Python("Brite stainless", 4-inch)questions?

[slick6]

1)Were the Python's, made in "Brite stainless", somewhat rare-or, in limited production(Or, were these made in large quantities?)?

2)If these are somewhat rare, was the(4")barrel length any less rare than was the(6")barrel length, in "Brite stainless"?

3)What production years, were the Python's in "Brite stainless" made?

4)Is it just California-or, are Python's in "Brite stainless", also difficult to find in other States?

5)Are the "Brite stainless" Python's a desireable Python to own?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Bright-polished Pythons command premium prices because they cost somewhat more when new, and weren't made in vast quantities.

A note of caution: it's entirely possible to put a bright polish on a regular stainless steel gun, Python or otherwise. I've done it. It takes a few hours and some patience.

Dfariswheel will have the definite answers.

 

[slick6]

Well, the(4-inch)"Brite stainless" Python that I saw, was NIB(With the box marked as being "Brite stainless"(Actually abreviated)! This Gun Dealer just commented to me, that these were very hard to find(But, I wanted to get the facts on this, to be sure?)!

 

[GUNKWAZY]

I would think that if the box matches the gun, then it's a Colt polish job.
If it was done by the consumer, check the Hammer & Trigger. Colt polished those items as the rest of the gun. Most people doing a home polish job do NOT disassemble the gun to do those 2 parts. As far as the BSS guns being rare, I don't see too many of them. At least not on the market. Colt started doing the BSS (Bright Stainless) to replace the nickel plated guns in the mid 80's. I personally like the BSS over the nickel guns due to the fact you can't easily fix damaged nickel. You could polish out a problem on a BSS Python though.
You will see a lot more brushed SS Pythons than you will BSS Pythons. That's for sure.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[slick6]

1)Thanks, Jeff!

2)There is no doubt, that this BSS Colt is "Genuine"! The box(Description) and the gun exactly match-and, I remember the trigger and hammer were also polished like the rest of the gun!

3)I'm curious, as to what kind of prices that you might have seen these BSS Python's selling for, in your(and other?)States? Are they selling at a "Premium" over the Matte stainless Python's or even the Royal Blue Python's-or?

4)How is the qualty(Overall)of your(Pictured)BSS(6-inch)Python?

 

[dfariswheel]

The Brite Stainless or Ultimate finish isn't particulary rare.

I'd guess that more 6" versions were made than 4" models, but again, both are fairly easy to find.

A look at the gun auction and sales sites will usually turn several up in both lengths.

These did cost more than standard satin stainless, simply because of the extensive hand polishing needed to bring the metal to a true mirror finish.

So while not at all rare, these are quite desirable to own, if nothing else as an example of a Master polisher's hand work.

It's one thing to get a mirror shiny gun by applying a coat of nickel.
It's quite another to get a mirror shine with nothing but polishing, and without having wavy, blurry surfaces.

 

[slick6]

What about value of the BSS(4-inch)Python's? Are they worth a "Premium" over the standard matte stainless or even the royal blued Python's?

 

[GUNKWAZY]

As far as value goes.
Number one, you don't see anyone selling piles of Pythons.
When you see a Python, it's usually the only one in the shop.
At that point, you are at the mercy of what they will charge you for it and how bad you want it. Like I said, you will see a lot more brushed or matt finished SS Pythons than you will the BSS. It's mainly up to you if you will pay a premium or not. I personally would, but that's just me. Then again there's people that don't like Colts and wouldn't want one either.
What's the price on the matching boxed 4 incher ? Is it Minty ? Don't forget, they (COLT) are not making them (PYTHONS) at this time. They have stopped production.
If you were to buy a NEW one if/when Colt starts production again, you will pay a minimum of $1000 for a brushed finished Python Elite New in the Box.
I would think $800-$900 is where the price will be mint boxed, it just depends on that dealer and you. If you can snag it for less, it's a great deal, and if it's more, I would really check the gun auctions out.
How many have you seen near you ? Will it make you feel good to own it ? Will you lose money if you no longer want it and want to trade it for something ? They don't seem to be dropping price wise.
Can you find one someday for $600, sure, but you can someday win the lotto.
Hope I didn't confuse you too much.


Side note: I love my BSS Python and would buy another. I would love to add a 4 incher and a 2.5 incher to that group.

That's just me.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[pythonguy]

I always keep a eye out for Pythons, and lately I notice a definite decline in the quality of ones for sale. The shops are trying to take advantage of Colts announcement of no production (like they were making them anyway) for 2005 and saying Colt isn't going to make any Pythons anymore, and the junk has now come out for sale @ $800 to $950 a pop. I'm basing my statements on the gun shops on Long Island and NYC tht I have visited in the last few months. I have a bright nickel 6" Python that is in really nice shape. It has a great SA trigger and I shoot it and it cleans up very well, there is no scratching or pealing of any kind. I much prefer the look of nickel over SS, but thats just my taste. I've read alot about how delicate nickel is but I honestly have no more problem cleaning the nickel versus my stainless guns. Just have to get one, or more, of each.

 

[Coltdriver]

Oops, I mis spoke. The one I saw was a trooper. I guess $349 is not out of line for a loose one!

 

[Standing Wolf]

Any idea what it would cost to have the cylinder tightened up on one of these?? I saw one for $349 the other day...

Buy it. Send it to the good folks at http://www.cylinder-slide.com and wait patiently for your gun to be fixed. At $349, you don't care how much the repair will cost.

 

[JNewell]

It's quite another to get a mirror shine with nothing but polishing, and without having wavy, blurry surfaces

Definitely. Unfortunately, the one I bought in 1985 or 1986 (don't remember which) was not done to that standard. The frame and the sideplate were both wavy, and all of the rollmarks were washed out. Most others I have seen were better done, though. I mention this only because someone might get one like I had if they buy without being able to physically inspect the gun first.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Interesting.
The only Pythons I've seen like you describe as Wavy & Blurry have not been factory polished. Especially the rolled over stampings. That's usually the sign of a hack or butcher that's never done a polish job before. I have seen some King Cobras that are not as sharp as the BSS Pythons. But it just looked as though someone just didn't put all the time in on it that was needed. I don't recall ever seeing a factory Colt polished gun with rolled over or blended stampings.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Majic]

The wavy flats and washed out stampings difinitely sounds like a kitchen table job. I bet the screw holes were perfect, but the screws themselves were flattened as the revolver wasn't dissassembled prior to polishing.

 

[JNewell]

That's usually the sign of a hack or butcher that's never done a polish job before.

Yes...

The wavy flats and washed out stampings difinitely sounds like a kitchen table job.

Nope, factory new -- but see below.

I bet the screw holes were perfect, but the screws themselves were flattened as the revolver wasn't dissassembled prior to polishing.

Don't remember -- I sold it several years ago because it sat in the back of the safe. It never really ran right even after multiple trips back to Hartford for warranty service, so it didn't get shot much and I got tired of giving space to an unproductive gun. (I traded it for an early-70s blued 8" Python with a factory action job, like new in the box, which was so marked.)

Here's what might explain this -- this was the time period when Colt was on strike (that time, I mean ). What I was told at the time was that the Custom Shop people had been sent to work on the line to replace the strikers, so the guns should be extra good. I don't know whether the other guns coming off the line were any better than usual, but this one wasn't, for sure, either in looks or in fuction.

 

[Majic]

I thought all hourly Colt employees, no matter what department they worked in, were on strike. Didn't they all work under just one union?

 

[JNewell]

Dunno...that would make sense, but I was told differently -- but this was 20 years ago now!