This was the first revolver I shot , and carried it in law enforcement in the early 80s and was carried by my Dad when he started in law enforcement in 1957 and a mod 60 chief special and a 3” mod 36
I'm HAPPY TO SAY that I'm a PROUD owner of a 6" made in 1955, it's in GREAT SHAPE MECHANICALLY SPEAKING but cosmetically in GOOD +condition. It shoots 38 CCI BLAZER BRASS 125gr FMJ unbelievably well (25' rested one hole 5 shots, looks like 3 shots). Then recently I did a trade + money and got a Really NICE 4 " in original condition but haven't shot it YET. I'm a HAPPY DOG. 😉😃😃😃😃😃 KEEP UP THE GREAT VIDEOS, INFORMATIVE ONES. 😆
Purchased a Colt 357 Magnum last year at an estate auction. Serial number places it in the first couple years of the model's production run; around 1954/1955. Mine has the 6" barrel rather than the 4", but it's just as nice as the one in the video. The big difference is that I paid approximately $400 for mine. Not thousands of dollars. Nice revolver though.
I like the way the pencil barrel Colts handle. The Python puts a lot of metal up front with the underlug and barrel rib that that's great for shooting lots of .357 but the action can't take it so handling becomes more important to me for a working gun. I took my Colt 357 to the range this week in fact and it was great.
My uncle worked at Colt factory from 1965 to 1967 , he told me that in early 66 they used New rollers ( the roller stamps with the Colt logo) so the troopers from 1966 to early 67 the Colt logo on the frame and the barrel where it says trooper 357 are More dented into the metal, I have the python and a trooper and the python is like beautiful diamond and the trooper is like a beautiful watch.
I have very recently bought a VERY NICE 4" one and a Ok 6" one that SHOOTS GREAT with 38 special. Haven't shot the 4" one YET but I'm sure it will do GREAT because it is in a bit better condition than my 6" one and it will make 1 hole with CCI Blazer brass 125gr FMJ at 25' and looks like less than 5 shots fired. It's DEFINITELY a KEEPER.
Another of Colt's .357 magnum 'working guns' was the Trooper. The Trooper Mk.V gets my vote for the best looking DA revolver ever made. Once they put that ventilated rib on it with the Mk.V, it was perfect!
Owned on of these 25 years ago. Awesome trigger works. I buggered it up attempting to hand engrave ' COLT' onto its side plate and had it refinished with a satin ceracote. Stil wish I had not traded off this gun and later an uncataloged 3" Police Positive Special MINT in the original box.
I have the 6" version. Like new condition. The story behind it means more than any Python to me. Beautiful firearm and incredible story. This is one to pass down. Phenomenal trigger, same sight picture as the Python and a little lighter.
Almost the same as an old model Trooper. The original old Trooper was in .38 speclal and .22 LR, and the ".357" is in .357 Magnum, beside the "357" was a premium model and the Trooper was a normal model. Three or two years before the Python introduction, Colt no saw a reason to have two premium models and the production of the "357" ceased. And they added the .357 caliber to the Old Trooper model, The .357 model was a premium model because it had a tunning internal parts and better finish. When they start offered the old Trooper in .357caliber it was in normal production mode. Old model Troopers and .357 model had different internal parts than the Trooper Mark III an V models. (Forgive y bad English)
I just traded a 500 dollar AR15 for one of these not realizing what I actually was trading for. Mine is serial # in the 9000's out of 15,000 and has the 6" barrel and is in pretty good shape with the original grips. The trigger is incredible.
The actual model name was simply "357" and it was the predecessor to the Python, not really an "alternative". It was, of course, chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge. The 357 was the premier Colt revolver when it was introduced. My uncle was a Chicago police officer from 1951-1979. This is the revolver he carried for most of his career and the one I always remember him having. I was a Chicago police officer from 1973-2009. I began my career carrying a Colt Trooper MKIII, which was the updated (but not as good, IMO) version of this revolver. I carried that revolver until 1988 when I transitioned to an autoloader. The MKIII series were good, sturdy revolvers. I still own and use mine. But not as well made as the older Colt's. The pre-1969 Colt's were some of the best revolvers ever made.
Never cared for the Python's ventilated rib top barrels. Just looked unnecessary. This version in the video the barrel is more pleasing, reminds me of a Ruger Blackhawk barrel.
Smith & Wesson made all kinds of short run models to compete with other manufactures. I once saw a factory run Model 29 that had a bull barrel and special sights for long range silhouette competition to compete with the Ruger Black Hawk. The sights had four preset settings for each set of targets. It had a bead blasted finish and it was the ugliest Smith & Wesson revolver I ever saw. I personally own a 629 model with a full lug 8⅜ inch barrel. The front sight has a quick change feature and provides four different sights for 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters. It requires using a 240gr load with a velocity of 1350fps for the system to work. The amazing thing is, it works perfect and I laugh every time I use the dam thing. Sadly manufactures push using plastic guns that cost little to make and charge too much to buy. If anyone thinks a pistol made with plastic is better because it holds 17-rounds has rocks for brains. They spit all the most costly part of the ammunition where you never find half of it. They think a two inch group at 25-feet or 25-yards is accurate makes me laugh. Wonder why you can’t find ammunition for you pistol. It is because all those shoot fast nuts caused the problem.
Gizmo Carr I am a huge s and w fan. Like the older ones most. The new ones are not finished as well unless you get a performance center model. Looking for a 3" combat mag. Ported barrel now.
@@danielbarbee7712 www.acesportinggoods.com/used-guns-2 This place use to have a ton of used guns of every size and shape. It might be a good place to look, the inventory changes quickly and they will contact you if the get one in or have one. I am not a collector I just been around guns all my life and did some shooting with lots guns over the years.
That S&W M- 29 with the adjustable front sight is the Silhouette variant. These usually left the factory with a 10 5/8" barrel specifically built to appeal to the hard core long-range competitors that disliked the T-C Contender or the long hammer fall Ruger Super Blackhawk.
@@jalan8171 Most long range pistol silhouette shooters use Ruger single action Blackhawk’s because they cost less and were easier to lighten the trigger. They were less prone to problems when heavy loads were constantly used. When I was shooting matches you could buy a Ruger for $220 dollars or sometimes less. Model 29 guns cost close to $500 dollars because of the Dirty Harry factor; their listed price still was more than single action Ruger. TC pistols sold for $165 dollars and most shooters used Pachmayr grips and forends. J.D. Jones developed a lot of wildcats using .223 cases and necking them up to use larger heavier bullets. A good friend and shooter I knew was a Gunsmith working for Flagg’s in Pittsburg. He developed a way to open the bolt face of an XP-100 bolt and use a Sako type extractor making it possible to use any .308 size case. His name was Ken Kline; sadly many innovations made by Gunsmiths are forgotten. Wichita bolt action pistols came along; but most shooters used XP-100 guns and 14-inch TC pistols. A shooter named Batt Thomas once had an unlimited gun chambered for 458 Winchester 1½ magnum. He shot from a wheelchair and that thing rolled him backwards if he didn’t have his brakes set on his chair. I knew J.D. Jones because I shot quite a few matches he attended long ago. A lot of shooting history is forgotten and reinvented claiming it to be new; but often it is not. My 629 barrel is an 8 ⅜”-inch model; I bought it years after I stopped shooting matches.
The trooper MK III came out in 1969. It’s on Colts J frame abs has a completely different lock work than the trooper 357. The MK III has sintered metal internals ( early mim) and a coil mainspring. Don’t hesitate to pick up an MKIII but know they are no python.
HAVOC actually the opposite the mkIII trooper is considered one of the strongest medium frame revolvers of its time. It can handle a steady diet of magnums all day long. Where the python was more of a target gun the Trooper was made as a duty gun. They are starting to become collectible and they are hard to work on if you break one. Just don’t dry fire it if you break the firing pin it Hass to go back to Colt because it takes special tooling to fix i. as long as you don’t abuse it, she should last forever
Down the road it sounds like the conversion may have bee a mistake like cutting a '63 split window coupe Stingray to a singe window to look like a '64.
You know, the reason older guns always had the hand fitted parts was because the parts never fit spot on. Most new guns have much more precisely made parts that simply fit together without a smith needing to spend so much time and effort to get them together. It's about the same in all types of modern manufacturing. Computers can do so much better work in far less time, especially when it comes to making the small pieces and parts of a firearm. . The only people who get heartburn over this progress are "Colt Collectors" who've dished out ridiculous amounts of money for older guns when new ones are better on the range. But hey, I get their view, they're trying to keep the "older is better" mythical mojo going for their investment's sake. LOL! And the craziest thing is that so many of these guys have never shot these guns... These so-called collector Colts/Smiths only get shown to Thanksgiving and Christmas guest after dinner is finished! If you can't afford to shoot it, you don't have enough money to own it! Guns were made to be shot; if you want art, buy a DaVinci or Picasso!
It is a beefed up version of the Officers Model Match with a more plain finish. Yes, you can put it on par with the Model 28 Highway Patrolman. They are contemporaries given their respective production overlapped... the Colt .357 made 1953-61; the 28's main run 1954-86.
@@jalan8171 They're both fine revolvers, and either would definitely be a great choice. I've always been in the S&W camp, probably because it was the first handgun I ever fired. It was my dad's model 28 no dash Highway Patrolman. I found one last October, a model 28-2, in a pawn shop, and had to have it! I paid $400 because the bluing was all but gone. It was a PD gun, so it was carried Alot and shot very little. I cleaned her up, reblued her, and she's good as gold.
@@SierraBravo347, Would love to have either in my lock boxes. Either now approaching cult dollar status, so they're becoming out of my afordabilty reach. Shame that today's Colt Mfg. refuses to produce lower price guns, such as a non- lug barrel ".357 Magnum " for those of us with thinner wallets and restricted C.Cards.
@@jalan8171 Amen to that brother! I'd been looking at 28's, but they were out of my budget. When I just happened to stumble on the one I bought. It was a Great price, but I had to give her a little TLC, which to me, is even Better. I almost cried when I popped that sideplate off the first time...the filth and rust...it was a crime. I spent an entire day cleaning and polishing every single piece in the clock works. I replaced the cylinder stop and springer while I was in there. She's SMOOTH as Silk now. I can cut the center of a 12x18 target out double action All Day at 7 yards. I'd LOVE to have a Python, because I've never owned one, but they are FAR out of my range.
After 1955, Colt renamed this model the Trooper. The Colt Mk III (Trooper or Lawman models) and Trooper Mk V were the cheaper versions of the Python. The Trooper Mk V in particular had the ventilated barrel rib option.
The Mk3 and Mk5 ( Colt designate J frame platform ) lockworks do not compare as well for smoothness to the I frame Python or D frame Diamondback. Good guns, just not in the first generation Python's league.
They didn't rename this the Trooper! The Trooper was an entirely different, cheaper gun. I have a Model 3-5-7 made in 1959. It says COLT 3 5 7 on the barrel, not Trooper.
No. The Trooper .357 (1953-1969) was made concurrently with the "Colt .357" (1951-1961) The Trooper .357 was a lower cost version of the ".357". The Trooper was made in .22 LR, .22 Magnum and .38 Special. The ".357" was only made in .357. The MKIII series was an entirely different lockwork and design than the Python, there are no parallels between them or any of the other earlier revolvers except frame size. The grips interchange, and that's the only thing they have in common. The Python continued in production as it had been, all other Colt revolvers using the old style lockwork were dropped in 1969. The .357, Trooper and Officers Model Match were all variants of the "Official Police" which came from the "Army Special" (1908-1927) . When Colt failed to interest the military with their "Army Special" revolver, they changed the name to "Official Police" in 1927 to better reflect the role it was filling. The Army Special had been chambered for 22LR, .32-20, .38 Special, .38/200 and .41 long Colt, the Official Police was chambered in .22 LR, .32-20 (discontinued in 1942), .41 Long Colt (discontinued in 1938), and the most common and popular, the .38 Special. The Python (1955) was a sexed up version of the ".357", or in another comparison, a .357 Magnum version of the Officer's Model Match (1953-1969). The OMM, "'.357" and Python share the same lockwork, hammer, trigger and sights.
I have one of these with a four inch barrel. Was my great uncle’s carry gun. Priceless to me.
This was the first revolver I shot , and carried it in law enforcement in the early 80s and was carried by my Dad when he started in law enforcement in 1957 and a mod 60 chief special and a 3” mod 36
You guys were using revolvers in the 80s? I thought they were only used in cop movies?! 😮
I'm HAPPY TO SAY that I'm a PROUD owner of a 6" made in 1955, it's in GREAT SHAPE MECHANICALLY SPEAKING but cosmetically in GOOD +condition. It shoots 38 CCI BLAZER BRASS 125gr FMJ unbelievably well (25' rested one hole 5 shots, looks like 3 shots). Then recently I did a trade + money and got a Really NICE 4 " in original condition but haven't shot it YET. I'm a HAPPY DOG. 😉😃😃😃😃😃 KEEP UP THE GREAT VIDEOS, INFORMATIVE ONES. 😆
Purchased a Colt 357 Magnum last year at an estate auction. Serial number places it in the first couple years of the model's production run; around 1954/1955. Mine has the 6" barrel rather than the 4", but it's just as nice as the one in the video. The big difference is that I paid approximately $400 for mine. Not thousands of dollars. Nice revolver though.
I like the way the pencil barrel Colts handle. The Python puts a lot of metal up front with the underlug and barrel rib that that's great for shooting lots of .357 but the action can't take it so handling becomes more important to me for a working gun. I took my Colt 357 to the range this week in fact and it was great.
This is the transitional model between the Colt Officers Model Match and the Python. I have an Officers Model March in a rare .22 LR. Lovely handgun
A beautiful piece.
My uncle worked at Colt factory from 1965 to 1967 , he told me that in early 66 they used New rollers ( the roller stamps with the Colt logo) so the troopers from 1966 to early 67 the Colt logo on the frame and the barrel where it says trooper 357 are More dented into the metal, I have the python and a trooper and the python is like beautiful diamond and the trooper is like a beautiful watch.
I have very recently bought a VERY NICE 4" one and a Ok 6" one that SHOOTS GREAT with 38 special. Haven't shot the 4" one YET but I'm sure it will do GREAT because it is in a bit better condition than my 6" one and it will make 1 hole with CCI Blazer brass 125gr FMJ at 25' and looks like less than 5 shots fired. It's DEFINITELY a KEEPER.
Another of Colt's .357 magnum 'working guns' was the Trooper. The Trooper Mk.V gets my vote for the best looking DA revolver ever made. Once they put that ventilated rib on it with the Mk.V, it was perfect!
Owned on of these 25 years ago. Awesome trigger works. I buggered it up attempting to hand engrave ' COLT' onto its side plate and had it refinished with a satin ceracote. Stil wish I had not traded off this gun and later an uncataloged 3" Police Positive Special MINT in the original box.
I have the 6" version. Like new condition. The story behind it means more than any Python to me. Beautiful firearm and incredible story. This is one to pass down. Phenomenal trigger, same sight picture as the Python and a little lighter.
My Grandpa just gave me his, stoked
I have an early 4 digit from 1954, pre-Python. Finish is just as good as the early 50’s pythons and action is just as smooth.
I'm FORTUNATE to have bought one with a 6" barrel which is even more SCARCE than the 4" one. And BOY IS IT A SHOOTER.😊😃😁😉😎👍
Looks like a early trooper model.
I had a mk 3 and looks similar
Almost the same as an old model Trooper. The original old Trooper was in .38 speclal and .22 LR, and the ".357" is in .357 Magnum, beside the "357" was a premium model and the Trooper was a normal model. Three or two years before the Python introduction, Colt no saw a reason to have two premium models and the production of the "357" ceased. And they added the .357 caliber to the Old Trooper model,
The .357 model was a premium model because it had a tunning internal parts and better finish. When they start offered the old Trooper in .357caliber it was in normal production mode.
Old model Troopers and .357 model had different internal parts than the Trooper Mark III an V models.
(Forgive y bad English)
I just traded a 500 dollar AR15 for one of these not realizing what I actually was trading for. Mine is serial # in the 9000's out of 15,000 and has the 6" barrel and is in pretty good shape with the original grips. The trigger is incredible.
The actual model name was simply "357" and it was the predecessor to the Python, not really an "alternative". It was, of course, chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge. The 357 was the premier Colt revolver when it was introduced.
My uncle was a Chicago police officer from 1951-1979. This is the revolver he carried for most of his career and the one I always remember him having.
I was a Chicago police officer from 1973-2009. I began my career carrying a Colt Trooper MKIII, which was the updated (but not as good, IMO) version of this revolver. I carried that revolver until 1988 when I transitioned to an autoloader. The MKIII series were good, sturdy revolvers. I still own and use mine. But not as well made as the older Colt's.
The pre-1969 Colt's were some of the best revolvers ever made.
Never cared for the Python's ventilated rib top barrels. Just looked unnecessary. This version in the video the barrel is more pleasing, reminds me of a Ruger Blackhawk barrel.
Another of those guns I HAD and let slip away. What the heck? It was nothing "special" back then. Just an old Colt 357.
You have some good videos sir🙌🏼👌🏼
I own this exact .357 - no plans to sell, but curious what value of it may be ?
The value is : priceless. don’t sell
Smith & Wesson made all kinds of short run models to compete with other manufactures. I once saw a factory run Model 29 that had a bull barrel and special sights for long range silhouette competition to compete with the Ruger Black Hawk. The sights had four preset settings for each set of targets. It had a bead blasted finish and it was the ugliest Smith & Wesson revolver I ever saw. I personally own a 629 model with a full lug 8⅜ inch barrel. The front sight has a quick change feature and provides four different sights for 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters. It requires using a 240gr load with a velocity of 1350fps for the system to work. The amazing thing is, it works perfect and I laugh every time I use the dam thing. Sadly manufactures push using plastic guns that cost little to make and charge too much to buy. If anyone thinks a pistol made with plastic is better because it holds 17-rounds has rocks for brains. They spit all the most costly part of the ammunition where you never find half of it. They think a two inch group at 25-feet or 25-yards is accurate makes me laugh. Wonder why you can’t find ammunition for you pistol. It is because all those shoot fast nuts caused the problem.
Gizmo Carr I am a huge s and w fan. Like the older ones most. The new ones are not finished as well unless you get a performance center model. Looking for a 3" combat mag. Ported barrel now.
@@danielbarbee7712 www.acesportinggoods.com/used-guns-2 This place use to have a ton of used guns of every size and shape. It might be a good place to look, the inventory changes quickly and they will contact you if the get one in or have one. I am not a collector I just been around guns all my life and did some shooting with lots guns over the years.
Gizmo Carr thanks I'll check it out.
That S&W M- 29 with the adjustable front sight is the Silhouette variant. These usually left the factory with a 10 5/8" barrel specifically built to appeal to the hard core long-range competitors that disliked the T-C Contender or the long hammer fall Ruger Super Blackhawk.
@@jalan8171 Most long range pistol silhouette shooters use Ruger single action Blackhawk’s because they cost less and were easier to lighten the trigger. They were less prone to problems when heavy loads were constantly used. When I was shooting matches you could buy a Ruger for $220 dollars or sometimes less. Model 29 guns cost close to $500 dollars because of the Dirty Harry factor; their listed price still was more than single action Ruger. TC pistols sold for $165 dollars and most shooters used Pachmayr grips and forends. J.D. Jones developed a lot of wildcats using .223 cases and necking them up to use larger heavier bullets. A good friend and shooter I knew was a Gunsmith working for Flagg’s in Pittsburg. He developed a way to open the bolt face of an XP-100 bolt and use a Sako type extractor making it possible to use any .308 size case. His name was Ken Kline; sadly many innovations made by Gunsmiths are forgotten. Wichita bolt action pistols came along; but most shooters used XP-100 guns and 14-inch TC pistols. A shooter named Batt Thomas once had an unlimited gun chambered for 458 Winchester 1½ magnum. He shot from a wheelchair and that thing rolled him backwards if he didn’t have his brakes set on his chair. I knew J.D. Jones because I shot quite a few matches he attended long ago. A lot of shooting history is forgotten and reinvented claiming it to be new; but often it is not. My 629 barrel is an 8 ⅜”-inch model; I bought it years after I stopped shooting matches.
How does it compare to Colt Trooper MkIII. I've found one in excellent condition (4"). Has aftermarket grips unfortunately.
The trooper MK III came out in 1969. It’s on Colts J frame abs has a completely different lock work than the trooper 357. The MK III has sintered metal internals ( early mim) and a coil mainspring. Don’t hesitate to pick up an MKIII but know they are no python.
David Bliss Thanks. I'm going to get it.
HAVOC you definitely won’t be disappointed. The trooper MK III is a nice revolver, I have a 4” blue. Good luck with it.
David Bliss what about the "fact" that one should not fire too many hot 357mag loads in the MkIII? How do they hold up generally?
HAVOC actually the opposite the mkIII trooper is considered one of the strongest medium frame revolvers of its time. It can handle a steady diet of magnums all day long. Where the python was more of a target gun the Trooper was made as a duty gun. They are starting to become collectible and they are hard to work on if you break one. Just don’t dry fire it if you break the firing pin it Hass to go back to Colt because it takes special tooling to fix i. as long as you don’t abuse it, she should last forever
Walk into the range chanting hear Yee hear yee
I carry one of these on occasion but not to work. Don’t want to beat it up too much.
Interesting Never Saw a S&W With s Colt Python Barrel 😮😳😀
i have one in 38cal.1951 can not find anyone that has know of one help.
Down the road it sounds like the conversion may have bee a mistake like cutting a '63 split window coupe Stingray to a singe window to look like a '64.
Colt Trooper .357 mag?
That old colt revolver is probably built better than the new colt pythons.
TREVOR THE FILTHY RAT 😝🤣😂😝🤣😂😜 no comparison. The Model 357 came out before the Python IIRC.
Haha no.
You know, the reason older guns always had the hand fitted parts was because the parts never fit spot on. Most new guns have much more precisely made parts that simply fit together without a smith needing to spend so much time and effort to get them together. It's about the same in all types of modern manufacturing. Computers can do so much better work in far less time, especially when it comes to making the small pieces and parts of a firearm. .
The only people who get heartburn over this progress are "Colt Collectors" who've dished out ridiculous amounts of money for older guns when new ones are better on the range.
But hey, I get their view, they're trying to keep the "older is better" mythical mojo going for their investment's sake. LOL!
And the craziest thing is that so many of these guys have never shot these guns...
These so-called collector Colts/Smiths only get shown to Thanksgiving and Christmas guest after dinner is finished!
If you can't afford to shoot it, you don't have enough money to own it! Guns were made to be shot; if you want art, buy a DaVinci or Picasso!
@@paulsimmons5726 Idk. The 2020 python is a complete shitter. The cylinders lock up and stop turning right out of the box.
Big iron on his hip 🔥🔥🔥
FALLOUT NEW VEGAS MENTIONED
Mine shoots better than my python, then again my python doesn’t leave the vault much
So this is Basically Colts version of the S&W model 28.
It is a beefed up version of the Officers Model Match with a more plain finish. Yes, you can put it on par with the Model 28 Highway Patrolman. They are contemporaries given their respective production overlapped... the Colt .357 made 1953-61; the 28's main run 1954-86.
@@jalan8171 They're both fine revolvers, and either would definitely be a great choice. I've always been in the S&W camp, probably because it was the first handgun I ever fired. It was my dad's model 28 no dash Highway Patrolman. I found one last October, a model 28-2, in a pawn shop, and had to have it! I paid $400 because the bluing was all but gone. It was a PD gun, so it was carried Alot and shot very little. I cleaned her up, reblued her, and she's good as gold.
@@SierraBravo347, Would love to have either in my lock boxes. Either now approaching cult dollar status, so they're becoming out of my afordabilty reach. Shame that today's Colt Mfg. refuses to produce lower price guns, such as a non- lug barrel ".357 Magnum " for those of us with thinner wallets and restricted C.Cards.
@@jalan8171 Amen to that brother! I'd been looking at 28's, but they were out of my budget. When I just happened to stumble on the one I bought. It was a Great price, but I had to give her a little TLC, which to me, is even Better. I almost cried when I popped that sideplate off the first time...the filth and rust...it was a crime. I spent an entire day cleaning and polishing every single piece in the clock works. I replaced the cylinder stop and springer while I was in there. She's SMOOTH as Silk now. I can cut the center of a 12x18 target out double action All Day at 7 yards. I'd LOVE to have a Python, because I've never owned one, but they are FAR out of my range.
Will this bring down a skinwalker?
After 1955, Colt renamed this model the Trooper. The Colt Mk III (Trooper or Lawman models) and Trooper Mk V were the cheaper versions of the Python. The Trooper Mk V in particular had the ventilated barrel rib option.
The Mk3 and Mk5 ( Colt designate J frame platform ) lockworks do not compare as well for smoothness to the I frame Python or D frame Diamondback. Good guns, just not in the first generation Python's league.
They didn't rename this the Trooper! The Trooper was an entirely different, cheaper gun. I have a Model 3-5-7 made in 1959. It says COLT 3 5 7 on the barrel, not Trooper.
No. The Trooper .357 (1953-1969) was made concurrently with the "Colt .357" (1951-1961) The Trooper .357 was a lower cost version of the ".357". The Trooper was made in .22 LR, .22 Magnum and .38 Special. The ".357" was only made in .357.
The MKIII series was an entirely different lockwork and design than the Python, there are no parallels between them or any of the other earlier revolvers except frame size. The grips interchange, and that's the only thing they have in common. The Python continued in production as it had been, all other Colt revolvers using the old style lockwork were dropped in 1969.
The .357, Trooper and Officers Model Match were all variants of the "Official Police" which came from the "Army Special" (1908-1927) . When Colt failed to interest the military with their "Army Special" revolver, they changed the name to "Official Police" in 1927 to better reflect the role it was filling. The Army Special had been chambered for 22LR, .32-20, .38 Special, .38/200 and .41 long Colt, the Official Police was chambered in .22 LR, .32-20 (discontinued in 1942), .41 Long Colt (discontinued in 1938), and the most common and popular, the .38 Special.
The Python (1955) was a sexed up version of the ".357", or in another comparison, a .357 Magnum version of the Officer's Model Match (1953-1969). The OMM, "'.357" and Python share the same lockwork, hammer, trigger and sights.
@@mikebeavers5838 Correct. Enjoy that revolver!
@@garyK.45ACP Yes Sir !!!,that IS the exact histoty of these Colt revolvers!!😊😊Thank you for your true facts on Colt .357 revolvers!!😊😊❤❤❤
I WOULD LKOVE TO HOIBBIED PRACTICAL WIHT IT
ฟ👍👍