a wraparound target grip to be used. This was what really sold me on the Mk.V as it had the most comfortable fitting factory target grips of any .357 revolver I ever used. The two Mk.Vs I had (4" and 6" barrels), were very well made with a nice blued finish and were accurate out of the box with no extra adjustments needed. I only sold them because I needed the money to pay for school. The Mk.V along with the Ruger Security Six and S&W Model 686 were my favorite DA .357s. in terms of their size, weight, handling, and balance.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

For something a little bit off the beaten path you might try looking for a Colt Mk.V instead of a Mk.III. The Mk.V had a few changes made to it like replacing the sintered metal parts with more durable cast steel ones, altering the lockwork for a smoother trigger pull, and redesigning the grip frame for a wraparound target grip to be used. This was what really sold me on the Mk.V as it had the most comfortable fitting factory target grips of any .357 revolver I ever used. The two Mk.Vs I had (4" and 6" barrels), were very well made with a nice blued finish and were accurate out of the box with no extra adjustments needed. I only sold them because I needed the money to pay for school. The Mk.V along with the Ruger Security Six and S&W Model 686 were my favorite DA .357s. in terms of their size, weight, handling, and balance.

^^^^THIS! BUT, the Trooper and Lawman Mk.V are harder to find.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Where does the Colt trooper Mark III fit in in the colts 357 hierarchy?
I'm very familiar with the Python and the king cobra.

Prices are totally out of control on both the king cobras and the pythons if you can find them, including the 2020 versions.
In this current sellers market what would be a reasonable price for an excellent condition near mint nickel 1970s era Colt Trooper Mark 3 with a 4-in barrel with No box?

How would you compare the function and finish of The Trooper Mark III versus a python or king cobra? Reliability accuracy longevity and finish/quality?

The Mk.III revolvers - Trooper, Lawman, Metropolitan Police and Official Police - models fit in between the I-Frame and V-Frame models of Colts. They were modernized for simplicity of assembly and lower costs. The Trooper model itself - "Mark" number aside - was originally just a modified Officer's Model Match .38Spl revolver. It was more a holster gun which was serviceable for target shooting than a target gun which was fit for holstering. As far as Colts' hierarchy of fit and finish is concerned, the Trooper Mk. III fits between the ".357 Model" and the Python. The .357 was a fine gun and Cot's first medium-framed magnum revolver but it was not given the lavish treatment of the Python and eventually perished for lack of marketing. The Trooper Mk. III filled that slot - a good gun which was not given special treatment but was nonetheless still fit and finished quite well.

If you dont particularly care about the ability to fire Magnum rounds, hands down the best value in a Colt revolver is an Official Police, Army Special, or Commando (they are basically the same gun). Clean ones still pop up regularly in the $500-600 range, and cosmetically challenged or refinshed examples can be had for a bit less if youre patient.

This is possibly the best advice of the thread. The Official Police is the dark horse of the handgun world. If you can find one in 85% or better condition - a little wear is to be expected and don't mind the grips, replacements are easy to find and inexpensive - it is the best medium frame revolver I've ever found. Put it this way: I have four Official Police revolvers in .38Spl, one in .32-20, an Army Special, and a .357 Model - I don't own a Mk.III, only have one Mk. V and it's a Lawman, not a Trooper. So I may be a little prejudiced...

 

[Gary W. Strange]

I have owned a Colt Trooper mkiii 4” .22 for many years. I have shot it quite a bit over the years. I have read the horror stories about the sintered parts. I have never had a problem. I am sure it could very well be though. I don’t think sintered parts are anywhere near as strong as forged, cast or even the modern MIM stuff. With that said, there are still many Colt mkiii’s out there being shot and used. They are still going. They may fly apart like a dollar and a half suitcase, the next time you pull the trigger but that may be far down the road. I like the Trooper mkiii .22 for what it is. It is a very well made revolver, over built for .22 long rifle and a very strong revolver in .357. In .22 long rifle, it is too heavy. It will probably last two or three lifetimes. It’s just not easy to carry. There are much better choices in .22 revolvers. They are well made and beautiful revolvers. If you did break a trigger or hammer, there are replacements to be found. It may involve some looking, but they are out there. One would just need to keep that in mind, when buying one. If you want a Colt Trooper mkiii, I would not let the sintered parts stand in the way.
You can tell by looking they are very well made and very nicely fitted and finished. They are just a Colt revolver from a time when Colt was trying to build a good revolver, to complete with the more modern revolvers, that could be built much cheaper than Colt’s older revolvers.

 

[AustinTX]

As far as Colts' hierarchy of fit and finish is concerned, the Trooper Mk. III fits between the ".357 Model" and the Python. The .357 was a fine gun and Cot's first medium-framed magnum revolver but it was not given the lavish treatment of the Python and eventually perished for lack of marketing. The Trooper Mk. III filled that slot - a good gun which was not given special treatment but was nonetheless still fit and finished quite well.

The Mark III (1969-83) was the spiritual successor to the original Trooper (1953-69), not the .357 Model. Both the original Trooper and the .357 Model were introduced in 1953 and are identical in appearance from afar. The .357 Model was Colt's premium revolver for the two years before the introduction of the Python, with a better finish and a more finely tuned action than the original Trooper or any subsequent Trooper. The .357 Model was discontinued in 1961, as sales fell steeply following the introduction of the Python, given the .357 Model's awkward position as the "middle premium" Colt revolver in .357 Mag.

 

[Rock185]

FWIW, I bought a new MKIII Trooper in the early '70s. Very nicely fitted and finished. Mine had an easy life, and experienced no mechanical or breakage issues. The only negative from my point of view was, that the DA was very heavy, almost unusable to me. I'd already been spoiled by owning S&W revolvers. I don't recall if lighter Woolff springs were available for the MKIIIs back then, but know I didn't change any springs on my MKIII. I don't know current prices, but asking prices for anything Colt, especially in high condition, sometimes amaze me. Not in a good way.

I would rate the desirableness of the MKIII guns below Pythons, S&W 27-2s, pre-MKIII Troopers, etc. I'd place the MKIIIs on about the same level as the original King Cobras. My MKIII Trooper was a nice gun, but I would not be anxious to trade my 27-2 or Colt 3 5 7 model for another.......YMMV

 

[Huntolive]

thanks guys excellent information and although I do have a prejudice against 38 special and in favor of 357 I am seriously considering getting either an official police or the Army special as well as an SAA.

That doesn't mean I won't be getting a python
I may even still pick up nice blue pre model 27 or model 27-2.
I don't mind getting rid of an AR and something else to fund them.
I'm not a big AR fan anyway and they've gone way up in value so good time to get rid of one
I will definitely not be getting a Mark 3.
I'm primarily a hunter but I found that gunwise other than a reliable rifle and shotgun that revolvers are my passion

 

[Another old Jarhead]

I have a question about the Mark 3 if anyone is willing and able to answer it for me. When I was 16 ('79) my father let me buy my first gun from him (yep, made me pay for it), although he kept it until I was out of the Corps. It was the .357 6" Mark 3 and I fell in love with it when we went shooting when I was 12. Anyhow, I still have the gun with no intention of getting rid of it but I was curious as to when it was made. I looked up the serial number on Colts website and the 5 digit serial number (2***4) would lead me to believe that it was 1961. But the Mark 3 didn't come out until '68 or '69 I believe. There is a Capital "U" after the 5 numbers but, after some internet searching, I believe that this may be the inspectors mark. I called Colt's customer service and was told the they didn't have lettering until the early 80's. Very confusing to me and I can't seem to find the correct answer. Sadly my father passed a couple years back and was going through Dementia prior to that, so I couldn't ask him. I figure that, when I go, I'll let my son have it. Appreciate any help.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Colt Mark III action was designed by one Karl Lewes who also designed the Dan Wesson revolver and the Browning Lever Rifle.
Colt introduced the .357 in 1953 and the Trooper in 22LR and 38 Special. The latter two were dropped in 1961, the .357 was renamed the Trooper.