Colt's · Revolver
Colt Border Patrol
Revolving · .357 Magnum · introduced 1970
Also known as Colt Border Patrol Special, Border Patrol 2nd Issue
About the Colt Border Patrol
The Colt Border Patrol is a six-shot double-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, produced in limited numbers for the U.S. Border Patrol and the commercial market. The Second Issue (1970-1975) was built on Colt's Trooper Mk.III 'J' frame with a 4-inch heavy barrel, a solid top rib, an ejector-rod shroud, a fluted cylinder, factory adjustable sights, and checkered walnut target grips. The barrel is roll-marked 'COLT BORDER PATROL .357 MAGNUM CTG.' Its short production run and low numbers make it one of the more sought-after collectible Colt double-action revolvers of the era.
Issued to U.S. Border Patrol agents working the southern frontier, the Border Patrol name was revived in 1970 on a hardened Trooper Mk.III platform; its rarity and law-enforcement provenance have since made it a prized collector's revolver.
Colt Border Patrol specifications
General
- Type
- Revolver
- Action
- Revolving
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Double action
- Calibres
- .357 Magnum
- Magazine capacity
- 6 rounds
- Magazine
- Revolving cylinder
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 102 mm (4.0 in)
- Overall length
- 241 mm (9.5 in)
- Height
- 140 mm (5.5 in)
- Width
- 41 mm (1.6 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 1.13 kg (2.50 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling twist
- 1:14 in (356 mm)
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 6
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 440 m/s (1444 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 784 J (578 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 50 m
History
- Introduced
- 1970
- Discontinued
- 1975
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- US
Features
- Heavy barrel
- Solid top rib
- Ejector rod shroud
- Adjustable rear sight
- Ramp front sight
- Fluted cylinder
- Target grips
Safety
- Transfer bar
- Rebounding hammer
Two distinct issues exist. The First Issue (1952) was a heavy-barreled .38 Special run of roughly 400 guns built on the Official Police frame for the Border Patrol. The Second Issue (1970-1975) is the .357 Magnum Trooper Mk.III-based revolver described here.
