Python

I recently went shooting with a coworker. He was shooting a .40 S&W Glock. Then he made the mistake of trying my 6 in Python. Needless to say, he was instantly converted. Now nothing else will ever measure up. Just kidding but he is working 4 hours overtime every week and saving his pennies to buy a Python. There is no substitute for Snake. There are definately ups and downs in the gun market. I remember a few years ago the maket for Winchester Model 12 shotguns went nuts. Model 12's that had been going for $350.00 were sellinf for $600-800. Now the market has settled for around $400.00 for good shooter.

As easy as sending them $100. This is the 2005 price list.

www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/historical.asp

Sorry to say if you have 2 vents in your Python barrel rib, you DON'T have a 3 inch Python.
3 inch Python's have only one vent in the rib.
You may not be measuring correctly, but I would bet you have a 4 inch Python.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

I got a old nickeled Trooper and Python. They are both great shooters.
Here's the Trooper.


Here's the 1978 Python.

A revolvers barrel length is measured from muzzle to cylinder face.
Therefore, it's a 4 incher. That's my final answer.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

My baby.

JohnBT, the 3" Python you saw was a real 3", whether it came from the factory was not worth my money to find out. It was very loose side to side and front to back, the timing was iffy, too much cylinder gap, and had a bent ejector rod. For the price they wanted and the amount of mechanical and finish wear, I passed because they weren't working on the price. I was looking for a shooter, and that might have made a good one with another $4-500 invested in it for some work and a re-blue. Then it wouldn't be original, but it'd be a good shooter. As it is, it's better just sitting in a safe somewhere collecting dust.

Well nuts. Instead of working until 6 today like I do everyday, I am going to get a haircut at 3:30 and then I WAS GOING TO RIDE TO GREEN TOP AND LOOK AT THE DERN THING. Pfui.

Seriously, thanks for saving me a trip. Maybe I'll just go to DeGoffs and look around and then head over to Black Creek and shoot. No sense in wasting some time off.

John

I have a 1966 Colt 4 inch Diamondback my father left me.
Somebody offered me 2k for it.
Told him its not for sale.
When I look at the new S &W models
I understand why they are worth so much.
Nothing is like Colt Relvolver.

JohnBT said:

Well nuts. Instead of working until 6 today like I do everyday, I am going to get a haircut at 3:30 and then I WAS GOING TO RIDE TO GREEN TOP AND LOOK AT THE DERN THING. Pfui.

Seriously, thanks for saving me a trip. Maybe I'll just go to DeGoffs and look around and then head over to Black Creek and shoot. No sense in wasting some time off.

John

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Well, John, imagine how I felt when I called them up and was told they have it, I asked the salesman if he could just do a few quick checks while I was on the phone since I live over an hour from there. I was sufficiently assured is was good, but then I got there and felt completely hosed after I checked it over. I told Hutch the ejector was bent and would stick in the "ejected" position, but he put it back on the rack and said the next person who came in and wanted to buy it would just stick it in the safe and not care about it. If it was in better condition (i.e., serviceable as a defensive weapon as-is) it could fetch a lot more money. I just didn't consider it worth what they were asking. If it's still there in a month, I might try to dicker them down, but I doubt it'll last that long. More than likely some yuppie will walk in, look it over, try the trigger (maybe) and buy it without realizing the issues until they go to use it. Even then, they'll probably not know proper revolver operation and having only fired a handfull of rounds through it won't realize the issues. If I had money to burn, I'd have given it a nice retirement slot in my vault, but my guns are shooters, first and last.

I've got to go to DeGoff's myself this afternoon, but when I was there on Friday, their revolver selection was pretty thin. I know where there's an unfired Python in bright stainless in your area, but you're gonna have to cough up some serious dough for it. Not excessive, mind you, but fair according to what they go for on the auction sites. You can PM me if you would like more info.

Have good ride,
That John

Why have the colt's become so popular (valuable) all of the sudden...or maybe they have always been and I missed it?

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Because excellence somes with a price...

"I've got to go to DeGoff's myself this afternoon, but when I was there on Friday, their revolver selection was pretty thin."

That's too bad about the long drive for nothing, at least I'm only 15 minutes away from GT. I'm not surprised that DeGoff's is running low on guns, everywhere I go it's the same story... "They're ordered and selling as soon they come in."

And about that stainless Python; I'm a blue sort of fellow. I'll just have to get by for now with my 4- and 6-inch shooters.

I do need a nickel gun to go with a set of stocks I have.

John

Somone said it best when they said that blued Python have a certain "mystique" to them. I agree, I love the blues. I've got a 4 and 6 as well!

I'd like to take the nickel on a Diamondback though!

Got my hands on a '57 production 6-inch Python for $1200 a while ago. Most I've ever payed for a handgun but I think I did pretty well.

.......

Python, the new Luger...

Pythons were always premium revolvers, and therefore more expensive than duty grade guns like Troopers and Model 19s.

But now, they are seen as infused with so much Excellence that they must not see the light of day ever again. After the last 7 guys that still don't realize that these Masterpieces are too full of Excellence to be actually fired have packed it in, there will be consolidation.

Collections will be auctioned or sold to the big players in Python Excellence Appreciation. I predict that in 30 or 40 years, there will be only One Ubercollection. It will be housed in a large armored vault with the doors welded shut, to preserve the Excellence for all time. The hushed tones reserved for the discussion of these legendary artifacts will be all that is left.

"Pythons were always premium revolvers, and therefore more expensive than duty grade guns like Troopers and Model 19s"


Exactly. Pythons were always relatively expensive guns, even when you could buy them new. The amount of craftsmanship that went into those guns was amazing. S&W makes great guns, but they did not have the same amount of labor put into them as Pythons.

Added to the fact that they were the finest revolver of their time, "Colt" as a name obviously demands a premium today. I don't own a Python and S&W is my favorite producer of revolvers, but Pythons are simply more finely tuned. They were always more expensive and will always be more expensive.

Let's get back to reality. Two words: Registered Magnum. That's a S&W.

John

Let's get back to reality. Two words: Registered Magnum.

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Interesting statement as the original post is actually asking specifically about COLT and the Python.

So reality has nothing to do with $5,000-$10,000 Registered magnum S&W's, $8,000-$10,000 Korth's, $300-$400 Taurus or even a $250 Rossi.



Jeff (GUNKWAZY)