Byron Adams
New member
I saw a Colt Trooper MarkIII at my gunstore for $450. It is NIB. Is that a fair price?
Trooper MKIII
- Thread starter Byron Adams
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Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Is it really new in the box? Really, really, really new in the box? No turn line on the cylinder? Sorry, but every time I see "NIB," my skepticism rises about 78%.
Robert Foote
New member
Don't walk away from that one. RUN!
The Mk IIIs were an effort by Colt to make cost-effective (read cheap) revolvers in the 70s. They looked pretty and the SA was OK on the one I knew. But some of the parts were made of powdered steel. One of those was the trigger. In my case the trigger broke in half from simple dry firing. The DA pull was typical Colt--heavy and tended to stack.
There are many reasons why Colt's is on the rocks--and this gun is one of them.
FWIW.
The Mk IIIs were an effort by Colt to make cost-effective (read cheap) revolvers in the 70s. They looked pretty and the SA was OK on the one I knew. But some of the parts were made of powdered steel. One of those was the trigger. In my case the trigger broke in half from simple dry firing. The DA pull was typical Colt--heavy and tended to stack.
There are many reasons why Colt's is on the rocks--and this gun is one of them.
FWIW.
I had two Colt troopers in my life. One purchased new and sold after few rounds downrange for something I wanted more.
Second one was purchased as a police duty pistol. The trigger broke on the range one day shortly thereafter. Two pieces and a complete malfunction. Required a new trigger to get up and running. After the new trigger I sold the revolver down the river without even popping a single cap.
My experience may not have been typical but no Colt Trooper MKIII will cross my threshold again. I feel there are far better revolvers out there to spend my money on.
Second one was purchased as a police duty pistol. The trigger broke on the range one day shortly thereafter. Two pieces and a complete malfunction. Required a new trigger to get up and running. After the new trigger I sold the revolver down the river without even popping a single cap.
My experience may not have been typical but no Colt Trooper MKIII will cross my threshold again. I feel there are far better revolvers out there to spend my money on.
Mine is from 1972.
I don't know about "powdered metal".
I do know mine is a well balanced, well pointing, great shooting .357 magnum. The trigger does stack but it is smooth. DA is fairly heavy, but not ridiculous. The SA is very nice.
The workmanship on it is flawless. The bluing is extremely well done in deep blue/black. There are no tool marks anywhere on it, and the wood grips have sharp checkering with bright silver Colt medallions.
FYI, mine was $400 out the door, in a well worn box, but the gun was mint with a hint of a cylinder line. I figured any gun this nice from 30 years ago would be worth it.
Cylinder and Slide offers a couple of packages for these guns. A duty job, and a target job.
Although if I swap the springs for lighter ones, I wouldn't see the need for anything else to be done to it.
I'd probably snag another one if the opportunity presented itself.
ANIB older revolvers are always a good find.
I don't know about "powdered metal".
I do know mine is a well balanced, well pointing, great shooting .357 magnum. The trigger does stack but it is smooth. DA is fairly heavy, but not ridiculous. The SA is very nice.
The workmanship on it is flawless. The bluing is extremely well done in deep blue/black. There are no tool marks anywhere on it, and the wood grips have sharp checkering with bright silver Colt medallions.
FYI, mine was $400 out the door, in a well worn box, but the gun was mint with a hint of a cylinder line. I figured any gun this nice from 30 years ago would be worth it.
Cylinder and Slide offers a couple of packages for these guns. A duty job, and a target job.
Although if I swap the springs for lighter ones, I wouldn't see the need for anything else to be done to it.
I'd probably snag another one if the opportunity presented itself.
ANIB older revolvers are always a good find.
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jjmorgan64
New member
Mine is the lawman, same gun with fixed sights, It has been a workhorse, I would buy another with no second thoughts
VictorLouis
New member
Does the Roman numeral after the MK indicate
which guns will have the sintered(powdered) metal part(s)?
I've actually been eyeing one of those myself, and I was unaware of that. I don't think they've ever been a problem in the Dan Wesson line-up, have they?
which guns will have the sintered(powdered) metal part(s)?
I've actually been eyeing one of those myself, and I was unaware of that. I don't think they've ever been a problem in the Dan Wesson line-up, have they?
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Having owned three Colt Trooper's (2X MK-III's + 1X MK-V)
one area of concern on the MK-III's is the firing pin bushing,
located within the recoil shield. I have known these to
move forward in some of these weapons, thus binding the
cylinder when fully loaded. I would suggest checking this
potential problem out carefully before making the purchase.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
one area of concern on the MK-III's is the firing pin bushing,
located within the recoil shield. I have known these to
move forward in some of these weapons, thus binding the
cylinder when fully loaded. I would suggest checking this
potential problem out carefully before making the purchase.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Dfariswheel
New member
The Mark # guns are a very good buy. No less an authority than Jerry Kunhausen says the Mark 3/King Cobra guns may well have been the strongest mid-frame revolver of all.
Many parts are made of Sintered steel. I'm not too clear on the difference, but this is NOT the same as the current MIM gun parts people seem to hate so much. The sintered parts are case hardened, and should not be cut, or altered.
There have been a few cases of broken parts, but these are really fairly rare.
One advantage of the "J" frame series guns, is that replacement parts are "drop in" needing little or no fitting. The guns don't have the possible action timing problems of the older Trooper/Python.
The Mark 3 responds very nicely to a replacement light weight trigger return spring, and less so to a lighter hammer spring.
All Trooper Mark 3 grips were wood or Pachmayer's. Depending on year made they will have real walnut, or "pisswood" stocks.
A big plus is the availability of .22LR marks 3's so you can shoot cheap.
Blue jobs on Colt's "Cheaper" Mark 3 is better than anybody's current "best" blue.
Due to the design, the "J" frame guns don't stack like the older Trooper/Python.
I've owned about 8 of these in .357, and .22LR over the years and the only problem was a broken firing pin on a gun dry fired extensively.
The Trooper 3 was the replacement for the Colt "E&I" frame guns. These had become too expensive to build due to the extensive hand fitting required. The "J" frame guns were Colt's best selling post-war DA revolver, being extremely popular with police department, Federal agencies, and civilians. Colt sold a great many Mark 3's.
The real Colt problems started AFTER Colt discontinued the Mark 3, and went to the Mark V and King Cobra guns.
Many parts are made of Sintered steel. I'm not too clear on the difference, but this is NOT the same as the current MIM gun parts people seem to hate so much. The sintered parts are case hardened, and should not be cut, or altered.
There have been a few cases of broken parts, but these are really fairly rare.
One advantage of the "J" frame series guns, is that replacement parts are "drop in" needing little or no fitting. The guns don't have the possible action timing problems of the older Trooper/Python.
The Mark 3 responds very nicely to a replacement light weight trigger return spring, and less so to a lighter hammer spring.
All Trooper Mark 3 grips were wood or Pachmayer's. Depending on year made they will have real walnut, or "pisswood" stocks.
A big plus is the availability of .22LR marks 3's so you can shoot cheap.
Blue jobs on Colt's "Cheaper" Mark 3 is better than anybody's current "best" blue.
Due to the design, the "J" frame guns don't stack like the older Trooper/Python.
I've owned about 8 of these in .357, and .22LR over the years and the only problem was a broken firing pin on a gun dry fired extensively.
The Trooper 3 was the replacement for the Colt "E&I" frame guns. These had become too expensive to build due to the extensive hand fitting required. The "J" frame guns were Colt's best selling post-war DA revolver, being extremely popular with police department, Federal agencies, and civilians. Colt sold a great many Mark 3's.
The real Colt problems started AFTER Colt discontinued the Mark 3, and went to the Mark V and King Cobra guns.
Dfariswheel
New member
Commonly known as "Hardwood". These stocks have a walnut finish over plain, unfigured birch-type wood. They are usually a light orange-ish color. Most, but not all will have the silver medallions in the grip. I've never personaly seen a set with gold medallions.
Most of the later Mark 5 and King Cobra wood grips were "pisswood".
Most of the later Mark 5 and King Cobra wood grips were "pisswood".
dadsfreehold
Inactive
trooper m-3
greetings, i have owned 1 trooper m-3 ,1 trp. m-5 and a lawmanm-3. the double action on all was terible,the trp m-3 shaved rds so much i thought it was a barber, the law man m-3 with a 3" bbl was agood concealed carry,and single action with the trp m-5 was excellent,but then i tried a friends ruger ss-6. i sold all the colts (for a song) and got a ruger . never got another colt since. respt submitted dadsfreehold
greetings, i have owned 1 trooper m-3 ,1 trp. m-5 and a lawmanm-3. the double action on all was terible,the trp m-3 shaved rds so much i thought it was a barber, the law man m-3 with a 3" bbl was agood concealed carry,and single action with the trp m-5 was excellent,but then i tried a friends ruger ss-6. i sold all the colts (for a song) and got a ruger . never got another colt since. respt submitted dadsfreehold
I had a good friend who bought a Lawman MK-III when I picked up my first Dan Wesson...
mine'd shoot a 2" group at 50 yards...
his'd shoot a 2" group at 6", but at any PRACTICAL range, (like 25 yards) it was TERRIBLE...
(terrible being 2 to 3 times larger than my Dan Wesson...) both wore 6" barrels... and the LAwman was nickel plated...
his was harder to keep looking great, but DAMN did it look good all polished up... looks ain't everything! he now has a Simitty 686, and hasn't regretted trading off the colt ONE BIT!
mine'd shoot a 2" group at 50 yards...
his'd shoot a 2" group at 6", but at any PRACTICAL range, (like 25 yards) it was TERRIBLE...
(terrible being 2 to 3 times larger than my Dan Wesson...) both wore 6" barrels... and the LAwman was nickel plated...
his was harder to keep looking great, but DAMN did it look good all polished up... looks ain't everything! he now has a Simitty 686, and hasn't regretted trading off the colt ONE BIT!
Byron Adams
New member
Thank You for the responses.The revolver i saw had the wood grips and was NIB. I decided after the information shared to not get this one.
I've had the pleasure of owning two Troopers: a Mk II and a Mk III. Bought the Mk II in the mid- to late-seventies. Stupidly sold it in '84. Bought the Mk III in the late 80s/early 90s and still have it/won't ever get rid of it. It's a 6" and I have fun shooting out to 100 yards with it. Usually can keep it on a paper plate which is good for me.
I've always felt that the Colt Trooper series is one of the most under rated pistols going.
--
Mike
I've always felt that the Colt Trooper series is one of the most under rated pistols going.
--
Mike
Rocklobster
New member
I've had my 4" MK III for 18 years, my 6" one for 22. Must be the strongest cast parts for both batches my guns came from, several thousand rounds through each, no problems whatsoever. Same old crisp Colt single-action pull I've come to love, same old smooth, easy double-action pull. Same excellent accuracy that's part of all Colts.