Colt Mk III / Metropolitan

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ewrski

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Hi All,

My LGS has a Colt Mk III Metropolitan (38 Special) for sale. Condition is good (some wear on the barrel but locks up well). The grips are non checkered but do have the Colt on it.

I did some research on the gun and it appears their asking price of $399 is within reason.

What do Y'all think. Anyone have experience with it..

Thanks in advance..
 
The Metropolitan is uncommon and was made for only a few years, IIRC. I see well over $400 being asked all the time for worn S&W Model 10's, which have been produced in enormous quantities for 65+ years.

OTOH, that means there are few or no parts for the Metropolitan, and not many gunsmiths who have (or want to get) experience with them. They are even less common than Pythons and other Colts with pre-WWII style lockwork.

So if you like the gun for its own sake, get it, because odds are you will never see another decent one for a price like that. But it you want it for heavy use, think twice about whether you can afford the luxury of owning it. That's my free advice, and it's worth what it costs!
 
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Agree with Monac and medic15al.

As always, if possible inspect for revolver fundamentals, but all told, hard to lose at that price. If you don't buy it tell me where it's at.

The Mk III's are a complete departure from the older Python style action, wear longer and for years were in the shadow because in this series Colt also introduced "MIM" or injection particle molded parts to the world greatly reducing production cost and specifically the amount of hand fitting required.. They are experiencing a value revival, especially short production runs like the Metro. This is true partly because Colt did a fantastic job with the original MIM and mostly it's considered to be superior to Smith's version. Neither of which have really justified the naysayers in pretty long use now. The downside is that it is much harder or impossible to replicate the legendary hand fitted Python action. They aren't asking 3 grand + either.

The fact that it is .38 and not .357 also helped keep it under the radar for some time. While not a Python, MKIII guns are high quality and exceptionally strong (stronger than a Ruger GP100? That strong.). The Metro name gives away the fact they were marketed to inner city police departments that were shy of .357 over-penetration. I believe other than cylinder length, you are looking at a Trooper Mk III (or Lawman) clone. The most over-built .38 in history?
 
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ewrski

Decent guns that are rarely seen these days. I had a Trooper Mk.III and that gun was built like a tank. Handled any kind of .357 load with nary a problem and was always as tight as a drum. Only downside was the DA trigger wasn't as smooth as a comparable S&W trigger would be. Provided everything checks out okay I would pick up this Metropolitan for that price (but see if they might go lower; never hurts to ask).
 
Hi All,

My LGS has a Colt Mk III Metropolitan (38 Special) for sale. Condition is good (some wear on the barrel but locks up well). The grips are non checkered but do have the Colt on it.

I did some research on the gun and it appears their asking price of $399 is within reason.

What do Y'all think. Anyone have experience with it..

Thanks in advance..
I would pass, but if you want old heavy .38 revolver this would work. For $400 this isn't difficult to beat. For example, today I looked at very old S&W "Land Lease" .38/200 revolver. Very nice original blueing with all matching components and British proof marks for $500. I guess what I'm saying for same or little extra money there are far more interesting guns out there.
 
On these boards you could say I found Meatloaf's Coupe De'Ville in a Cracker Jack box, and someone got a better deal. If you like it, it's damn sure worth it (if in good repair). They won't make any more and Colts appreciate over time.

You won't lose money. No offense to PabloJ, but I wouldn't wait for the next .38/200 to walk up. BTW in military trim they are kind of clunky too and a less powerful chambering (.38 Smith might be the definition of clunky). They made a lot more Victorys too. All Lend Lease revolvers should be British proofed, and they jammed out as many as possible by skipping the finish asthetics. I don't find them more interesting especially at $500.00.
 
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I'm a Smith & Wesson snob, but I I like those MK Colts. They're sort of the red headed step-children of the Prancing Pony sect.

On these boards you could say I found Meatloaf's Coupe De'Ville in a Cracker Jack box, and someone got a better deal.

Which is why I almost never post what I paid for something. There is always someone who knows where THEY could get it cheaper. It's almost always a "Star Wars" price though. "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." ;)
 
Get it. I own a British Contract Official Police in 38/200. Colt only made that version on special order for the British government from 1940-1941 and they paid for them. Nobody knows how many were made, but the numbers are less than 50,000 and many were "converted" (the ones that were imported to the U.S.) to 38 Special in the 1950's. Not a Lend Lease revolver and never manufactured for the commercial market. It took me eight years to get this revolver. At times I thought it was never going to happen. I waited and I don't regret it, but if I'd had the opportunity to buy it on the spot back in 2007 I would have sprained my wrist from pulling out my wallet so fast. There are those who have questioned why I waited so long for such an "old" revolver. If I have to explain it they'll never get it in the first place.

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Good news and bad.

The good: The Metropolitan may be a .38 Special, but it's built like a brick outhouse. In terms of strength some knowledgeable authorities rate it over all S&W K and L-frames and the Ruger GP-100. It will safely handle any .38 Special ammunition or listed handloader loads.

The bad: If you break a firing pin it has to go back to Colt to be repaired, and I'm not sure they still have any firing pins and recoil plates*. For insurance check and see if those parts are still available at: www.gunpartscorp.com

They bought up most of the parts Colt had left after revolver production was discontinued. They also have (or had) some accessories such as larger stocks.

The price is right, and the quality of the gun should be unquestioned. But you'll have to take the parts and service issues into consideration.

*I just checked. They have recoil plates (F.P. bushing) but are sold out of firing pins.
 
The metro is built like a tank. It's the same extremely durable MK III action as the Trooper and others. Mine is also one of the most accurate guns I've ever owned, Likely as a result of the heavy barrel. You might think a plain Jane, fixed sight, four inch 38 shouldn't shoot that good but it DOES. The firing pin will be just fine as long as you always use snap caps if you dry fire. The bad? If you should ever break the pin it's a factory only repair since special equipment is required. At that price I'd RUN back to the store!
 
Well.. After thinking about it for 2 weeks, I picked it up for the sum of $375 plus tax... Range Report and Photos forth coming.

Now where the hell is my camera?

Thanks All..

EWRSKI..
 
She definitely was worn a good amount and not shot much. You can see on the bluing wearing away on the barrel along with a nick or two. She shot well (better than I) though the iron sights are tough on these aging eyes. Overall, I am quite happy.. Now I'm taking offers :)

Last photo is from my Dad's old holster. Seems to fit the 1970 birthday just about right.

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ewrski

For $375 plus tax I think you did great! I certainly wouldn't have passed up on a Colt Mk.III revolver in that condition and at that price" Congrats on your "new" revolver.
 
$375 plus tax and fees is what I would expect to pay for a Colt Police Positive 4th Issue in similar condition, and the Metropolitan is a much scarcer and much sturdier gun. You got a fair deal, and maybe a bargain, erwski.

The only down side is that a few more gunsmiths know how to work on the Police Positive 4th, because of the popularity of the Diamondback and the Detective Special 3rd (?) Issue. The Metropolitan looks like it's built like a bank vault, though, so hopefully that's irrelevant.
 
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No that honor goes to the Smith & Wesson 38/44 Heavy Duty, built on the "N" frame.

Nope. Colt chambered their even larger New Service model in .38 Special. For a time it was the Border Patrol's standard issue.

But the metro is a great gun, and well bought at that price. Enjoy!

It is quite possible the Mark III revolvers are nearly equal (if not better) then the New Service because of better metallurgy and cylinder heat treating.
 
Your target stocks have of course been sanded down a lot. If you keep your eyes open on ebay, these can be had for 30-$60. I consider the metropolitan a short chamber Lawman which was chambered in .357. Heck yes, it will fire any 38 special load you feed it.
 
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