Colt Trooper .357 - Value?
Hello all,
I have a Colt revolver with a 6" barrel that I've had for a lot of years. On the barrel it has TROOPER .357 and under that is .357 Magnum CTG and the serial # is 750xx. Through places such as proofhouse.com, I believe this translates to a mfg year of 1968. As I understand it, this is among some of the last hand tooled/filed Troopers before the Mark # versions.
I feel this revolver is in excellent condition and has been well maintained. It has Pachmayr Presentation grips and shoots rock solid. It has a bit of a hair trigger if the hammer is cocked back. I have large strong hands so that could just be me.
The bluing is faded slightly near the muzzle but there is not a hint of rust to be found. Here's a link to a picture... Its a camera phone picture with some glare from the flash but I think it represents well enough.
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_KpNskcpkbhMWJmY2ZiZjgtYzJmYy00NmM1LTk0YmMtODY2NDM1OTgwYmJj&hl=en
I would appreciate any opinions or thought you all may have on this handgun and its potential resale value. To be honest, I am more than a little torn between selling it and keeping it.
Thanks,
-Ram
I have a Colt revolver with a 6" barrel that I've had for a lot of years. On the barrel it has TROOPER .357 and under that is .357 Magnum CTG and the serial # is 750xx. Through places such as proofhouse.com, I believe this translates to a mfg year of 1968. As I understand it, this is among some of the last hand tooled/filed Troopers before the Mark # versions.
I feel this revolver is in excellent condition and has been well maintained. It has Pachmayr Presentation grips and shoots rock solid. It has a bit of a hair trigger if the hammer is cocked back. I have large strong hands so that could just be me.
The bluing is faded slightly near the muzzle but there is not a hint of rust to be found. Here's a link to a picture... Its a camera phone picture with some glare from the flash but I think it represents well enough.
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_KpNskcpkbhMWJmY2ZiZjgtYzJmYy00NmM1LTk0YmMtODY2NDM1OTgwYmJj&hl=en
I would appreciate any opinions or thought you all may have on this handgun and its potential resale value. To be honest, I am more than a little torn between selling it and keeping it.
Thanks,
-Ram
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$400 but I would keep it. 25 years ago I sold a Python and Officer's Match for a good market price and within two years I regretted both. 0 -
Here's a good rule of thumb:
If you sell any older Colt firearm in good or better condition, you'll later regret it!
If you need the money, that's a different story, but if you don't, I'd suggest hanging on.0 -
As the othes have said, unless your really have to sell it--keep it and enjoy it--or pass it on to a son or daughter. The market is really bad right now anyways on guns-especially used revolvers unless they are real collector items like Colt SAA's & Pythons. If it had the original grips & box you could get easily $400 for it--with the Pachs & no box and in this market unless you find someone who is really into Troopers I think about the best you will do is $275-$350--do a search for Troopers on the auction side and then narrow it to the completed auctions and you will get an idea of what they are going for--one's in the $300-$400 range sold well--if they went for more than that they they were all original and either had the box or were really really mint guns. 0 -
Does the gun have its original grips? The factory grips on that should be the same as the Python - checkered target type, gold medallion with the "half moon" checkering pattern under the medallion - and are very expensive to replace.
I sold mine just a few years ago, mid 60's manufacture, for about $500.00. I have other old Colts, so don't miss it but were it my only one I would have kept it.
These used to be viewed as the Python's ugly sister, but have always had a bit of a following and seem to be getting more popular. I think a retail price on it to sell quick would be $450.00, if you're in no hurry maybe $525.00? Selling it to a gun store for them to sell would probably get you $300.00, although my bet is they's start by offering less.
If you check out the auction side here you'll see all sorts of prices, keep in mind the $700.00 price tags are "retail" and may have no takers.
Edit: Just a little additional info on the grips. First, beware of fakes on the Python target version. Second, you could go the service stock look with a Tyler T Grip or Pachmayer insert. Check out Numrich Arms for both, Tyler Co for their inserts. It's not "as issued" but it's a good 2nd and pretty inexpensive.0 -
All good info on it. That is a classic gun ekco others and keep it if you can. Its good as gold. And functional as well. $500.00 my guess. 0 -
I do not have the original grips or the box. I bought it used as pictured about 10 years ago as part of a package deal when I picked up some new S&Ws.
I really appreciate all the feed back. I always thought that this was a nice shooting solid revolver and I'm glad to see that others have some of the same opinions.0 -
RamShot..thanks for your question. As you are learning, older Colts like the Trooper that you have, are rather valuable. Rather than sell it, if it was me, I would start a hunt for original grips and a box. Hard to find, but if you work hard at it, can be done. Keep scanning GB and Ebay on a regular basis and one or both might pop up then you would have a complete set. Now with original grips and a Colt correct (but not to the gun...there was only one of those) you will have as near a set as one could get. Now you have something that a Colt collector might be interested in, and you are talking some real money. The few guns that I have sold in my long history, and there have not been many, every one I remember, regret doing it and wish I had back. Keep it. 0
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