Whats a Colt Lawman MK 3 worth?

[Josh45]

Got back from the LGS, While browsing the revolvers this Colt caught my eye because it was interesting to me. It had a nickel finish, And some very nice wood grips. I am not aware of what kind they were other than that.

Chambered in .357 MAG. The gun looked brand new. I would have to place it at 95%. Sadly, I did not pick it up. That 95% is based solely on looks.

He was asking $425 for it. It was a snub nose. Very nice and clean. Thinking about getting it if it's worth it which it did look like it was really.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[Psa1m144]

I would buy it if I had the cash. I love colt snubbies.

 

[Josh45]

That's understandable. I like the way it looks. It would end up being a range toy more than anything really.

Any pros or cons I should be aware of?
I read somewhere about broken firing pins and it is a Colt only fix?

 

[rcmodel]

Don't dry-fire without snap-caps for hours on end and you won't break it.

rc

 

[Josh45]

Ha, That's true. I don't think I would dry fire that in the first place.
Doesn't seem like a good idea on such a nice revolver....

 

[dscampbell]

My colt lawman mkIII snubby is my favorite revolver. The firing pin is made of sintered metal not forged. If it breaks it takes a special jig that only colt has. If you dry fire use snap caps and it will be fine. The price sounds reasonable to me for an excellent weapon. On the range at night firing a .357 mag is a trip. Enjoy

 

[bannockburn]

dscampbell

I think you mean "sintered metal". I believe it is made using powdered metal which is placed in a mold and then heated to a temperature just below its melting point. This allows for the metal particles to be fused together, creating one solid metal object.

 

[dscampbell]

Yes

 

[Gordon]

If it looks 95% or better, snap it up ! Glad the drifiring issue was covered, the good part is they are VERY strong lock work wise (and frame and cylinder too!) and will prolly be working when you aren't anymore.
I have a friend who had to have my "ear wax gun" and I traded it off for is Para P12 .45. Nice ones are selling north of $600 around here the last couple years.

 

[sarge83]

I bought a blued version about 90-95%, locked up tight, very nice gun. I bought it for $350 a couple of years ago.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

$425 for a nickel MK III snub is a steal if it is wearing it's stock grips....I'll gladly take a dozen at that price.

 

[smkummer]

Did he ever say it was a 2 in. or 4 in. gun? Its a bargin for a 2 in. gun and priced about right for a 4 in.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

He said it was a snub.

 

[Josh45]

It was a 2 inch for sure.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Long time ago I hand the blue snub version of the Lawman.

And dang.. I traded it off.

It's a bit heavy but it sure would make a real nice personal protection gun!

Makes me think of what Ernest Hemingway ment when he wrote about the comforting feel of well worn checkered grips.

Deaf

 

[vtuck2]

I've followed this thread with great interest. Hidden away in my safe I have a 4" Colt "Border Patrol" revolver. It was DPS (Department of Public Safety) surplus. It's well used but still a great shooter.

V

 

[Buford57]

I carried a blued Lawman snub as my BUG in uniform and as my primary in Detectives. Yes, it's heavy, but in a proper holster it's a reassuring kind of heavy.

It handled magnum loads as well as any .357 I've owned. That round butt grip is just shaped right.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

They are a handful of snub.

 

[Gordon]

Interestingly some MK 3s have a shrouded barrel and some have an unshrouded bull barrel. I have only had the unshrouded which I presume was an earlier version.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yes, you have an earlier version.

 

[enjine]

ColtPythonElite, what are those metal finger grips in your pics? Does someone make them for a DS?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

They are Tyler T-Grips. They work great to fill in your grip, but not make the grip profile too large. You can get them for many stock grips. However, I do not think they are available for the later DS models with the grips that kind of look like baby Python target stocks.

 

[Pancake81]

Don't mean to hijack, but does the Colt Agent (with barrel shroud) have the sintered metal firing pin?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I feel certain the Agent's firing pin is not sintered metal. Don't worry about it, though. The firing pin in an Agent and all D frames is pinned in the hammer, the old school way. It is not pinned in the frame like the MK III's. Replacement is not as hard to have done.

 

[dscampbell]

Only the mark III series had the sintered metal. The mark V series went to forged. ColtPythonElite your lawman snubby pictures are great. I am torn with sending mine back Colt for reblueing and leaving it as it is. Regardless it remains my most favorite revolver of all I own.