Colt Trooper III in 22LR Question

[Jimfern]

I handled one of these yesterday and was quite disappointed that it did not lock up like a bank vault (or my Python), when I pulled the trigger. Am I wrong to assume that the cylinder shouldn't move at all (or even a little) on this Colt model? They were asking $800 for it.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Two totally different actions. A MKIII will not lock up like a Python.

I bought a new in the box appearing 6" about 3 years ago for $700.

I would give $800 for a like new 8".

 

[Jimfern]

Thanks for the quick feedback. it's a 6" and used, so maybe $5-600?

 

[earlthegoat2]

That would probably be more than fair.

The Trooper MKIII and Lawman MKIII I have had in the past both locked up so tight I could not tell if there was any play. They were both 357 though.

CPE's info is sound though. They are not the same thing as a Python. I would have no problem with a MKIII revolver that had a little cylinder play.

 

[kcofohio]

Here is a link to some good information on the transition to Colt Troopers MKIII in '69. Don't know if that helps, but it still is a good read.

http://www.coltfever.com/Mark_III.html

While the new action was simpler and cheaper to build, Colt wanted to eliminate as much hand fitting as possible to further lower production costs.

To do that Colt decided to use a then new technology in the gun industry known as "sintered steel" manufacturing.

In this process powdered steel is injected into a mold and heated until the steel melts and fuses into a solid mass. When the mold is opened a nearly finished part is removed, needing only surface hardening and finishing.

Colt used sintered steel to make most of the internal parts of the new Mark III design, including the hammer and trigger, the cylinder locking bolt, and the hammer's double action strut.

In another industry first, Colt used stainless steel springs in the new design.



Since these parts could be produced very quickly and to a very tight tolerance, this allowed the new series to be assembled by less skilled assemblers.

The design of the new action was such that it was much less complicated than the old models and far less critical about the fit of parts,

To assemble one of these new revolvers, the assembler pulled a part from a bin and test fitted it. If the part didn't fit perfectly, he simply selected another part from the bin until one did fit. This drastically reduced the need for hand filing and stoning of parts by highly paid Master assemblers.

This made the Colt Mark III series the world's first "machine fitted" revolver.

Since these sintered steel parts were case hardened with a glass hard surface, this produced a very smooth, hard part that would wear well and give a very smooth operation.

Since the hardened surface is very thin, these new revolver could not have a traditional trigger or action job done in which internal parts are stoned and smoothed to make the action lighter or smoother. Because of the thin hardened surface any stoning or smoothing will break through the surface, exposing the softer metal inside. This ruins the parts since the exposed soft metal will wear quickly.

In this new design, any action or trigger work must be limited to installing a lighter spring kit.

 

[bannockburn]

All of my Troopers (one Mk. III and two Mk. Vs), locked up nice and tight with no cylinder play whatsoever. Last .22 Mk. III I saw was in decent condition with an asking price of $800.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would give $500-600 for a nice 6" as long as it has original grips.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I would give $500-600 for a nice 6" as long as it has original grips.

Forgot to mention that. Has to have original grips. Folks like to sell just the grips on eBay or GB for a quick 75-100 bucks. Don't get any ideas.

Sometimes Pachmayr presentation grips were standard but mine had the Colt logo on them. I don't know if they all did but check it because folks will change them out to dupe folks.

 

[22-rimfire]

My Mark III 357 locks up real tight. I have a couple in 22LR and 22 WMR that I have not handled in a good while, but as I recall the lockup was sound.

A lot of times with the grips (stocks), folks replace them with pachmayrs to shoot and then sell the revolver later often forgetting about the original stocks that they have perhaps stashed somewhere.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I have a .357 and a 22 Mk-III,,,

I have a .357 and a 22 Mk-III,,,
Both of my guns lock up very snugly.

Aarond

.

 

[22-rimfire]

I guess my question is when in the firing process are you judging the lockup? The lockup should be when the trigger is being pulled.

 

[Dframe]

The mark III action is different than the older V spring type. It locks up far more like a S&W. Slight rotational play is normal. The mark IIIs have a reputation for durability and accuracy.

 

[dfariswheel]

Like the S&W, Ruger, Dan Wesson etc, the later Colt's like the Mark III were actually designed NOT to lock up tightly when the trigger was pulled.
The slightly loose cylinder allows the chamber to be forced into alignment with the bore by the bullet passing from the chamber into the barrel.

Even if a later Colt, S&W, etc "seems" to lock up tightly, there's enough back lash built into the action to allow the cylinder that slight amount of rotational movement necessary to allow alignment.