1955 .357 Magnum

[elkhunt]

I joined this forum in 2009 when I bought a 1955 .357. It came without the original stocks, but I was pleased to find it. Today I stopped by a local pawn shop and found them (just informed below I did not find them... but hey these are nice)! They are in great shape and really make the gun, not a bad upgrade! Thought I'd post a pic for those who like the .357

[manderson]

Well, those are not exactly the original stocks. Original would be full checkered target stocks because of the flat plate screw. It would be dumb luck to find them for twenty bucks in a pawn shop, but certainly not impossible. You did find a great deal and they look really nice on your pistol. In fact, I took some full checkered stocks off of an Officer's Model Match and put them on my four inch Model 357. You can see from the photo that it has the same flat screw in the side plate. If you shoot it, the smaller stocks might be even better if you have a small hand like me. Great find! And they do match your gun nicely.

Colt357.jpg

357blue-1.jpg

[grandgarand]

I don't know what it looked like before but I can't imagine it could look any better than it does now, properly attired. Money well spent, eh?

[BigRix]

It looks great with those stocks and it was a smokin' deal to boot.

Someday an original set of target stocks will come along. Probably not for $25, but if you are patient, I'm sure they can be found for a good price.

[elkhunt]

Oh you had to rain on my day. I am not much of a collector, but yes these look better than the rubber ones it wore. So what are these meant for?

[grandgarand]

Good catch, I missed the flat screw. Hey elkhunt, you just need the correct screw now! I don't know if those ever came with service stocks or not, but if you do find a set of full checkered targets for it, I'd be willing to bet you'll be able to get your 25 bucks back.

[manderson]

Oh you had to rain on my day. I am not much of a collector, but yes these look better than the rubber ones it wore. So what are these meant for?

Service stocks were used on 1st gen Troopers and many other Colts. They were used on the four inch Model 357. I don't recall seeing six inch Model 357's with factory original service stocks, but once again not impossible. It's just that the flat screw on your pistol is a dead give away that the original stocks were full checkered target. Here is a four inch with factory original service stocks:

n357_2.jpg

[A1A]

Again for the record, the Model 357 was cataloged with full checkered target stocks and wide spur hammer only. The Trooper was cataloged with all four combinations of target and service stocks and wide and narrow hammer. As always, that doesn't mean that some Model 357s were not shipped otherwise.

[ehsa]

the colt 357 is a neat carry gun in the 4 inch model.for that purpose i perfer it over my python.

[Chief Two Cents]

I've had 2 pre MK 111, a 4" with full checkered target stocks and target hammer, 357 Model made in 1960. The other was a 4" Trooper model with service stocks and hammer in 38 Spl., a retired police revolver from the Ware, MA police dept. I did see a 6" 357 Model at a gun show with service stocks and hammer, but that was before I was on this site, so I didn't think to check the screw. At any rate, someone could have swapped stocks and hammer. Glad I found you people, I've learned a ton. No, both of those guns were traded off. Paid $400 for the 357, but stocks weren't outragious then, BTW, they were tight but had a gap on the right side on the frame that was T least 1/16" the full length of the backstrap. Wish I had em both back. Good day