How I found my Colt Python

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Charlie Martinez

Charlie Martinez

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I was 21 years old looking for a 357 Magnum revolver in a now defunct gun shop called Tamiami Gun Shop. I was interested in a gun I could afford (at the time was the Ruger Security Six if new) & whatever I could find used. After I talked to the salesman for a while & realized there was nothing there I really wanted to buy when an old guy walked in & demanded his money back on a brand new 4" barreled Colt Python he had purchased the day before. He explained to the salesman that to pass his security guard exam he had to shoot w/one hand & the Python was so heavy he couldn't pass. He failed the exam due to the weight of the gun & needed a lighter gun to take it again & hopefully pass. The salesman offered him a little Smith & Wesson 38 Special & $125 to take the Python back (Please note this happened in 1972 when a dollar was a dollar & Colt Pythons sold for $200 new in the box). I don't think Ive ever seen anyone as pissed as this little old guy was when he heard that. He told the salesman that the day before he had paid him $200 plus tax & now after just 10 shots he was offering him $175 for the same gun. The salesman told him that $175 is what they paid Colt factory for a new gun & that was the best he could do. The old guy almost put 6 in the chamber & started shooting before the salesman told him that I (the kid) was looking for a 357 & maybe he could do better dealing with me. That old man (bless his heart) looked at me & said "kid, you want this gun? Because if you do I'd rather sell it to you for $125 than to return it to this son of a bitch". I said yes, & bought the gun for $125 including a box of 357 (40 rounds), a gun case, the box & everything else). My buddies couldn't believe it when I showed them that incredible jewel & to this day that revolver is not only my most prized possession but the most expensive gun I own. Sometimes even a poor guy finds God.
Anyone that has a good gun story please share.
 
Charlie Martinez said:
I was 21 years old looking for a 357 Magnum revolver in a now defunct gun shop called Tamiami Gun Shop. I was interested in a gun I could afford (at the time was the Ruger Security Six if new) & whatever I could find used. After I talked to the salesman for a while & realized there was nothing there I really wanted to buy when an old guy walked in & demanded his money back on a brand new 4" barreled Colt Python he had purchased the day before. He explained to the salesman that to pass his security guard exam he had to shoot w/one hand & the Python was so heavy he couldn't pass. He failed the exam due to the weight of the gun & needed a lighter gun to take it again & hopefully pass. The salesman offered him a little Smith & Wesson 38 Special & $125 to take the Python back (Please note this happened in 1972 when a dollar was a dollar & Colt Pythons sold for $200 new in the box). I don't think Ive ever seen anyone as pissed as this little old guy was when he heard that. He told the salesman that the day before he had paid him $200 plus tax & now after just 10 shots he was offering him $175 for the same gun. The salesman told him that $175 is what they paid Colt factory for a new gun & that was the best he could do. The old guy almost put 6 in the chamber & started shooting before the salesman told him that I (the kid) was looking for a 357 & maybe he could do better dealing with me. That old man (bless his heart) looked at me & said "kid, you want this gun? Because if you do I'd rather sell it to you for $125 than to return it to this son of a bitch". I said yes, & bought the gun for $125 including a box of 357 (40 rounds), a gun case, the box & everything else). My buddies couldn't believe it when I showed them that incredible jewel & to this day that revolver is not only my most prized possession but the most expensive gun I own. Sometimes even a poor guy finds God.
Anyone that has a good gun story please share.
Click to expand...

A great deal no doubt, but remember $200 in 1972 was worth about $1,200 in today's money.
 
I was making $3.00 an hour back then so $125 was more than a weeks pay (I had to give Uncle Sam 23% of every dollar I made). But when you love guns it's worth every penny & I have enjoyed that revolver every minute I've had it! I still haven't made up my mind who's going to get it after I croak but I'll never sell it
 
Paul7 said:
A great deal no doubt, but remember $200 in 1972 was worth about $1,200 in today's money.
Click to expand...
Yes, but he paid $125, which is worth about $750 today. Either price is still a smoking good deal for a Python. frickin GRIPS go for $500 today.
 
I have mostly bad ones. "Just missed it". "Shoulda been there". One in particular was when my Grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, he sold a lot of his collection at gun shows, I helped him set up at one particular show. He had two nice .22lr Colt New Frontiers listed for $200 a piece. I was a broke teen at the time (2000's) and still managed to buy 3 or 4 of his guns so I had no funds left to buy his Colts. A guy comes up and says "I'll do $100". My Grandpa says "sure, which one?". Guy says "both". "Oh...alright, deal". Guy picks them up and walks off as I'm sitting in my soiled pants.

Best deal I came across was when I was roofing a giant pole barn 100+ miles across the border in Wisconsin all summer. I'd stop at local shops on my ride back to help break up the trip. One of the last shops I stopped in at at the end of the summer had a Dan Wesson 15-2v in about mint condition with a very nice leather holster. $350 in 2016. I paid him and contacted my ffl for the transfer that day. Sweet shooters those DW's.

Good story, good purchase op!
 
Don't get me wrong I've had more misses than hits. I still remember the Ruger No 1 in 30-06 with a Leupold 4X I could have had for $160, or a Winchester Model 70 (pre 64) in 25-06 that sold for $150 & a beautiful Browning single shot in 243 Winchester that was (I can't remember) being sold for a song. All three would have been incredible deals. Not to mention the day Walmart decided they didn't want to sell any more guns I could have bought a Ruger Stainless Super Blackhawk 7.5" barrel 44 Mag for $120. Instead I bought a Seiko watch valued at &120 for $40. But times dictate what we do & in those days I had other priorities. I just wanted to share my lucky moment. Why ruin everyone's evening?
 
Neat story!

Wonder if the old guy did better with the (K frame? J frame?) he bought. Definitely more pleasant to carry every day.

1KPerDay said:
Yes, but he paid $125, which is worth about $750 today. Either price is still a smoking good deal for a Python. frickin GRIPS go for $500 today.
Click to expand...

I'm a pretty devout S&W guy for double actions, but I'd definitely pay $750 for a Python. The $2,000+ they go for today? Not so much. Nice guns, but even for the same money, I'd rather buy a nice pre-27 N frame.
 
Wanted an 8 pt w my dad's gun......so did that too, 51 or 52 yards facing away.
Spined w bullet stopping in his nose (buddy did Euro mount and found it LOL)
I find the Python 6" to be light weight and light recoil..........kinda wimpy.
But it worked.
Prefer a .44 mag Smith N frame for deer, but arthritis...........might be done w .44 magnums.

View attachment 829165
 
MachIVshooter said:
Neat story!

Wonder if the old guy did better with the (K frame? J frame?) he bought. Definitely more pleasant to carry every day.



I'm a pretty devout S&W guy for double actions, but I'd definitely pay $750 for a Python. The $2,000+ they go for today? Not so much. Nice guns, but even for the same money, I'd rather buy a nice pre-27 N frame.
Click to expand...

I grew up shooting Colts. And the few Pythons, they all shot great.
Me? I'd rather have a 6" Smith 686 pre lock.
Pythons are nice, but I think way over hyped.
Have had four Smith 629s and they all shot great.
Think Pythons, blued and in 6" look the best.
Stainless............nope.
Prefer the Smith L frame 6" in stainless though.
Hunting..............getting caught in a downpour?
I'll oil it up when I get home (total tear down)............I still feel better doing that to a stainless gun.
 
Yeah, he set the price, and it was in @ '90 or 91. The St.Paul PD had just adopted the Glock, largely through his efforts. He purchased one privately and let his LT, then Dept. Chief, then Chief shoot it. They liked it better than the S&W 3rd Gens of the time. I wish I still had the snub. I traded the 4" for a Redhawk, wish I still had that, too.
 
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