Colt Trooper MK III MKIII Nickel 6″ .357 Magnum SA/DA Revolver, 1981
SOLD FOR: $1320
LSB#: 210710GS10
Make: Colt
Model: Trooper MK III
Serial#: 84373L
Year of Manufacture: 1981
Caliber/Gauge: .357 Magnum
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “TROOPER MK III” and has “.357 MAGNUM CTG.” marked between two stars the right of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame has the Rampant Colt logo and the left of the trigger guard has “VP” in a triangle and “A”. The crane and crane cut are marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 6”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade pinned to the barrel rib. The rear sight is an adjustable square notch which is pinned to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two piece checkered Walnut. Each panel features a gold colored Colt medallion. The grips have minor handling marks but no notable defects. The checkering remains sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are only a few scattered minor nicks, scuffs and a thin turn-line on the cylinder. The markings remain clear. The screwheads are sharp. The revolver is in Excellent overall condition.
Mechanics:The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks with very little play on each chamber. The double action trigger is smooth. The single action is crisp. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, it may need a thorough cleaning to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None
Our Assessment: Frequently referred to as the “working-man’s Python”, the Trooper MK III was introduced in 1969 after some modifications to make the revolver less expensive to manufacture including the use of sintered parts, which were easier to fit and heat-treat, the use of a coil mainspring, which again didn’t need as much hand-tuning and was cheaper to produce than the v-leaf spring used in the Python, and their new transfer-bar safety system, which prevented the ignition of a round without the trigger being depressed. This put a Colt-quality mid-frame .357 revolver in the price range that the working man could afford as well as being more attractive to law enforcement agencies due to the new safety feature. The Trooper was the premier model in the MK III line with a shrouded ejector, full length rib and heavy barrel. This is a great example, chambered in .357 Magnum with a 7″ barrel and nickel finish. In Excellent condition, the revolver shows signs of light use, but still has a great bore and strong mechanics. It will make a great shooter or addition to a Colt revolver collection. Please see our photos and good luck!