[Kraaaken]

I have an opportunity to buy a 1969 Trooper .357 in royal blue 8" that appears to only be test fired. 99%
Mint Original grips. No box or papers Worth $950? will these be "the next pythons"?7

 

[Camarokid]

I am not an expert like the rest but a trooper for $950 no box seems steep to me. It seems that the market has grown on the trooper but only because the python has gone so crazy. I would be hard pressed to pay that for a trooper as an investment expecting to flip it. They seem to sell between $600 - $700 around here and I think that is high. however, I could be way off. For example, I though some company named Microsoft was a flash in the pan back in 1989.

Seriously, I would only get to that mark if it was something I wanted to keep in the collection.

 

[smkummer]

8 in. barrel was not introduced until about 1980.

 

[dfariswheel]

That price is much too high for a gun without the box and papers, and very much too high for just the gun as is.

The 8" barrel versions were made in fewer numbers then the 4" or 6", but there were enough made that they don't bring any premium.
As above, the 8" version wasn't introduced until 1980.

The Trooper Mark III was not made in Royal Blue. Only the Python and limited production models were in Royal Blue.
However, the Mark III bluing is brighter and darker than earlier Colt models and puts todays blued guns to shame.

 

[Kraaaken]

Thanks. That makes my decision.

 

[Kraaaken]

dfariswheel -
So the guy who owns the gun - 8" blue colt trooper with serial 840xx claims it's from 1969 vs the 80's - is there a good source where I can verify guys?

I looked here and it does say 1969 for that serial - I have not visually verified that is indeed the serial

http://www.coltsmfg.com/CustomerServices/SerialNumberLookup.aspx

Thanks.
K

 

[d.a.r.y.l]

K,Is it a Trooper or a Trooper MKIII?There is a lot of difference.D*

 

[Kraaaken]

Trooper Mk III

 

[mafd2]

As stated, no MKIII 8" bbl.'s in '69. There is a mistake on the serial number. All MKIII's from '69-'73 started with a "J'.

 

[mafd2]

If your serial # has an L suffix then it's from 1981 and not 1969. (from sticky)

Mk III Series, Trooper, Lawman, Metropolitan, Official Police, Officers Model Match
Year	Serial Number
1969	J1001.
1970	J8601
1971	J50201 End Officers Match Model
1972	J72201-01001J
1973	J98801-J100000 0160IJ
1974	2880IJ-31999J 42000J
1975	4710IJ-88100J
1976	88101J-99998J L1001-L38900
1977	L38901-L78500
1978	L78501-L99998 1001L

 

[Kraaaken]

Thanks a lot Mafd2 - getting clarification from the owner and a pix if possible.

 

[mafd2]

No problem. Let us know what you find out about the serial #. Chris

 

[Lawman67]

For a supposedly ,unpopular ,unsuccessful series of revolvers. Colt sure made and sold a whole bunch of them

 

[mafd2]

For a supposedly ,unpopular ,unsuccessful series of revolvers. Colt sure made and sold a whole bunch of them

Yep, but they were popular, successful and extremely dependable in my eyes

 

[Lawman67]

Ditto. Some of my favorite revolvers are my Mark3s. A Mark3 or V type revolver would be the way to go for Colt. I would even suggest that if they think it is too labor intensive to do a DS2 type action for a D frame size revolver ,they should scale down the Mark 3/V action to d frame size. It would be smoother and bigger than a S&W J frame 5 shooter.The Mark 3 was a S&W L frame , before the L frame came on the scene and with proper marketing , Colt could have won the battle.

 

[coltlondon]

Some of my favorite revolvers are my MK III's as well. Going up in value every day.

 

[Dondiablo70]

Darn... Just found out my Trooper MKIII is from 1981 and not from the late 70's as I had previously though... .. Oh well , It is still a great revolver. I learn something new everyday on this forum.

 

[mafd2]

Darn... Just found out my Trooper MKIII is from 1981 and not from the late 70's as I had previously though... .. Oh well , It is still a great revolver. I learn something new everyday on this forum.

I think you meant late 60's not 70's. It's still a good one. Enjoy!

 

[dfariswheel]

Ditto. Some of my favorite revolvers are my Mark3s. A Mark3 or V type revolver would be the way to go for Colt. I would even suggest that if they think it is too labor intensive to do a DS2 type action for a D frame size revolver ,they should scale down the Mark 3/V action to d frame size. It would be smoother and bigger than a S&W J frame 5 shooter.The Mark 3 was a S&W L frame , before the L frame came on the scene and with proper marketing , Colt could have won the battle.

That's exactly what the Colt SF-VI, DS-II, and Magnum Carry were ....... scaled down Colt Mark III-Mark V guns in a "D" frame sized package.
The only difference is the "SF" framed guns used the old "Vee" mainspring of the "D" frame guns instead of a coil spring, only the spring powered just the hammer.

When/if Colt brings out a new double action revolver I suspect it'll be a Magnum Carry type gun.

 

[halvenut]

That's exactly what the Colt SF-VI, DS-II, and Magnum Carry were ....... scaled down Colt Mark III-Mark V guns in a "D" frame sized package.
The only difference is the "SF" framed guns used the old "Vee" mainspring of the "D" frame guns instead of a coil spring, only the spring powered just the hammer.

When/if Colt brings out a new double action revolver I suspect it'll be a Magnum Carry type gun.

Boy wouldn't that be nice!