[bobh]

Hi-

New here and could use some advice on a near mint, original condition
Colt I lucked upon at a gun show about 5 years ago.

Python, 4 in, Blue, Original Box, Warranty Card, "Key" & "Gun Handling Brochure" Serial number verifies 1964-65 manufacture. I only had $350 in my pocket and said what the heck, offered it and the guy took it. (Last day of show)

MY QUESTION is...

I haven't fired it since taking possesion, (about 25 rounds) and would love to do so again but a buddy says I'm crazy! Says to just clean it well and tuck it away.

Any thoughts, advice, tips or comments greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!
Bob

[Cosmoline]

That's not right. That's just not right.

Actually, you can look at it two ways. If I had it, I'd tell myself it's *really* a $350 revolver and I'd carry and shoot it to my heart's content. Or you can tell yourself it's a collector's item and lock it away. But where's the fun in that?

[SaxonPig]

Shoot it but don't abuse it and it loses about zero value. These aren't rare enough to be taken out of service and guns are poor investments anyway. If you want to make money buy stocks. Buy guns to shoot them.

[Monkeyleg]

Being unfired and NIB adds between a couple of hundred to the value.

The gun right now is probably worth $1200 or more. I saw a 60's vintage 4" blued model sell for $1375 recently on Gunbroker that was lightly fired and didn't come with a box. A couple of 6" nickel Pythons that were NIB sold for $1600 or thereabouts.

[Lone_Gunman]

$1200 might be about right if you can find the right buyer.

If the gun has already been fired, the answer is easy. Shoot it! It will lose no value if its already been shot. Just don't abuse it, and clean it afterward.

If it has not been fired, then the decision would be a little tougher. I would personally still shoot it. There is no way I could resist being the first shooter of a previously unfired '60s Python. Shooting it may reduce the value a little, but not all that much, and would be money well wasted!

[FCinCA]

If you were/are in California your Python is worth about 1500.

FC

[Majic]

guns are poor investments anyway.
$350 spent 5 years ago bringing $1200 to $1500 today is a poor investment? :confused:

[BluesBear]

In this particular instance it was not a poor investment.

But in general guns are a poor investment if the sole criteria is to make a profit.
There are many more commodities that will yield a higher and/or faster rate of return.
There are just too many variables to consider when attempting to calculate the possible future value of a firearm.

[GUNKWAZY]

I'm going to have to agree with Majic on this one.
Is there other things you can buy to see a higher rate of return ?
Sure there is, BUT, those same items can lose a greater amount as well.
You could invest $1000 in the stock market today and have $500 next week or less if things go bad.
You could also invest in a gun for $1000 today and I'm willing to bet you won't see the gun market crash next week and your gun lose 1/2 or more of it's value.
That is as long as you didn't buy a commemorative and were stupid enough to go out and shoot it.:D

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

[gopguy]

5 years ago Python's were bringing around $600, so you got a great deal way back then. I would not shoot it. It is an excellent investment and Colt is no longer making the Python. The sixties vintage ones will bring a premium over the offerings of thirty years ago. If you want to shoot buy something else, or sell this and buy something else and enjoy your windfall profit. ;)

[kbheiner7]

Shoot it.

[rock jock]

I have a 4" Python, 1963 manufacture, 98% condition with no turn line. I shoot it about once/year. I really don't care what its worth, the lockwork is so great I just like to have it.

[BluesBear]

Pythons don't get a turn line like S&W revolvers do.
You'll only get a turn line on a Python from closing the cylinder and indexing it by hand.

[bobh]

I'd like to thank one and all for the advice and comments!

I had gone to the gun show with the intention of buying a pistol
for home protection.

When I saw the brown Colt box on the guy's table, I was suddenly reminded of one, my late father had and the pistol itself looked very similar to a Colt 22 he had with a wooden handle. (I seem to remember something like "Trooper"
but I could be wrong.)

Anyway, that 22 was the first "hand gun" I had ever fired and the one he taught me to use properly. (He was a marksman in WWII and a helluva shot, lefty like me and I ain't too shabby. ;-)

I had shared this story with the seller and I guess that, along with it being the last day of the show, enabled me to buy it, as one of you said, at a
great price even then.

I have no intentions of selling it and after having fired it once, I'm inclined to do so again and just make sure to treat it like a baby.

My Dad had about 6-8 handguns and rifles and just looking at it from time to time brings back some great memories. Firing it even more, since that ol' marksman took great pains to help his son shoot straight.

I'll have to agree with most and just shoot it on occasion. I guess because it is kinda old and so well made, ya just hate to run the risk of damaging it in some way. (But heck, things like guns can be replaced, memories can't.)

So again, thanks all for your comments and info regarding this fine revolver.

Bob

[SaxonPig]

Magic and Gunkwazy- Absolutely there are higher returns. That $350 5 years ago in Google stock would now be worth about $5,000. With Met-Life stock you'd have maybe $4,000. Just two examples I know of because I own both of these stocks and there are many more.

I repeat because it's true, guns are not good investments. There are much better places to earn faster and bigger returns than on collectable guns. Buy guns because you like to own them, not because you plan to make a profit on them as long-term investments.

[GUNKWAZY]

Hey Pig,
That's nice that you point out a couple stocks that have done well out of the Millions that are traded.:rolleyes:
Now you should point out the stocks that have done poorly or better yet collapsed.
At least then it would be fair.
Then take the good investments and poor investments in guns and lets compare notes.
How many guns have crashed and become worthless pieces of paper ????
Just checking.
I'd hate to see your investment portfolio if all you do is invest in high risk items.
Sounds like too many eggs in one basket.
FYI: don't drop your basket.:D

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
Is there higher returns available.... Yes !!! I agree.
Is the risks higher.... Abso-frickin-lutley

Can you make tons of money in Real Estate... Ohhhh yeah
Can you lose your Tooshie in Real Estate.... Ohhhh yeah

There's a time to buy and a time to sell everything.


If you invested in Beanie Babies in 1995 and sold them in 1999 you probably made a killing.
If you still have them today, you lost your shorts.

Like the song said... You got to know when to hold 'em... know when to fold 'em.

[Jim Watson]

Well, you could sell it for $1200, and then buy a Python showing some use for less money and pocket the difference.

Or you could just shoot the heck out of it and not worry about whether it will be worth a lot when you retire or die or maybe President Hillary melts it down.

[BluesBear]

You don't have to treat your Python like a baby.
It's a tool and it was designed to be used. Used a lot in fact.
Just treat it with care and respect and you can shoot the snot out of it and it will still be a precision made work of art.
The biggest threat to an old Python is rust from fingerprints and perspiration.

Wipe it off after handling and protect it with Boeshield and it will look new for decades.





As for the investment thing, there's a lot more to investing that the stock market. :rolleyes:
Real estate brings a much higher return than firearms. Real estate is virtually a sure thing.
Even the high yield CD from your bank is a better investment.
Guns are iffy.
Guitars are iffy.
You can make the occasional great deal/small fortune with both but overall they are a very slow growth item. And unlike a CD if you drop one the value goes wayyyyyyy down.

[SaxonPig]

Gunkwazy, I cited two stocks that I have personal experience with (as I noted) and stated they were two of many. Sure, some investments lose money, but it's been proven many times that buying guns for long term investments isn't the best return on your money. Some people (maybe you are one) don't believe this for some reason and want to argue the point. I don't. If you believe collector guns are a good investment then please buy all you want with my blessing. But I know that there are more profitable investments than guns.

Oh, and please don't call me pig, that's insulting. Saxon Pig, Saxon, SP are fine. Thanks.

[geoff40]

Already well stated in your responses, but I'll add my own. As the owner of both a 4" and 6" Python from the early 60's, shoot them! They are total fun machines to fire, just be careful with them. If you reload your own, keep them 10-20% below max. pressure, 99% of the time maximum pressure isn't needed anyway.
If you want a paperweight, buy an interesting rock, like a meteorite for example.

[Freddymac]

SHOOT THAT BAD BOY!!! These guns are functional works of art! To not shoot it is a slap in the face of the artist who created it! If you have never shot a Python, you must do so to believe. You must join the cult of the snake. Pull that trigger! Feel the connection with the finest production revolver ever made. Then you will know what we who love the snake already know.

You can take this gun and lock it up as an investment if you wish, but know this. You have in your hands the finest revolver (non custom) ever made (especially one made in the 60's), to not turn it loose is a sin. You will derive much more pleasure from her by shooting her, than by looking and fondeling her. Trust me on this one. If you doubt me, fire just one round... I bet you can't fire just one. If you realy must think of it as an investment, PM me with a price and pic's, If all is agreeable, I'll give her a new home.

Fred

[Master Blaster]

You have $350 in it, if you sell it it will bring $900-1200 right now.

If yoou shoot 100 target loads out of it once a week for the next 5 years and you clean it and dont abuse it, 5 years from now you will be able to get $1200
for it at least. Now if you get $5 worth of fun out of it each time you shoot it

$5 X 260(times shot) = $1300 so your return will be $2500.;)

So you see you will be much better off by shooting it.

Thats what I tell my wife anyway