Python s/n V25xxx: Mfg quality?

[MR73]

Python s/n V25xxx: Mfg quality?

I'm looking at what seems to be a quality second hand revolver.
But with such a serial number produced during or after 1978 are we still in the high quality era of Pythons or have we slipped into the so-so ?

One detail (possibly unrelated to the quality issue raised above): I noticed 3 or 4 minor rust spots on the barrel, around the "hole". Minor but the gunsmith said that removing them would cause the blueing to go too.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

There were great Pythons built in the good and bad years of Colt and also Bad Pythons built during the good and bad years at Colt.
You must look at each one individually.
As for the rust spots, depending on how bad they are, if you take a small piece of 0000 steel wool and gently rub that specific area, you should be able to get the rust off with-out effecting the blueing.
If the rust has left pockets or porosity from the corrosion, there's nothing you can do about that. If it's just minor surface rust, it should clean up fine.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Standing Wolf]

I noticed 3 or 4 minor rust spots on the barrel, around the "hole".

I'd have to figure if there's a little rust visible, there's probably a lot more that's not showing.