James Darrens Colt Trooper MK III MKIII .22 Magnum 4″ Revolver, MFD 1979

SOLD FOR: $1777.25

LSB#: 210416JD07

Make: Colt

Model: James Darren’s Trooper MK III

Serial Number: Y8200

Year of Manufacture: 1979 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .22 Magnum

Action Type: 6-Shot, Double / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “TROOPER MK III / * .22 MAGNUM R.F. * “, the right is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The crane and cut are marked with the serial number, the side plate has a Rampant Colt logo. The front left of the trigger guard bow has the “VP” in triangle proof, the rear is marked “N”.

Barrel Length: 4” heavy barrel with shrouded ejector and solid rib.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade, pinned onto a serrated base integral to the barrel rib. The rear sight is a flat top, square notched leaf in a base that is adjustable for windage and elevation, pinned to the topstrap. The tops of the barrel rib and topstrap are matte finished for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut target stocks with gold-colored Colt logo medallions. The grips have a few scattered minor nicks, most at the bottom edge of the right panel. There are light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is mostly sharp with a few nicked peaks, most noticeable on the right panel. Overall, the grips are in about Fine-Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. Three are a few little spots of oil on the grip frame. There are a few dings on the sideplate under the finish. There are some little marks on the trigger guard with a few little hairline scratches at the rear. There are a few scattered light handling marks. The cylinder has a thin turn-line. The hammer has minor operational wear in otherwise strong case color. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Fine-Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup on this revolver is good on all six chambers with only nominal play side to side and barely perceptible end-shake. The double action trigger pull is smooth, single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a faux-wood cardboard Colt box with serial-matching label, two-piece styrofoam insert, an assortment of factory paperwork including manual, a signed letter from James Darren listing this gun by serial number, and a photo of James Darren in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”. The box has light-moderate storage wear with fraying and tears at edges and corners, there are more notable tears on the non label end. Overall, the box is in about Fair-Good condition.

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 example is in Fine-Excellent condition, chambered in .22 Magnum with a 4″ barrel and blue finish. These features make for a quite desirable revolver for Colt collectors. With its adjustable sights and Colt quality, this revolver ought to also make a great target revolver that will turn a few heads at the range. It is especially suited to collecting as this revolver comes from the personal collection of actor James Darren. James Darren had roles in films including “The Guns of Navarone”, “Gidget”, “Hearts in Atlantis” and TV series including “T.J. Hooker”, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, and “The Time Tunnel”. Please see our photos and good luck!

James Darrens Colt Trooper MK III MKIII .22 Magnum 4" Revolver, MFD 1979
James Darrens Colt Trooper MK III MKIII .22 Magnum 4″ Revolver, MFD 1979