Posted: 7/12/2026 9:38:56 AM EDT
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Long story short, a well respected member of the FL shooting community recently passed away and his collection was sold off via an estate sale. The gentleman had a TON of interesting items from NFA to black powder along with tricked out race guns, etc. What got my attention was a Colt Trooper MKIII in .22 Long Rifle was part of the estate sale. I originally only intend to get the Colt since I've had its counterpart in .22 Magnum for a long while and I really wanted the rimfire set. Colt Trooper MKIII in .22 Long Rifle.  The set is now complete.  But while seeing what was was there, I purchased these other guns too.  25-7 "Model of 1989" in .45 Colt, only 2,000 made.  625-3 "Model of 1989" in .45 ACP, less than 3,200 made, this one was factory laser engraved by S&W.  25-2 ".45 Model of 1955" in .45 ACP.  29-2 in .44 Magnum It's only money, and fiat currency at that. I turned it into tangible assets.  |
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That brother, was a VERY nice score! The Trooper III's were stronger then the S&W counterparts when they came out. I have 2 MKIII .357's, one 4'' blued and one 4'' nickel plated. I'd snap up a .22 in a heart beat if I came across one priced right, Same for a S&W model 25 revolver. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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Originally Posted By fxntime: That brother, was a VERY nice score! The Trooper III's were stronger then the S&W counterparts when they came out. I have 2 MKIII .357's, one 4'' blued and one 4'' nickel plated. I'd snap up a .22 in a heart beat if I came across one priced right, Same for a S&W model 25 revolver. Fantastic guns. |
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Originally Posted By fxntime: That brother, was a VERY nice score! The Trooper III's were stronger then the S&W counterparts when they came out. I have 2 MKIII .357's, one 4'' blued and one 4'' nickel plated. I'd snap up a .22 in a heart beat if I came across one priced right, Same for a S&W model 25 revolver. Attached File |
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Probably the all time grand champion for world's strongest .22 pistol is the Trooper Mark III. These were built with the same heat treated frames and cylinders as the .357 mag models and the tiny holes in the massive cylinder makes it like an anvil for strong. The .22 Trooper Mark III was also one of the best DA revolvers to learn how to shoot double action with. Once the massive cylinder starts turning it usually rotates and locks on the next chamber, leaving a smooth trigger pull to ignition. One caution with the later Colt's.... don't dryfire without snap caps. Some firing pins were too hard and can break. Replacement requires a special press and contoured press punches to push the firing pin and bushing out, and a new pin in. Also needed is a special punch that works down the barrel to re-crimp the skirt around the firing pin bushing. Other then that Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen thought the later Colt's like the Mark III were the strongest medium frame DA revolvers ever built due to Colt's high grade forged and heat treated frames and cylinder. |
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Originally Posted By dfariswheel: Probably the all time grand champion for world's strongest .22 pistol is the Trooper Mark III. These were built with the same heat treated frames and cylinders as the .357 mag models and the tiny holes in the massive cylinder makes it like an anvil for strong. The .22 Trooper Mark III was also one of the best DA revolvers to learn how to shoot double action with. Once the massive cylinder starts turning it usually rotates and locks on the next chamber, leaving a smooth trigger pull to ignition. One caution with the later Colt's.... don't dryfire without snap caps. Some firing pins were too hard and can break. Replacement requires a special press and contoured press punches to push the firing pin and bushing out, and a new pin in. Also needed is a special punch that works down the barrel to re-crimp the skirt around the firing pin bushing. Other then that Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen thought the later Colt's like the Mark III were the strongest medium frame DA revolvers ever built due to Colt's high grade forged and heat treated frames and cylinder. |
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Originally Posted By Miami_JBT: I have a small pile of Trooper MKIIIs and Lawman MKIIIs, they're solid, and I have snap caps for 'em. Originally Posted By Miami_JBT: Originally Posted By dfariswheel: Probably the all time grand champion for world's strongest .22 pistol is the Trooper Mark III. These were built with the same heat treated frames and cylinders as the .357 mag models and the tiny holes in the massive cylinder makes it like an anvil for strong. The .22 Trooper Mark III was also one of the best DA revolvers to learn how to shoot double action with. Once the massive cylinder starts turning it usually rotates and locks on the next chamber, leaving a smooth trigger pull to ignition. One caution with the later Colt's.... don't dryfire without snap caps. Some firing pins were too hard and can break. Replacement requires a special press and contoured press punches to push the firing pin and bushing out, and a new pin in. Also needed is a special punch that works down the barrel to re-crimp the skirt around the firing pin bushing. Other then that Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen thought the later Colt's like the Mark III were the strongest medium frame DA revolvers ever built due to Colt's high grade forged and heat treated frames and cylinder. T3's used to be pretty cheap VS other colts and even S&W's and weren't really looked for or collected much. Sadly, as people figure out they are damn good value for the money, the prices have risen. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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Originally Posted By fxntime: T3's used to be pretty cheap VS other colts and even S&W's and weren't really looked for or collected much. Sadly, as people figure out they are damn good value for the money, the prices have risen. Originally Posted By fxntime: Originally Posted By Miami_JBT: Originally Posted By dfariswheel: Probably the all time grand champion for world's strongest .22 pistol is the Trooper Mark III. These were built with the same heat treated frames and cylinders as the .357 mag models and the tiny holes in the massive cylinder makes it like an anvil for strong. The .22 Trooper Mark III was also one of the best DA revolvers to learn how to shoot double action with. Once the massive cylinder starts turning it usually rotates and locks on the next chamber, leaving a smooth trigger pull to ignition. One caution with the later Colt's.... don't dryfire without snap caps. Some firing pins were too hard and can break. Replacement requires a special press and contoured press punches to push the firing pin and bushing out, and a new pin in. Also needed is a special punch that works down the barrel to re-crimp the skirt around the firing pin bushing. Other then that Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen thought the later Colt's like the Mark III were the strongest medium frame DA revolvers ever built due to Colt's high grade forged and heat treated frames and cylinder. T3's used to be pretty cheap VS other colts and even S&W's and weren't really looked for or collected much. Sadly, as people figure out they are damn good value for the money, the prices have risen. |
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Originally Posted By Smallmouth: Sharp looking guns all of them, not sure I could sneak all those past my financial planner  Luckily for Luis, he married up, to include her enjoying guns and working towards expanding 2A rights. |
I will not compromise!
Ne Desit Virtus (Let Valor Not Fail) - Rakkasan!
"Life is fucking hard. Either get used to taking a few lumps like the rest of us, or buy a fucking helmet and crawl into a corner somewhere." -Me
Ne Desit Virtus (Let Valor Not Fail) - Rakkasan!
"Life is fucking hard. Either get used to taking a few lumps like the rest of us, or buy a fucking helmet and crawl into a corner somewhere." -Me
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Okay, now I'm tapped out. Picked up four more. A S&W K-22 Combat Masterpiece in .22LR. It is a five screw model made in the late 1940s  A S&W .38 New Departure, 2nd Model in .38 S&W made between 1880 to 1890.  Another S&W 686, this time a 686-5 Round Butt in .357 Magnum. This one has been slicked up and given a patridge front sight.  And last but not the least, a Colt Officer's Model Target, .32 Heavy Barrel, Third Issue in .32 S&W Long. Made in 1940 and still has the factory cosmoline. 
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Originally Posted By Miami_JBT: Okay, now I'm tapped out. Picked up four more. A S&W K-22 Combat Masterpiece in .22LR. It is a five screw model made in the late 1940s https://i.imgur.com/vxsdOQP.jpeg A S&W .38 New Departure, 2nd Model in .38 S&W made between 1880 to 1890. https://i.imgur.com/XuqlOgT.jpeg Another S&W 686, this time a 686-5 Round Butt in .357 Magnum. This one has been slicked up and given a patridge front sight. https://i.imgur.com/GGEv08Q.jpeg And last but not the least, a Colt Officer's Model Target, .32 Heavy Barrel, Third Issue in .32 S&W Long. Made in 1940 and still has the factory cosmoline. https://i.imgur.com/a1Yzvjk.jpeg That OT in .32 man…. I’ll be in my bunk. I have a PP Target in .32 & would love to have its big brother. |
