Posted: 11/23/2004 5:34:50 PM EDT
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I just picked up a Trooper III on Monday, serial L31xxx in nickel. It is in excellent shape and I'm very happy with it. Cylinder and hammer are tight, the firing pin bushing is solid, the lockup on all 6 positions is good. Barrel and cylinder bores are shiny and without any obvious forcing cone problems. Cylinder to barrel gap is good. About the only thing I can see is that the rifling is perhaps worn...seems even, but not quite as deep as my Smith. Won't be able to tell until I shoot it. Can anyone tell me when this pistol was manufactured? How about the frame...I've seen it called everything from an "I" to a "J-14". Dfariswheel on another forum noted: "E&I" Frame..Medium frame..The Official Police, Trooper, .357, Python, Officer's Model's. "J", "V", "AA"..Medium frame..The Trooper Mark III, Lawman Mark III, Metropolitan Police, Official Police Mark III, Officer's Model Match Mark III, Trooper Mark "V", Lawman Mark "V", Peacekeeper, King Cobra. Any definitive info on this? Thanx 
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Can't tell you exactly what type of frame that is, other than my Grandfather's PD revolver purchased in 1954 and carried until retirement has a butt like that. Perhaps some kind of police conspiracy he and SGB are in on together.  Nice looking Pony in any case. Give us a range report. |
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The Trooper Mark III is a "J" frame. The same general frame was used for the Trooper Mark V and the King Cobra. Due to slight changes, the Mark V was the "V" frame, and the King Cobra was the "AA" frame. A giant version is made as the Anaconda with the "MM" frame. Your Trooper III was made in 1976. The "L" series started that year at #L1001 and ended at L38900. These Trooper Mark III guns are tanks. The only "watch-out" is to use snap caps if you dry fire. There is a "possibility" of a too-hard firing pin breaking, in which case the gun MUST be sent in to Colt for a replacement, since replacement requires special tooling to change it out. |
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Sweet. Thanx so much. I had read up on these prior to picking it up on Monday...picked up the snap caps already. It really is beautiful, and all the fit and function tests were positive. This will go to the range after Thanksgiving to check barrel wear. That's three guns I have from 1976...the Trooper, my Yugo, and my Smith. A good year. |
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I'd like to remove the grips and set them away. I think this would look really sweet with stag grips, but I've seen the recent difficulty in getting them. I also see a lot more diversity in the grips and holsters available for the Python. As I keep seeing articles about how the frames for the Python and the trooper III are very close except for fit and finish, can Python grips be fitted to this pistol? You guys have been a great help. |
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No. ONLY Trooper Mark THREE grips will fit. Not Trooper Mark V or King Cobra either, only Mark III. The Mark III and Python frame and cylinder are similar in general SIZE, but they are TOTALLY, completely, different frames. There is about zero parts interchangeability. For grips, you can still buy good stag grips from the various grip makers, and extra factory Trooper Mark III grips can be bought fairly cheap on Ebay, if you'd like a pair to use, and save the originals. |
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Range Report - Colt Trooper III built in 1976 Nickel plated 4"bbl .357 Magnum. Picture is in the first post in the thread. I purchased this Colt last Monday from Ray's Sport Shop up in Plainfield for $250. I was able to check all the fit and finish items, but wasn't able to take it out for function testing until today. The cylinder to barrel gap miked out to .004, cylinder rotation at lockup was less than .006 at each position, and there was no cylinder movement from front to rear. In lockup the hammer could be wiggled without detaching from the sear, and the firing pin bushing was tight. I found no apparent forcing cone bulges or marks. My only question with this gun was if the barrel had been shot out. The lands and grooves were clear and sharp, but appeared shallower than my .38 Smith & Wesson. The nickel finish is awesome. Not a mark, scratch, or de-plating anywhere on the gun. I used 38 Special 148 grain wad-cutters to test function. After shooting off a dozen rounds to check that it wasn't going to blow up I got serious. The following picture is 10 yards off-hand. An inch and a half group. Woohoo, the barrel was fine.  After playing for a while, I moved the target out to 25 yards and shot 6 rounds from a rest. A two inch group from a 4 inch barrel.  This is a heavy duty revolver and fun to shoot. Two guys came over to admire it and I had them shoot a cylinder full...I'm a sucker for gun praise. One of them was blasting away with a 8" SA 44 Magnum with a scope. He came over after watching my target at 25 yards with me using iron sights. I'm such a tease. I've found my new house gun. And thanx faris...I'll keep looking for the grips I want. It would look hot with some rounder bottom stag grips against the nickel. |
(edited to add) I do like your style grips better.
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After a really exausting search, I was able to find one set of faux stag and one set of 30 year old (possibly) real stag grips. Cost for both sets was less than the cost for new 1 faux set. I found lots of companys that used to make grips for the trooper but don't, and several that make grips for the trooper but were out, and several that made true Indian stag grips that have a cost looks like the milage between stars. After checking a dozen forums, I found a fellow that retired in the 70s and had lots of old, old grips from his business...he had one (maybe) stag that could be modified to fit the Trooper so I bought it. I found another known faux set on Yahoo auctions. The best one will get fitted. Pictures when I get them installed. Pistol will look hot! Oh yeah, and I think I'm going to have to sell one of my 1911s to scam enough money to pick up a Python...this dealer in Plainfield must have 20 of them. One I saw was an ingraved 911 tribute job for $3000 that was awesome. A 6"bbl stainless would be nice, but those old Royal Blue Pythons call to me, traditionalist that I am. |
