Help need with Colt Python information

[Jeffrey K Scudder]

My uncle has/had two Colt Pythons that are 3" which are being given to me.
One has "Combat Python" stamped in the barrel w 357 Magnum under that, the other just has "Python 357", does not say combat, but both are 3" barrels. So I'm looking for infomation on them and also the best reference material I can find for future python info. I have two publications by R.L.Wilson that don't say much and a blue book. Any help on these two
3" ( both are blue)would be appreciated, and what book or books will be the most help in the future with Colt Pythons.
Thanks, JKS

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Pythons weren't made with a 3 inch barrel. They were made with 2 1/2 inch, four inch, or six inch barrels. There was a brief period when they were also manufactured with an eight inch barrel.

Unless somebody cut your uncle's Pythons down to three inches. And I can't imagine they would do that.

If they are 2 1/2 inch Pythons, they are pretty rare and highly sought after.

 

[Jim Watson]

Oh, dear.
How do I put this nicely, P&R?
Oh, well, why bother?
WRONG!!!

Colt did indeed produce some 3" Pythons.

The good news is that they are uncommon and the collectors and speculators are taking an interest in them and running prices up.
The bad news is that Numrich and Sportsman's Guide got a lot of surplus OEM 3" barrels after Colt gave up on the model. There may well be more fakes than originals out there.
I don't have any information on markings, serial number ranges or anything that would be of interest to a speculator.

 

[JCM298]

Three inch Pythons are valuable. There is a demand for them, if they came from the factory with 3" barrels. Unfortunately, there have been a number of them "created" by `smiths.

The Colt Forum is down for maintanence right now. When it comes back up, I'd post your question there:

http://www.coltforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

Because of the relative rarity and demand for the 3" Pythons, it might be worth your while to get a letter from Colt.

John

 

[SaxonPig]

There were a very few original 3" Pythons made (one was featured on the 1960s show Get Smart) and they are sought after by collectors. But as Jim noted, barrels were sold as parts and many converted gun exists.

I have never heard of a "Combat Python" but then I haven't heard everything.

I also don't know of any books just about Pythons. RL Wilson (the convicted felon) wrote a book about Colts in general but it's mostly a picture book with limited actual information.

Just a suggestion. There's an advanced Colt colelctor named JudgeColt (yes, he is) who pops in sometimes on smith-wessonforum.com and gunbroker.com and you might want to look him up in the directory and shoot him an email or make an open post directed towards him and see if he responds. He's a great guy and he knows Colts.

 

[22-rimfire]

Factory made 3" Pythons are very valuable. If you plan on selling them, the question of authenticity will come up. If you believe they are factory original Pythons with the 3" barrel, I would get factory letters on each one. The letters are expensive, but the letters are valuable to collectors.

No Colt reference details much information on the 3" barreled Pythons. Your best free advice will come from the Colt Forum members. Be prepared to post pictures and so forth. But, the only way to get the best information is to pay for factory letters on each gun. Again they are quite valuable if authentic and in good condition. By chance, do you have the boxes? Did he buy the guns new or were they uesed? Was your Uncle the kind of guy to have gunsmithing done on his firearms?

 

[dfariswheel]

The first 3" Pythons were made for a big West coast distributor and are known as "Combat" or sometimes "California Combat" Pythons.

The distributors name was part of the barrel markings as I recall.
Production of these special run 3" Pythons was low.
Colt did not release any known distributor marked 3" barrels, since they used them all for this run.
Therefore, a distributor marked model is unlikely to be a phony.

After this, Colt made several runs of limited regular production 3" Pythons.
These regular production models have standard Python markings.
These 3" Pythons were made in the same serial number range as all other Pythons, so there is no way of determining a 3" Python based on serial number.

As above, the 3" standard production Python is one of the most commonly counterfeited guns today.

Not only are 3" barrels installed on regular Pythons, the boxes and end labels are being made up.

The ONLY way to be certain you have a genuine regular production 3" Python is to get a factory Historical Letter.
Since in the past, even factory letters have been faked, a smart buyer insists on getting HIS own letter direct from Colt.

In this particular case, I'd guess that both of the 3" Pythons are legit since you're not getting them from an unknown source.

 

[rfo1]

Colt Combat Python

for those interested there is indeed a 3 inch Python. Here's my Colt Combat Python with factory installed 3 inch barrel.The model # is 13630CP.
good shooting--
rfo1