Trego's Mountain Ear

The serial number tells me that my Colt Trooper left the factory in 1954.  When I got it, the grips were from the 1960’s, with gold medallions – so I didn’t see anything wrong with taking them off and replacing them with a set of Pachmayr grips.  A lot of parts get changed on Colt revolvers – and the value is no different with my chosen grips than someone else’s replacements.  It probably looked like this when it left the factory:

The old revolver shoots well – I can understand why the guy before me installed Colt second type target grips . . . but they had gold medallions.  Only Pythons left Hartford with gold medallions.  I figure my Trooper left with service grips – it still has the service hammer.  When it was first sold, the suggested retail price was $71.  This photo is of a later issue and different cartridge – but the gold medallion shows what my Trooper looked like when I got it:

My old revolver is an E frame – with the firing pin mounted on the hammer.  In 1954, the top match revolver was the Colt Officer’s Model – also an E frame.  Troopers and Officer’s models can’t be separately identified by their serial numbers – only by the barrel markings. Essentially, my old Trooper is just a cheaper version of the Officer’s model – and, with the Pachmayr grips, the difference doesn’t show up on targets.

I thought about replacing the 4 inch barrel with an 8 inch Python 38 barrel – but the revolver shoots too well.  I still have the unused Python barrel – but I doubt if I’ll ever make the conversion.  I saw one years ago, and heard it called a Pooper – and that just doesn’t sound like the sort of respect the old revolver merits. 

When the recent heatwave brought the family decision to open windows at night, the old revolver moved to the bedside.  I’ve known a few people who had bears enter open windows – and frankly, the plastic screen doesn’t look like it could discourage a cub . . . and we have had the occasional full grown griz come by the house. 

There are arguments about the best pistol caliber for bear.  Most of the cognoscenti tell me that 38 special isn’t using enough gun. It’s possible that they’re right.  But I’m used to a Colt revolver, and if I need something on the nightstand, I want something familiar.