Kor
Member
...So, I and a friend got up to Phoenix today for the Crossroads of the West/Small Arms Review gun show - the ONLY gun show worth battling Phoenix's rush-hour traffic on the way home for. 
As usual, the prices for new and used guns there ran at least $100 more than I would have been willing to pay for anything on the tables, with maybe a few exceptions that some fellow Arizonans may wish to take note of for Saturday or Sunday:
- 2 different Japanese Type 99 Arisaka rifles seen for $200; the best one was in the SAR building, mum-intact but refinished(looks Parkerized);
- An American Arms-made .22LR Walther P-38 look-alike pistol for $199 in the "Collector Arms" building at the back;
- Also in the "Collector Arms" building, just inside the right-hand entry, a private seller with Polish P-64's for $169, chromed P-64's for $189, and a Czech surplus CZ-82 for only $239;
And, what I found...a "Colt .357"(that's the actual model name). The "Colt .357" was the immediate predecessor to the Python, both guns share the same frame size, cylinder and lockwork; the Python differs externally in having the vent-ribbed, full-length-underlugged barrel and wide-spurred target hammer, and internally in terms of more painstaking hand-fitting of the action. These guns, along with the similar pre-MkIII Colt Troopers, have a reputation in certain circles as "poor man's Pythons."
This particular ".357" still has a very tight action and lockup, but reeks of cold-bluing; the finish on the barrel is looking particularly thin, although I don't see any actual rust, corrosion or pitting. The cylinder looks slightly better off than the barrel, and the frame looks so smooth and even that I suspect the gun may have been re-blued at some point - especially since the sides of the hammer are blued, and not polished bright as I think was correct for original production.
According to the dealer, the serial #, 129XX, dates the gun to about 1953. As received, the adjustable rear sight had been cranked all the way right, probably to compensate for it's previous owner's low-left flinch.
And, to top it off, the gun came complete with a set of service-style home-made-looking old stag grips, and two sets of vintage Fitz "Gun Fighter" plastic combat grips - one in dull-brown faux-walnut finish, and one in a glossy-red rosewood-type finish.
So, what did I pay? $300.00 OUT THE DOOR.
...Sorry, I'm feeling a little verklemt right now...Discuss amongst yourselves...
As usual, the prices for new and used guns there ran at least $100 more than I would have been willing to pay for anything on the tables, with maybe a few exceptions that some fellow Arizonans may wish to take note of for Saturday or Sunday:
- 2 different Japanese Type 99 Arisaka rifles seen for $200; the best one was in the SAR building, mum-intact but refinished(looks Parkerized);
- An American Arms-made .22LR Walther P-38 look-alike pistol for $199 in the "Collector Arms" building at the back;
- Also in the "Collector Arms" building, just inside the right-hand entry, a private seller with Polish P-64's for $169, chromed P-64's for $189, and a Czech surplus CZ-82 for only $239;
And, what I found...a "Colt .357"(that's the actual model name). The "Colt .357" was the immediate predecessor to the Python, both guns share the same frame size, cylinder and lockwork; the Python differs externally in having the vent-ribbed, full-length-underlugged barrel and wide-spurred target hammer, and internally in terms of more painstaking hand-fitting of the action. These guns, along with the similar pre-MkIII Colt Troopers, have a reputation in certain circles as "poor man's Pythons."
This particular ".357" still has a very tight action and lockup, but reeks of cold-bluing; the finish on the barrel is looking particularly thin, although I don't see any actual rust, corrosion or pitting. The cylinder looks slightly better off than the barrel, and the frame looks so smooth and even that I suspect the gun may have been re-blued at some point - especially since the sides of the hammer are blued, and not polished bright as I think was correct for original production.
According to the dealer, the serial #, 129XX, dates the gun to about 1953. As received, the adjustable rear sight had been cranked all the way right, probably to compensate for it's previous owner's low-left flinch.
And, to top it off, the gun came complete with a set of service-style home-made-looking old stag grips, and two sets of vintage Fitz "Gun Fighter" plastic combat grips - one in dull-brown faux-walnut finish, and one in a glossy-red rosewood-type finish.So, what did I pay? $300.00 OUT THE DOOR.
...Sorry, I'm feeling a little verklemt right now...Discuss amongst yourselves...
