Picked up a Colt Metropolitan in .357 for $225

[Trebor]

I picked up a nice Colt Metropolitan today. The last owner had a .357 Magnum cylinder installed so the collector value went down a bit.

It has some honest finish wear as well, but still, $225 for a Colt in .357 seemed too good to pass up, even with the "wrong" cylinder.

I'll post some pics later.

What do you guys think? Deal or no deal?

 

[Cosmoline]

Those are pretty uncommon as there wasn't enough of a market for them. That sounds like a fine deal as it is. It would have been a fantastic deal if it was intact.

 

[SaxonPig]

I would bet a dollar all he did was have the chambers reamed. Many 38/44 S&Ws also had this done. I would not shoot Magnum ammo in it.

 

[Trebor]

Nope, it's obviously a new cylinder. Brand new looking compared to the worn finish of the rest of the gun.

 

[surjimmy]

Trebor, you have been here long enough not to follow the "Golden Rule" WHERE ARE THE PICTURES!!!!!!!

 

[dfariswheel]

I "think" (note the qualifier) that Colt used the same heat treating on all the Mark III guns, so it should be okay with the .357.

Whether this is a good deal depends on WHO installed the new cylinder and whether it was installed correctly.
Many people don't understand that revolver cylinders and ejectors are very much hand fitted parts.
When the cylinder won't fit into the frame they tend to start cutting things they shouldn't until it does fit, and if it does fit into the frame they never stop to wonder if it fits correctly.

Among the items that have to be fitted and inspected when installing a cylinder and ejector are:
Head space.
Barrel/cylinder gap.
Cylinder end shake.
Chamber/bore alignment on all chambers.
Timing on all chambers.

Most people don't know any of this and assume that if the cylinder is in the frame it's good to go.
Often it isn't.
I suggest inspecting the gun for all the above before shooting it.