For a couple dollars more, you could have had a Python in 1975

I like these old Shooters Bible books I have laying around.
Back in 1975 these were the retail prices for the S&W Dirty Harry 44 magnum and the Colt Python.
Both 6 inch blue revolvers but that 44 magnum ammo cost a bit more.
But you wanted to be Dirty Harry and went all out on the 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, rather than have a cute prancing pony on your revolver.
Really, two bucks difference? Well good thing you didn't want to be Davy Crockett and spent your money on a Italian flintlock that cost almost as much at the time.
Now the vintage 44 Magnum goes for what? almost a couple thousand in NIB condition?
But you just had to shoot it, and shoot it, didn't you.
Those pythons, well who wants to take them out of the safe anyway?
Now they went up 1800%

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No doubt the Colt is sweet but well over priced. Most of the Smith fans will be happy with their choice, by the way they are still a good investment.

Thewelshm

 

The Mdl. 29-2 could not be bought any where at suggested prices in 1975. I purchased a Mdl 29 in 1970 for $600 bucks and was glad to get it. The Mdl. 29 S&W was the "Holy Grail" of handguns back then. The Python .357 caliber was not that popular for 2 reasons back then. The .357 was not an exciting caliber. The "fragile" Python was a not popular with handloaders and active handgunners.

http://www.coltfever.com/GUNSMITHING.html

 

That must be true
Here's something I copied from American Rifleman

You should have maybe bought a couple/few pythons Dog.
I'm personally a fan of S&W revolvers myself but the closest I could get to a 29-2 is a 8 3/8 model 629.
It makes MY day!

 

Bullseye, I was so hard pressed financially back then that owning one expensive handgun was a miracle. I borrowed the $600 dollars from the credit union. I still own that first Mdl. 29. The gun is worn beyond repair and lives in the safe. That is a nice collection of S&W handguns. I have a number of S&W revolvers. This is a 3rd Mdl. Hand Ejector /Pre 29 .44 Mag. It was made during the 3rd quarter of 1956.

 

Bullseye

I use to encounter the same thing back then looking for S&W J frames, like the Model 60 and the Model 40. Sure they turned up sometimes at gun shops but they were pretty much hard to come by and were priced significantly way over the suggested retail price when you did find them.

 

I like the name Bannockburn. While in Scotland I visited Balquhidderock the scene of that Battle. Robert the Bruce sent King Edward II troops home to England. You are so correct on S&W prices. The good news is the ones we were able to afford has been a good investment. Good luck.

 

I had to settle for a Ruger Service Six and an H&R 949 22 in the 70's. No way could I afford those expensive revolvers.

 

Was not all than long ago I could have had two Pythons for around $500 each. 2006? I did not buy them as they were just too fancy for me.

Back in '74 or '75 bought a new Agent for about what was listed above.

 

I bought a Smith 686 4" (.38/.357) in 1986 for $310. I still have the receipt, the box, all papers and of course the revolver.

 

Never made it to Bannockburn but spent time walking around Culloden. Surprised at how small the field was for so great an event.

 

I used to pour over those old Shooters Bibles and Gun Digest books constantly, just wishing. I only wanted one.

I finally got my first handgun in the late 70's maybe, more likely the early 80's. I was torn between a S&W Model 19, and a Colt Python. I picked the Model 19, because as I remember there was at least a $100.00 difference, maybe more between the two, and $100.00 was serious money back then.

I did eventually get a Python a few years ago. Paid $800.00 for it in "shooter" condition. I thought it was pretty well ragged out at first, but a quick clean up with WD-40 revealed it to be nowhere near as rough as I thought it was. Later, a couple of hand buffs with Flitz and some Ren wax, and it looked pretty decent. It was a good shooting gun, and I liked it a lot. I don't know if it was THAT much better than a S&W or a Ruger, I just know I liked it.

Alas, I lost my job before a year was over, and had to sell a bunch of my guns to make ends meet. The Pyton was one of them that went on the altar. I'll probably never own another one.

 

When did it become just a simple matter of paying for a model 29 or python and your dealer would order you one like today? The 80's?

 

I remember going into a gun shop in 1977 wanting to buy a revolver (I was a college student and didn't have much money). I looked at a new 4" Python - as I recall it was nickel plated. It had the smoothest action I had ever felt. It was .$300. He also had a new S&W Model 19 - nickel 4" and it was $200. I bought the S&W and still have it. I liked the looks of the S&W more, but more importantly I HAD $200...but not $300. I don't regret it at all, except maybe when I see what they are selling for now.

 

I got a new Colt Python 6" 357 back in the 60's. I was working well and driving a new Porsche along with buying a place to hunt, ski and stay at then in Vermont.
A buddy had bought a Ruger Blackhawk 44 magnum 6" and he was a very good shot. We both had been handloading since the mid 50's.
I bought a new Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt. That gun holds and hits much much better for me and I still have it and shoot it.

While I could shoot my Woodsman well (6")) because it was well balanced the Python was too barrel heavy and not easy to hold steady. I had custom grips made for it and they did not help.

Then the forcing cone cracked on the python! I called Colt and they said to bring it up there as I lived nearby. They put on a new barrel on free while I watched in their Hartford plant.

The gun still did not balance or hold well for me.

 

Those old ads always kind of make me wish that I had one of these.

 

Smith & Wessons are shooters while Colt Pythons are guns safe stuffers. Two reasons Colts bring in prices they do the guns aren't made any longer and people want them and are willing to pay prices being asked. The current price trend isn't reflection of quality. I have seen some priced above Korth on second-hand market.

 

Yes, it did need a python pic and you filled the need quite nicely.

 

I remember back in the mid eighty's I was buying my first handgun . I looked at S&W 686 , Ruger GP 100 , Dan Wesson , Colt King Cobra & Colt Python . I loved the look and action of the Python , but as I remember it cost twice as much as the others that I looked at . I settled on the 686 , I think I paid $325 for it . My buddy wanted something different and he like the Colt name , so he bought the King Cobra and paid about the same as my 686 . The fit was terrible on his Colt , he sent it to one of their authorized repair shops ( the dealer sent it ) and they made it worst , then he sent it back to Colt , but he still doesn't like the fit . As I remember it didn't cost him anything for the cosmetic repairs . He still has it and I bet he has not shot more than 500 rd. through it . I told him what price they were asking for them now .

When you see the prices these snake guns bring it makes me wish that I would have bought at least a King Cobra , but I like my 686 better .

 

I had the money for a Python back in the day and loved they way the gun looked. When I cycled the action, however, I did not like the way it cycled compared to the S&W double actions, so I never bought one. (IIRC, it stacked a bit.) I have no regrets about that.

 

red rick

I bought my Model 686 at around the same time you bought yours and probably paid about the same amount as you did! One of the nicest built S&W revolvers I have owned with the best out-of-the-box trigger on it. Sold it to my brother when he needed a .357 and I bought another Model 686, though it was nowhere as nice as the one I had. As fate would have it I found a collector with a mint Walther P 38 II that traded me even up for the Model 686. Knew my brother couldn't resist the Walther so I traded with him and got my original Model 686 back. Worked out great for both of us.

 

I was cross country and needed $100 so I pawned my, almost new, Dan Wesson 4 and 6 inches. I now have the same but the first one was older and better except this one is slicked up almost like a Smith, thanks internet.