colt python 2 inch

[revolverss]

im finally gonna get my 2 inch colt python, bought from a friend of a friend, i was wondering if its possible to build up rust pitting? coz i really dont like the idea of having to sand down a firearm so i was thinking of having the gouges filled i dont know how then have it refinished or something any ideas? here are the pics of the python

 

[Flame Red]

My opinion is that Python's are too valuable for do it yourself fixes.

I really recommend that you send it to Ford's for them to evaluate. If they judge they cannot fix it up in blue, they can nickel plate it for you. They have done guns for me that were in far worse shape than yours and they came back looking brand new.

http://www.fordsguns.com/

Just be patient. They have like a 5 or six month backlog. Their prices are very reasonable and their work is the best. Well worth the wait.

It will be the best $200 you can spend. Life is too short to fire an ugly gun.

The only warning I will give you is that when you get it back, it will look so good that you won't want to shoot it!

 

[22-rimfire]

Don't sand it. You'll just make it worse. Let the pros do the job if you want it to look good. By the way, it's a 2.5" not a 2".

 

[SaxonPig]

Nothing can be done about pitting. Spending money on this revolver would be a waste as it it cannot be saved.

I would not have paid over $150 for that gun. It's a toolbox gun* now.

*A toolbox gun is one that is so hopelessly damaged that it cannot be made to look again no matter how effort is made so it's good only throwing under the seat of the truck, in a tackle box, or ina toolbox as a utility pistol.

 

[PotatoJudge]

I'd say it's worth more than $150 as a shooter, assuming it's in good mechanical shape. Your best bet is to take a brass brush and CLP to clean out all the rust and keep it from getting worse.
If you want it refinished Colt would be the place to go, but removal of pitting costs extra and the gun may never look as new again.

If the gun was mine, I'd clean it up and shoot it as is. There's something nice about having a gun you don't have to worry about the finish on.

 

[Dravur]

Im crying..

a little inside after seeing that gun.

Clean it up, reblue it, use it as a carry gun.

Sad.... truly sad...

 

[Zundfolge]

I would not have paid over $150 for that gun. It's a toolbox gun* now.

Its a Python ... if its shootable and even remotely salvageable its worth a lot more than $150.

If this was a Taurus he'd have a point, but this is a valuable firearm that can only be made more valuable by having it properly refinished.

But as others have said, this is not a do-it-yourselfer project, this needs to go to a professional.

I've seen worse looking guns come out of a good re-finisher's shop and look like new.

 

[Flame Red]

Its a Python ... if its shootable and even remotely salvageable its worth a lot more than $150.

+1 - don't make a big mistake. I had one that was far, far, far worse than that and Ford's made it look brand spanking new. If the thing shoots right I will give you double that in about 2 micro-seconds.

 

[Gustav]

Colt Pythons are worth trying to restore they were the best revolver IMO Colt made.

Yours is save-able with time and money and someone who knows what they are doing as long as the pitting is not too deep.

I have seen worse pistols brought back to life miracles occur with bead blasting polishing wheels and compounds patience time and money.

As long as the action is tight and its mostly cosmetic wear if one planned to keep it and take pride in owning it why not make it right again, money comes and goes often with little to show for it but the end result on this pistol should last you a lifetime.

 

[Zundfolge]

So if I may be so bold, how much did you pay for it revolverss?



EDIT
I just noticed in another thread that you mentioned you were from the Philippines ... So you've really got a limited number of gunsmiths (if any) available over there

Does Armscor do any gunsmithing work for civilians there?

 

[SaxonPig]

PotatoJudge- So what's it worth?

Gustav- How do you "save" pitting?

 

[PotatoJudge]

$300-400, maybe $250-325 on the low end, though it's kind of hard to say seeing as the junker Python market is kind of small. It'd also depend on how it looks in person and how it checks out.

 

[revolverss]

Sent to the shop!

Hey guys, sent the python to the shop today, it does look pretty bad in the picture i guess since i took it with a shaking hand and a really bad lighting it actually looks better than in the picture, bought it around $180 in your currency, the smith said it would be done in about a week or so depending on how many customers they have waiting, he's a well known smith and charges a bit cheaper than fords,

Hey zunfolge, you a filipino or you just heard of armscor? they do gunsmithing but just the basic stuff, those who make the pretty advanced stuff are usually home based people who have turned their hobby into work, I told the guys at the shop to rebuild the areas that have pitting, now im thinking if ill reblue it or maybe give it a brushed stainless look? hard chrome maybe? im confused, what do you guys suggest? whats a nice finish to give it? will post pics when its back, now what im looking for is a nice grip for it im having such a hard time looking for a grip here darn it!

The mechanical action feels pretty new id guess less than 300 rounds, checked the barrel for any marks or wear n tear of some sort didnt see any I guess the owner really just kept it or something, previous owner was a retired cop back here and had to sell it due to financial reason and he needed cash real fast oh and sorry for not mentioning the ".5" in 2.5 inch barrel, i was just too excited i guess, thanks for reminding me anyway hehe

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

what kind of gun laws do you have in the phillipenes?

 

[ktd]

I would have it bead blasted (to give it a matte finish to cover up the pitting) and then have it hard chromed. You could probably find industrial or auto shops where you are that could do that, just make sure they do not buff it too hard, non-gun refinishers tend to do that, ending up rounding the gun up too much.

 

[XavierBreath]

A two inch Python barrel is worth close to what you paid for this revolver. Keep in mind, there ain't no more. Numrich's prices were current when they were available.

Many two inch Pythons are fakes, made by nefarious gunsmiths to increase the value of a generic gun. The barrels from Numrich were frequently the source of these fakes. Your two incher is very likely original, due to it's finish and condition.

I would give Colt a call. A proper nickel finish would be appropriate, and the copper plating underneath would conceal most of the pitting. If the finish was done by Colt, the resulting value of the revolver would be greater than a finish from, say Fords. The prices are comparable, or at least they were. While the gun is there, have Colt research it, and provide a letter attesting to it's two inch originality.

Two inch Pythons are bringing upwards of $1200 easily, auctions are often closing at over $1500 on two inch Pythons. Here's one at $3025 and climbing! At $180 now, another $300 tops for a good nickel refinish, you will be in $480. A set of Python grips at $80 will make it $560. As a refinished Python, you can expect to get that back out of it, at least, assuming it has no mechanical problems.

As an alternative, if you plan to use the gun a lot, I like the idea of hardchrome. Expect to possibly only recoup your losses with hard chrome though.

 

[revolverss]

Back home

Sir Xavier thanks for the insight as to where have it refinished, but I'm here in manila and I don't think I'd be able to send it to Colt for refinishing but I believe too the python is an original piece, like the previous owner of the python said he wouldnt have sold it if he didnt need the money due to financial reasons.

Sir CZ you were asking about gun laws here in the philippines they're not really strict about gun laws here except election time, all you need to carry a gun is a FA license, Permit to carry, and if its during election or whatever event for a gun ban then an excemption is need, a FA license here is usually 3,000 then since our country has the worst kind of government officials you can get a license without having to be there yourself for twice the price 6,000 about 120$ all you have to do is give one official your picture and valid id copy then after 2 days you have your firearm ID hehehe, permit to carry costs about 8,000 or about 160 to 170$ with that price you also dont have to appear at the philippine national police office and after 2 days voila you have a permit to carry! Fun isn't it? then even better is I'm friends with the cops in one of the outposts near the house and in order to be excempted from the gunban you have to have an excuse.... so they tell leave it to us sir we'll just make up a death threat for you, then i treat them out for coffee... well thats it back here hehehe

 

[revolverss]

I forgot to add, nobody cares about silencers back here so you could have about 100 of them for all your guns and noone would care

 

[horge]

what kind of gun laws do you have in the philippines?

Try this:
http://ffforum.50webs.com/legal.html



...and revolverss,
Don't send that old warhorse to just any gunsmith.
There's not a very long list of pros who know how to fix a Python, and
if you live in the NCR (national capital region), your odds of getting it to
one of them increase dramatically. A lot of the higher-profile 'smiths are
all talk and advertising, and only know 1911's and AR's.

 

[revolverss]

sir horge

sir horge nice to see another fellow filipino here just started posting on this forum hehe, member rin ba kayo ng pinoyguns sir horge? I sent the python to a good friend of mine, his smith is quite good with restoring revolvers, he's not that well known, i guess the good thing with that is he doesn't charge quite like the others, a bit own the cheaper side but his work is great ive seen some works that hes done and they were awesome thanks for the advice though appreciate it sir! san po kayo located sir horge? is 6782 a low serial number by the way?

 

[revolverss]

decided finish

Hey guys been to the smith and the python was just finished cleaning been watching them do it so i can scream at them if they harm the stamping on the thing hehehe, I've decided that I wanted a satin finish like on the python elite problem is where can i find the red ramp front sight for rmine and now i have to have those grips fabricated too... damn this hobby, I love it!

 

[Majic]

Your original pictures show a carbon steel blued Python. The satin finish you want found on the Python Elite is on a stainless steel revolver. To get close to that finish on a carbon steel gun you will have to have it hardchromed. Give Colt a call about getting a new front sight blade. Grips or stocks for Python are quite common. Unless you are looking for some unique design you should find something without having them fabricated.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Apart from the necessary refinishing, I'd keep it factory original. Don't ramp the sight. If you must, ramp sight kits are available from Brownells. You file the sight, build up a dam, pour in to mixture, allow it to harden, and then file it to trim off the excess.

 

[revolverss]

alrighty

yes, will have it hard chromed first and then the satin finish, well the grips for the python arent so common here in the philippines so need to have them made, as dor the front sight blade i may have to have them fabricated as well if im going to put in a ramp, so much to do so little time

 

[Black Knight]

For the grips check out gripsforguns.com. They offer grips for many different guns. Under the Colt monicker they have two sections, one for semi-autos and one for revolvers. Go to the revolver section and you will find several revolvers listed. The grips you showed should cost about $85 to $90 plus shipping and handling. The grips come in Walnut and Rosewood. I have the Rosewood on one of mine and have thought about getting the Walnut for the other.