Colt Trooper 38 Special - What's it worth?

S

Slip Shooter

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A local pond shop has this firearm on display for $295. 4 inch barrel , 6 shot, adjustable sights.

Condition is about 85% except for well worn grips and pitting on first ½ inch of barrel, otherwise bluing is of a dull color. It seems tight and locks up nicely. The innards may well need cleaning out as it seems to stack moderately in double action mode single action seems ok.

I have no experience with colt firearms other than a previously owned Trooper Mk III.
 
I'd say that's kinda high based on your physical description. I just paid $269 for a Lawman MKlll, .357. in beautiful condition. Oh, on gunbroker.com.

Good Luck... :)
 
Most .38 spl Troopers are very early models. The Colt 357 was the magnum at that time and when Colt discontinued the 357 then Colt added the cartridge to the Trooper.
The stacking sounds normal for the revolver. The Trooper had the old style Colt action like the Python. The Trooper MkIII had a different action.
The price sounds a little high for the condition. I would try to haggle $50 off the price using the condition as the bargaining point. Beware that the dealer may use the age of the revolver in defense of his price.
 
OK. The 50s 38 Special Troopers are becoming rara avis firearms. A decent engraved one went for $600.00+ in a recent auction. I caught and bought a nickel 4" for $285.00 with pitting myself recently. In the condition described, the price is in line. The old grips are pushing $100.00 by themselves. A clean example should bring $350.00. I missed out on a 1957 357 Colt at a bid of $545.00 recently. I would buy that one at $295.00 if that included tax.
 
The old grips are pushing $100.00 by themselves.
Click to expand...
If they are targets, but most 4 inchers came with service stocks (and hammers and triggers) which are worth a little more than half that.
 
That is true. I grabbed two complete pairs of target grips recently for $30.00 each. They are spotless. The gunshow dealer thought I was touched. I just smiled and asked what else he had. He pulled out a antique set of pearl grips for a OP. I grabbed them for $50.00. I thought he was touched.
 
It's relative

Sounds like the slightly higher price is based on it being a collectors item not it's functionality... so it depends on what you want it for as to whether you are willing to pay the extra price or try to haggel them down. I have a later model MKIII trooper and it is a fine weapon.
 
Got it!

I just purchased the .38 Special Trooper from the pawn shop. They came down to $220 but I had already decided to pay no more than $175 for the revolver. After telling the proprietor I would think about it, I turned to leave, the lady said would you buy it for $200. I said yes, if that includes all taxes. She agreed. That would figure at $185 plus tax.

Did I do Good?

The bottom of the grip frame is marked SCPD, obviously a Police trade in. Would someone identify SCPD for me?

I want to thank everyone for their input. I felt prepared as I went to the pawn shop this morning.

One last request. I have taken many S&W's apart over the years but, never a Colt. Where can I find info on the disassembly of this firearm?
 
DO NOT under any circumstance disassemble that Colt. There is nothing inside that anyone can improve on. www.cylinder-slide.com would be my suggestion for repairs. There are simply no owner repairs to those actions. You did very well on the price. SCPD could be anywhere.
 
yep

I'm not an authority, but I would have for sure given then $200 bucks for it. Sounds like you got a good deal on it to me....
 
another point

I put the 6" barrel back on my Colt troop 357 this past weekend, few years back I had too much testosterone one day and ordered a 8" barrel...

relized last week that the cylinder gap was too much and so I put the 6" back on and yesterday went to the gun club to sight the barrel in.

Much better balance now even though I guess I won't go moose hunting with it. Point being I shot 38 wad cutters in it to sight it in... I like shooting 38's a lot more than 357...
 
Sorry, I don't have the equipment to post pictures.

As for an update, I cleaned the barrel and cylinder chambers thoroughly and found the bore and cylinder in perfect order. Timing, head space, end shake, etc. all seem good. Every thing locks up tightly, SA and DA.

In lieu of disassembling the firearm, I simply washed the innards by squirting, Kano Laboratories, Kroil into the frame allowing the penetrating oil to drain out of the openings until it nearly dried up. I performed a lube job in similar manner using CRC Electrical Grade 2-26 spray to penetrate the innards and allowed it to drain thoroughly. The CRC 2-26 lubricates, penetrates, cleans and protects al metal surfaces but, leaves a very thin surface of lubrication.

Very few particles of trash washed out of the lock-work, indicating the inside was clean before lubricating. The action is now much smoother and has less stacking in the DA mode. The revolver was probably dry on the inside.

If my fancy clean and lube job drys up I will remove the side plate carefully, look inside, and do a better lube job using Tetra Gun Grease. I don't think I will have to remove parts, just lube where necessary.

The serial number indicates manufactured in 1964 .
 
by any other name

As is obvious by my email address I'm a 357 fan, but I have to say after getting back into shooting pretty heavily about 2 months ago... I've decided to shoot 38's in my magnums at the range most of the time. I guess I'm a wimp, but it sure is easier to go through a box or two of 38's than it is 357's.
 
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