WB
All old DA revolvers other than mainstream S&W, Colt MKIII,
Tuesday, February 05, 2019, 10:48

King Cobra, Python etc. are undervalued in today's market. No one really wants them. Not that anything is wrong with them, they are fantastic! It's just the market demand. Younger folks want semi-autos that hold 20 rnds. and "look" mean.

That particular old Colt is actually on the Officer's Model Chassis and an evolution of the Target version. It's identical to the .38 Special Officer Model Target (which dominated Bullseye shooting in the day) but a special heat treated cylinder for the hot .357 Magnum. The lockwork is V-type mainspring not "coil wire" as later MKIII Troopers. The Colt .357 (made 1953-61) evolved into the first Trooper .357 that was basically identical. That gun was truly a cheaper version of the Python. The Trooper MKIII was in a different direction using coil springs, stintered metal trigger and hammers for economy and to lure the Police market with solid rib and modern shrouded ejector. My book says the Colt 357 was also available in a fixed sight service revolver also? It seems the Colt 357 ran concurrently with the first Colt Trooper that was also available in .22, .38, as well as .357, it ended in 1969 becoming the MKIII (1969-83).