Should I buy this Colt MkIII Lawman for 300?

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bhhacker

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I am looking to get a woods pistol that im not worried about scratching up that shoots decent. I recently have been looking for a 357 or 44 that fit the bill and was inexpensive....I think i found one.

This revolver looks a little rough, but from what ive read it can handle any loads i want to put in it as long as im not dry firing it with no snap cap in it.


The person is asking 300 OBO. My question is...is it worth it? Id probably like to change out the grips too if iw as going to keep it.

Thanks for your time guys.


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One other question...This possibly being my first revolver is there anything i should be specifically checking or looking for before buying this older model?
 
I paid $325 for the snub-nose version of the Lawman MkIII recently.
Here's the thread, with a cell phone pic of the revolver:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=720034

Mine's in a lot better condition plus it is the harder-to-find snubnose model.

I like getting guns with excellent mechanicals and rough cosmetics, because I can play with them, take them apart, and shoot the crap out of them without feeling like I'm damaging a safe queen.
That one is certainly rough outside.
I'd pay no more than $250 for it, and that's if it checks out mechanically, and I was paying cash with no sales tax from a private seller. I'd offer $200 and negotiate from there.
 
I agree with evan price; the gun is a little too rough on the outside to command a $300 asking price. I wouuld go with $250 as my best offer, provided of course that the gun checked out okay mechanically.
 
Assuming it checks out mechanically (a big IF, given the rough treatment is seems to have received), it's a bit expensive, but it would suit your needs well.

You've seen the revolver checkout sticky? My comments below assume it passes these tests with flying colors. If not, I would be confident in suggesting you look for something else.

Questions of price are always dependent upon what your other options are. If looks really don't matter to you, it may be hard to find another .357 that can compete with a MkIII in terms of performance. A MkIII is a nice gun, and $300 does not go far these days.

Anything you find on the internet has a minimum of $50 worth of shipping and transfer costs attached, so your price ceiling there is about $250. You might find a model 10 at that price, you won't find much else.

That leaves you with the used guns available at the local gun shops. If you don't have many around, your choices are limited, and that colt might be a pretty good option.

Looking at that gun, I see considerable holster wear at the muzzle, and lots of surface rust, probably from storage in a damp holster. The good news is that the screw heads look crisp and unmolested. The grips are in nice shape too, which is unusual given the apparent level of holster wear.

The best hope is that this was an old police gun, carried much and fired little, which remains in mechanically excellent condition.

The less fortunate possibilities are that the gun may have been fired a lot, and be worn out, or that the rust has invaded the chambers or bore. Look closely and take your time.
 
In the trigger blued, like the rest of the frame? It's hard to tell from your photos.

If so, is the trigger blue from the factory, or is this a sign of refinishing?
 
Apparently the story was that his grandfather passed away and left his guns to him. It was his woods carry piece while hunting up here.

Near the ocean and with it being so wet, rust is a way of life up here. You should have seen my marlin 336 after one hunting trip :p Its enough to get SS thats for sure!

There are two places to get guns here if not from private sellers, so the used market is not that great, especially since used guns up here hold value pretty well. No one wants to ship to alaska and the FFL transfers here are 50$ each...i cant believe people pay that much but as long as you have people that will theres no reason to drop the price.

The price point is definitely right, and the robustness of it is definitely something that i like. I will try and negotiate with him when he comes into town.
 
I'm going to go against the grain a little. I live in the middle of nowhere and sometimes you have to take what you can get that fits the bill.If you are going to replace the grips you can ebay them for $100. I try to knock $25 off but I'd buy it regardless.
 
Main thing to check on the Colts is the timing. If it is out of whack there are not many qualified Colt Smiths so it would have to go back to Colt for repair.

For $300 you could probably find a S&W in a little better shape but if the gun is OK internally they are well made.

As you live in Alaska, I guess everything costs a bit more up there.
 
Its top dollar but if it checks, its a good gun

The timing on a MKIII was originally advertised as "perma timing". I guess that means it never went out of time as did the older guns did with lots of use. Its a robust gun. If it were mine, I would take off the stocks and shoot a dab of oil in the action then I would soak the external rust in oil, then maybe a little of touch up cold blue after which I would wax it and use it like it was made to be used. Any Colt .357 magnum for $300 needs a second look.
 
For $200ish you can buy a new Armscor.
My pop has the M206. The 4" model.
It's a good gun for the money. It's accurate enough. If it does have an issue I've heard Armscor has decent customer service.
Not a bad choice for a woods gun. The parked finish is a bit odd but not a bad gun overall. Nicer trigger than most new Taurus/Rossi.

It can use grips and speedloaders for a Colt detective special. (HKS DSA)

The M200 version is a 2" barrel.

*edit
Just saw .357/44 in the op. My apologies.
Don't count out hard cast .38spl in 158g +p from Buffalo Bore for the woods though either.

Unless it's strictly for bears then in that case you better step up to an even better caliber.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
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...asking 300 OBO.
Click to expand...
If I lived where you live, I'd have no problem buying it for that amount and cleaning it up once I knew it checked out and had no internal rusting issues.

Character aplenty plus a Pony to boot.

Do you get a chance to try it first? If so, does it shoot to POA?
 
While I just bought an old Taurus 65, (4", fixed sight, 357) for a little less than $300.00, I sure don't see much else around here in that price range.

If that Colt checked out mechanically, I'd consider $300.00 for it. I'd try to get it for less of course, but I wouldn't rule it out. A can of WD-40, a rag, maybe some 0000 steel wool, and some elbow grease, and it will look a bit better.

BTW. I had a MK III, Official Police that was a great shooter.
 
I think he is asking for every nickel that gun is worth.

If it checks out OK and you really want it I'd offer $250 and try to settle for $275.

But if it is calling to you, $300 isn't the end of the world.
 
I agree with post #10.
Compared to a S&W 65, police trade in, for $280+transfer the price is fair. Especially in Alaska!

Some of the prices folks say they will pay for revolvers are so low they will spend more in gas saving $25 bucks on the gun and probably never find one that low around here. Especially a Colt.
Geography plays a big part.
Being close to a city with a mteropolitan area popluation of 2,296,000 definately add to the competition and the price.

On the plus side the grips look like he took care of the revolver, the oil stain on the holster could mean the internals dont have much rust.

As stated I'd prefer a S$W for the price but if that is the best available revolver and passes the "Revolver check list" sticky.... good luck.
 
The MKIII series of revolvers were brute strong and modern without the more delicate and intricate lock work of the earlier V spring Colt revolvers. They may be the strongest double action for the 357. If the gun is not broken it looks like it would clean up with oil and bronz wool or if you must, 0000 steel wool. It might surprise you. The stocks will bring 100 bucks but I would keep them on it. I would definetly take a close look at it and offer a little less depending how bad I wanted to add a Colt.
 
I am hoping to take it to the range and do the transaction there if possible. If not, i will bring the checklist off this site and see how it does.

I dont think ill get a much better eal than a beat up looking colt that will supposedly handle just about as hot as load as i can make for it for 300$ if all internals are nice.

I will keep you guys posted.
 
That puppy's begging for some 0000 steel wool/oil, and Brownell's Oxpho Blue.
I bought a Smith 10-6 that looks about like that one. It was a police seizure gun. (funny, I can't get it to have a seizure, no matter how many flashing lights I show it. :))
I paid $185 for it, but I live in suburban Metro Atlanta, not Alaska.
I call it Ugly Betty. She's not much to look at, but she's beautiful inside.
 
Paraphrasing the old Real estate adage. The three most important things in used firearms are "Condition, Condition, and Condition" That one appears to hve been stored badly and it's exterior finish is obviously compromised. The Lawman is absolutely BRUTE STRONG and will easily handle ANY reasonable load you want to put through it. You should ignore the old wives tales about them being fragile or going out of time. The hammer and trigger were case hardened from the factory on the Lawman and may still show those colors. Only you can assess whether or not it suits your needs. I feel with all the finish damage you should negotiate a lower price.
 
I agree with the check it out for functionality and check the bore, test fire if possible and start negotiations at $250, hope to meet mid ways at $275. It's a little rough sure but nothing that looks beyond refinishing for a good affordable woods carry gun.
 
Well guys, I ended up buying it. For full price which was a downer but everything in the sticky about checking for condition checked through with flying colors.


I have never ever had to refinish or polish up a gun but would like to with this revolver.


I am going to be researching on google after this post, but anyone know any inexpensive ways to clean up this revolver?
 
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