How much *DID* Walking Dead contribute to Pythons collectors premium?

[CraigC]

I bought one of the .22 Uzi pistols just because of Invasion USA but it was only $250.

 

[WestKentucky]

I watched a couple seasons of the show, and like other guys have said, I don’t really see the show as driving the prices for the guns up. The prices were already elevated, and if anything people went looking for the guns, found them out of productions and expensive on the used market, but so expensive that the vast majority of the younger crowd who primarily watched the show would not have been able to afford. It may have served as a reminder to a few folks that might be interested in one, but it certainly didn’t drive the prices up much... but likely a small amount.

 

[CraigC]

Even though I've done it and admitted it, I'm still skeptical and just don't see it in this case. I could understand if it was something modern and "tacticool" that costs $500, maybe 20-30 somethings buying Glocks or AR15's because they saw them in a video game but not something like the Python.

 

[Bill Raby]

I would rather have the new version. You can buy a new one instead of one that someone else wore out or sold because it would not shoot straight.

 

[Fiv3r]

I always figured his Python was a personally owned weapon. Not all that unusual, especially in small, rural departments.

You know, I thought about that as well, but I just figured that Robert Kirkman wouldn't have thought of such. However, I just looked it up and he's from Lexington KY which is not a SMALL city, but as a guy who frequents Kentucky, I'm sure he had a good bit of interaction with various smaller locations.

 

[Reinz]

I never watched the show until 2 years ago. Funny thing was, it was a bunch of non gun owners bugging me to watch it.

 

[Charlie98]

I've often wondered about handguns in TV shows and movies. Why? Why the Python in TWD? Was it the first pistol handy in the gun locker? Did the writer want a revolver, so, here, we got this old Python? Did the prop guys want something imposing... full lug barrel and vent rib? Did the actor say 'I want a Python, that would be cool!' And you could ask those questions about every instance in TV and movie... very intriguing...

 

[2ndtimer]

I doubt many here are old enough to remember the TV show " Starcky & Hutch ".

But one carried a semi auto and the other = Colt Python..

The local gun shop had many come in asking for "His Gun" not even by name as they did not know what it was.

I carried my S&W 581 [ L frame .357 ] and that was as an LEO.

Beat a close friend at a shooting session at 25 yards,he had a Python,and my gun costs a GREAT deal less.

Owned a Diamond back,and sorry I sold it.

Could have gotten a really big payoff now.

Pythons are real pretty.s'all I can say about um.

Yeah, I too was a Starsky and Hutch fan. Have owned both of the star's weapons at one time ( a 6" blued Python and a S&W Model 59). I was concerned about the Python's delicate action (and that it was just too pretty to subject to holster wear), so it got traded off. Should have kept it as a safe queen investment, but could only afford guns to shoot back then. Traded off the Model 59 because of concerns about the aluminum alloy frame. I did however finally locate and secure my grail gun around that time: a new 6" Blued Colt Diamondback .22, that I will keep forever. An affordable and durable homage to David Soul's character, I guess.

 

[Dibbs]

Oh, Rick's revolver was a Python? Looked like a full lug Ruger GP100, to me...

 

[Homerboy]

I've often wondered about handguns in TV shows and movies. Why? Why the Python in TWD? Was it the first pistol handy in the gun locker? Did the writer want a revolver, so, here, we got this old Python? Did the prop guys want something imposing... full lug barrel and vent rib? Did the actor say 'I want a Python, that would be cool!' And you could ask those questions about every instance in TV and movie... very intriguing...

No. They just simply followed the comic book, which stated that rick had a Python.

but yes, the show sold Pythons, just like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon sold Beretta 92’s and Dirty Harry sold Model 27’s. And yes, I bought one of those cheap hollow handled survival knives at a flea market because of Rambo.

Buchmeir holsters made and sold a reproduction Rick Grimes Walking Dead holster and duty belt and they sold like hot cakes.

Sure, gun people knew of the Python before TWD. But the mainstream public did not. Having it on that show made the mainstream public aware of it. I’ve been watching since day 1 and it surely has gone downhill, but it’s still a ratings juggernaught and product placement always works on big shows.

 

[scaatylobo]

No. They just simply followed the comic book, which stated that rick had a Python.

but yes, the show sold Pythons, just like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon sold Beretta 92’s and Dirty Harry sold Model 27’s. And yes, I bought one of those cheap hollow handled survival knives at a flea market because of Rambo.

Buchmeir holsters made and sold a reproduction Rick Grimes Walking Dead holster and duty belt and they sold like hot cakes.

Sure, gun people knew of the Python before TWD. But the mainstream public did not. Having it on that show made the mainstream public aware of it. I’ve been watching since day 1 and it surely has gone downhill, but it’s still a ratings juggernaught and product placement always works on big shows.

Dirty Harry was supposed to carry a 6 1/2" model 29 S&W.

He did use a 27 during filming.

And the movies have also been VERY influential in selling S&W model 19's [ 66 ] to name another model that Eastwood used.

 

[Charlie98]

No. They just simply followed the comic book, which stated that rick had a Python.

but yes, the show sold Pythons, just like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon sold Beretta 92’s and Dirty Harry sold Model 27’s. And yes, I bought one of those cheap hollow handled survival knives at a flea market because of Rambo.

Buchmeir holsters made and sold a reproduction Rick Grimes Walking Dead holster and duty belt and they sold like hot cakes.

Sure, gun people knew of the Python before TWD. But the mainstream public did not. Having it on that show made the mainstream public aware of it. I’ve been watching since day 1 and it surely has gone downhill, but it’s still a ratings juggernaught and product placement always works on big shows.

See... and that'd stuff I didn't know, not being a fan of the show. I would argue the B-92 popularity, I would guess the Army adoption of it probably did more to boost sales than anything, but I'm sure everyone started looking for 'cop killer bullets' after Lethal Weapon.

 

[CraigC]

Never watched TWD and have no plans to so I have to ask, is the Python the center of attention like Dirty Harry's model 29? Or is it just a prop that they never mention?

I've heard they used a 57 on the set of the Dirty Harry movies but it's clearly never a 27.

Die Hard made me want an MP5 more than anything. I wonder what Red Dawn did for AK sales? Sudden Impact and the AutoMag? Death Wish III and the Wildey? Miami Vice and the Bren Ten? Die Hard 2 and the "Glock Seven"?

Now that I think about it, it's probably at least partly because of Predator 2 that I wanted a brushed chrome Desert Eagle.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

CraigC,

I watched all of TWD. I only remember the gun being called a "Python" in one early episode.

 

[FlSwampRat]

I've often wondered about handguns in TV shows and movies. Why? Why the Python in TWD? Was it the first pistol handy in the gun locker? Did the writer want a revolver, so, here, we got this old Python? Did the prop guys want something imposing... full lug barrel and vent rib? Did the actor say 'I want a Python, that would be cool!' And you could ask those questions about every instance in TV and movie... very intriguing...

First off, the actor playing Rick Grimes is British, so the likelihood of him being aware of a Python and wanting it for his character, very nil. You can tell how unfamiliar he is with firearms in general and magnums in particular by how he limp wrists the gun when he fires it.
Also, fun fact, he's Ian Anderson's (lead singer of Jethro Tull) son-in-law.
A rural Georgia sheriff might likely carry a revolver, even in today's world. And, you do have to admit, it is pretty badass looking.

 

[Charlie98]

I've heard they used a 57 on the set of the Dirty Harry movies but it's clearly never a 27.

That's kind of what I was thinking... I've heard they used a 57 (for what reason I don't know) not a .357.

Die Hard made me want an MP5 more than anything. I wonder what Red Dawn did for AK sales? Sudden Impact and the AutoMag? Death Wish III and the Wildey? Miami Vice and the Bren Ten? Die Hard 2 and the "Glock Seven"?

Well... and that's what I was talking about. +1 on the MP5, but also a P7 HK... just not chrome plated. You also left out Predator and a GE Minigun...

 

[Homerboy]

First off, the actor playing Rick Grimes is British, so the likelihood of him being aware of a Python and wanting it for his character, very nil. You can tell how unfamiliar he is with firearms in general and magnums in particular by how he limp wrists the gun when he fires it.
Also, fun fact, he's Ian Anderson's (lead singer of Jethro Tull) son-in-law.
A rural Georgia sheriff might likely carry a revolver, even in today's world. And, you do have to admit, it is pretty badass looking.

I watched a behind the scenes thing in one of the DVD’s. The property master said that Andrew Lincoln would wear that gun even when he wasn’t in a scene and nobody but Lincoln and the property master were allowed to even touch it.

and yes, I meant Dirty Harry spawned Model 29 sales. And I recall being in a gunshop after the Walking Dead hit it big and seeing a Python. Gunshop owner had a little card next to it that said Walking Dead Gun. Gun savvy people knew of the Python and appreciated it, but the Walking Dead has lots of first time gun owners looking for a Python, no doubt. Even that dopey 4” holster with 2” of the gun barrel poking out the bottom.

 

[Kayaker 1960]

3 of my uncles all went out and bought 4" blued Colt Pythons back in about 1972 or so. I don't own a Python, my 6" S&W 66-2 in close enough.

 

[AustinTX]

People who are buying Pythons because of a television show inspired by a comic book aren't particularly interested in the innards of a Python nor it's 'fabled bank vault lockup'”. For them it's the look and mystique and the Anaconda looks like a Python on steroids. As I have both revolvers I certainly know the Anaconda doesn't approach the Python in quality, although it's a good, dependable wheel gun.

A current check of Gunwatcher shows that 6 Anaconda sales tracked 3 years ago were all above $1,800.
https://gunwatcher.com/colt-anaconda-for-sale-in-stock/guns-best-price-link

I'm not sure what your reply really has to do with my post. As I already said, I'm not one who believes the show had a great impact on Python prices. Python prices were already moving steadily upward before the show was released, along with those of many other desirable out-of-production guns, and, contrary to what you wrote in your earlier post, the more desirable Pythons were already far above the Anaconda in average asking price. You expressed some confusion as to why the Anaconda isn't more highly valued than the common variants of the Python, despite the latter being produced in far greater quantities than the former, and I gave some of the reasons why.

 

[troy fairweather]

I only seen parts of the show, the zombies seem way to easy to kill. A 22lr would be my pick. I don't think it helped the python any.

 

[silvermane_1]

No. They just simply followed the comic book, which stated that rick had a Python.

but yes, the show sold Pythons, just like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon sold Beretta 92’s and Dirty Harry sold Model 27’s. And yes, I bought one of those cheap hollow handled survival knives at a flea market because of Rambo.

Buchmeir holsters made and sold a reproduction Rick Grimes Walking Dead holster and duty belt and they sold like hot cakes.

Sure, gun people knew of the Python before TWD. But the mainstream public did not. Having it on that show made the mainstream public aware of it. I’ve been watching since day 1 and it surely has gone downhill, but it’s still a ratings juggernaught and product placement always works on big shows.

Actually it was S&W M29s there Homerboy, and technically it was a S&W 6" M57 that was used in the first Dirty Harry movie because the prop folks couldn't find a 6" M29 at the time of filming, the only M29s available were the 4" "Mountain Gun".

 

[silvermane_1]

I didn't vote because of 2 reasons:
1)The Walking Dead did introduce the iconic Colt Python to younger and/or non-firearm enthusiasts, and ramped up prices on the secondary market.
2) The Colt Python already had a "cult following" pre-TWD, and while a superb handgun, the Python has it's short comings due to the older style leaf spring internal lockwork, hand fitted parts, and that Pythons tend to shoot lose and/or go out of time with heavy use of high velocity 357 mag, also IIRC the Python has shorter cylinder that limits what 357 mag ammo you shoot in it, but I did say "IIRC", I'm not a Colt or Python expert.

 

[wagonburner]

18.5% of posters are sore they don’t own Pythons ...

 

[mcb]

18.5% of posters are sore they don’t own Pythons ...

As a member of that 18.5% I can assure you I am not sore I don't own a Python. If I suddenly had a Python I would promptly sell it and buy three nice S&W revolvers for the money.

 

[wagonburner]

As a member of that 18.5% I can assure you I am not sore I don't own a Python. If I suddenly had a Python I would promptly sell it and buy three nice S&W revolvers for the money.

I must admit, the post was just to stir the pot. Sorry, too much coffee this morning.