slammy
Member
Why have the colt's become so popular (valuable) all of the sudden...or maybe they have always been and I missed it?
Python
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Guillermo
member
since Colt no longer makes double action revolvers and are a shadow of their former greatness, they are more collectable.
Rising prices notwithstanding they have always been popular.
I only have but two ponies in the stable and wish I had more.
Rising prices notwithstanding they have always been popular.
I only have but two ponies in the stable and wish I had more.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
The above is particularly true of the Python, but all Colt revolvers are rising in value. I recently (July 2008) sold a 1982 six-inch matte stainless Python with box and papers for $1300. (I wish I were happier about it, but it was a tidy profit.)
shotgunjoel
Member
Question, why did they ever stop? Was it that they were overly focused on their military monopoly?
10-Ring
Member
I only have a couple Colt handguns -- one semi / one wheelgun. Since I've bought both, I've seen them appreciate in value.
Colt appreciation
In the late 1990s I decided to start a small Colt collection, and gradually bought 8 Gold Cups and one Python, using online auctions. At that time Gold Cups in excellent condition were selling in the $600 to $700 range, and Pythons were $500 to $600. I stopped collecting these about the year 2000, but still have most of them. I have followed Colt prices closely, and the guns I bought have roughly doubled in value over the 10 year period.
So Colts have had a good run in value, probably helped by the fact that the company hasn't put too many new handguns on the market lately. But I think that Colt prices are a little high now, and prefer prelock S&W revolvers as collector items. I don't think they have gone up as much as Colts, and are better value right now.
In the late 1990s I decided to start a small Colt collection, and gradually bought 8 Gold Cups and one Python, using online auctions. At that time Gold Cups in excellent condition were selling in the $600 to $700 range, and Pythons were $500 to $600. I stopped collecting these about the year 2000, but still have most of them. I have followed Colt prices closely, and the guns I bought have roughly doubled in value over the 10 year period.
So Colts have had a good run in value, probably helped by the fact that the company hasn't put too many new handguns on the market lately. But I think that Colt prices are a little high now, and prefer prelock S&W revolvers as collector items. I don't think they have gone up as much as Colts, and are better value right now.
Guillermo
member
Question, why did they ever stop? Was it that they were overly focused on their military monopoly?
Colt has been mismanaged for years. They got bailed out and have had to do some corporate disco to remain solvent. It is a very sad situation. Not only how the mighty have fallen, but how they capitulated with the "assault weapon" ban. Now they are like Smith, the Clinton Gun Company.
It is kind of repugnant.
Colt has been mismanaged for years. They got bailed out and have had to do some corporate disco to remain solvent. It is a very sad situation. Not only how the mighty have fallen, but how they capitulated with the "assault weapon" ban. Now they are like Smith, the Clinton Gun Company.
It is kind of repugnant.
The design and process was fairly skilled-labor-intensive, and rising labor costs just drove the price out of range compared to competition, that was either using easier to manufacture designs, or cheaper labor, or both.
Colt had turned into a conglomerate in the 80s and 90s and had some other business interests, as well.
Thomas Garrett
Member
I love my Old Colt's, Still pick up the OMM's when i can. Downright "Masterpieces". Then the Python was born. Same craftmanship.
uh-oh
Member
Well, the box for my 1987 python says it was built with union pride (or something along thos lines) by the UAW. Might that have had something to do with the company's fall from power? It's as tight as the day it left the factory. I doubt Colt would be able to charge what the current values are and still get the same level of precision and fit. I mean, they'd probably be going for $2300-2600 if Colt were making these guns today and if they were to meet the old standards.pmeisel said:
I aquired an unfired 1965 Python, with box and papers, in 2003 for $850. Now that gun is selling for $1500.
I am not a collector and shoot all my guns, but I wish I had gotten on the Python train earlier. I want a
2 1/2 Python but I am not paying 1800-2000 for it. I recently settled for an unfired 1963 Colt DS, but it isn't a Python.
I am not a collector and shoot all my guns, but I wish I had gotten on the Python train earlier. I want a
2 1/2 Python but I am not paying 1800-2000 for it. I recently settled for an unfired 1963 Colt DS, but it isn't a Python.
slammy
Member
Hinton, I saw a used (but in good shape) 2.5 last week in Georgia the asking price was $1350... I have a 4 inch with rubber grips I bought several years at a steal...Just thought you might want to know about the 2.5 for price reference.
punkndisorderly
Member
There were a few Pythons at the shop I was at this weekend. I've always thought they were the best looking of the revolvers out there. Haven't shot one though.
I was seriously looking at them but decided that I'd save a couple hundred dollars and leave it for a collector. Something that sweet I'd hate to use as a car gun. Purchased a Smith 327 PD in .357 instead.
I was seriously looking at them but decided that I'd save a couple hundred dollars and leave it for a collector. Something that sweet I'd hate to use as a car gun. Purchased a Smith 327 PD in .357 instead.
SharpsDressedMan
member
There are now a fixed number of Colt Pythons, Detective Specials, Diamondbacks, etc, with an increasing number of people interested in buying them. They will continue to go up in value until Colt brings them out again, with the same quality (which will probably never happen...).
Big Daddy Grim
Member
I only have one Colt wheelgun a Colt Custom King Cobra love it will probably never part with it.
WooD
Member
I had a 2.5", 4", and 6" Python, but sold all 3 of them back when I first heard of the possibility of an assault weapon ban. I sold a boat load of stainless S&W's too. Did some serious investing in assult rifles.
I sure wish I'd kept the 6" one. IMHO there was never an out of the box revolver that came anywhere close to the Python.
I love a stainless hand gun, but never cared for the SS Pythons, they looked too good blue with those nice Colt wood grips.
I sure wish I'd kept the 6" one. IMHO there was never an out of the box revolver that came anywhere close to the Python.
I love a stainless hand gun, but never cared for the SS Pythons, they looked too good blue with those nice Colt wood grips.
JohnBT
Member
I like the blued ones too - saw another one yesterday. Is $1299 too much for a 3" with just a little bit of holster wear, no box and pretty nice type 3 stocks?
I might have to go back tonight and stand in line to get someone to take it out of the case for me. They were busy yesterday - silly, slammed, raking it in busy.
It would fit right between my 2 shooters, a 4" and a 6".
John
I might have to go back tonight and stand in line to get someone to take it out of the case for me. They were busy yesterday - silly, slammed, raking it in busy.
It would fit right between my 2 shooters, a 4" and a 6".
John
Hawk
Member
A 3" hunh?
You know what they say: Colt only made 200 of them, of which only 3,500 remain. Actually, I don't have any idea how many were actually made apart from 23 in the specific configuration in this listing:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125954072
The ANIBs go for a stout number, though the worst I've seen was 20,000 for a consecutive pair. The singles seem to still be below 10 large - well, we know the one listed above will go for at least 7,125.00.
I'd like a 3" Python but I could be quite happy with one that left the factory wearing a 6" barrel that wound up with a genuine Colt 3" barrel that had been surplused through Numrich and screwed in by somebody that knew their stuff and had seen some use. Seems a nice way to get a 3" and save a few dollars - or 8,000 of them.
Seems a hefty tariff to pay just because it left the factory with a 3" barrel rather than growing a 3" Colt barrel later on in life but collectors are a breed apart.
You know what they say: Colt only made 200 of them, of which only 3,500 remain. Actually, I don't have any idea how many were actually made apart from 23 in the specific configuration in this listing:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125954072
The ANIBs go for a stout number, though the worst I've seen was 20,000 for a consecutive pair. The singles seem to still be below 10 large - well, we know the one listed above will go for at least 7,125.00.
I'd like a 3" Python but I could be quite happy with one that left the factory wearing a 6" barrel that wound up with a genuine Colt 3" barrel that had been surplused through Numrich and screwed in by somebody that knew their stuff and had seen some use. Seems a nice way to get a 3" and save a few dollars - or 8,000 of them.
Seems a hefty tariff to pay just because it left the factory with a 3" barrel rather than growing a 3" Colt barrel later on in life but collectors are a breed apart.
Are you sure it's a 3 incher ?
3 inchers are quite rare.
Was it marked Combat Python or just Python on the left side of the barrel ?
Also look to see if there's a Colt address on the right side of the barrel.
Just be very careful as the 3 inch barrels were sold off seperate from the guns when Colt was done and many longer barreled Pythons were converted.
If it's original and it's a 3 incher, it's worth well more than $1200.
Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
3 inchers are quite rare.
Was it marked Combat Python or just Python on the left side of the barrel ?
Also look to see if there's a Colt address on the right side of the barrel.
Just be very careful as the 3 inch barrels were sold off seperate from the guns when Colt was done and many longer barreled Pythons were converted.
If it's original and it's a 3 incher, it's worth well more than $1200.
Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
JohnBT
Member
You know, I didn't look closely enough to see if it said Python, Combat Python, California Python or homemade-cutdown-Python with a glued on front sight. The tag said Python and it looked like one sitting there on the bottom shelf, but I'm 6 feet tall and don't see too well.
I suppose I should at least go back and peek at the serial number. But if I do that I'm at risk for writing a check and taking it home. I know how this stuff works, first they get you to touch the gun and then they stand back and wait.
The guy up the road at Bass Pro yesterday was friendly enough and then the first thing he hands me is a 28 guage Sauer O/U with a $2500+ tag. Nice guy and it was my first visit. My fault I suppose for standing there with a couple of boxes of 28 ga. Win AA. I'd better stick to the real gun store.
John
I suppose I should at least go back and peek at the serial number. But if I do that I'm at risk for writing a check and taking it home. I know how this stuff works, first they get you to touch the gun and then they stand back and wait.
The guy up the road at Bass Pro yesterday was friendly enough and then the first thing he hands me is a 28 guage Sauer O/U with a $2500+ tag. Nice guy and it was my first visit. My fault I suppose for standing there with a couple of boxes of 28 ga. Win AA. I'd better stick to the real gun store.
John
JohnBT
Member
3"...
I was jawing with one of the sales guys and couple of customers. I do a lot of that since I've been shopping there since '72. I told him I thought it was worth more than what they were asking, even with the very light holster wear. He said that they priced it out using their normal standards and then added the 60% extra like the Blue Book suggests for a 3" Python.
He said that the Python market isn't nearly as hot as it was 2 years ago.
John
I was jawing with one of the sales guys and couple of customers. I do a lot of that since I've been shopping there since '72. I told him I thought it was worth more than what they were asking, even with the very light holster wear. He said that they priced it out using their normal standards and then added the 60% extra like the Blue Book suggests for a 3" Python.
He said that the Python market isn't nearly as hot as it was 2 years ago.
John
Hawk
Member
Standing around with a box of 28 Ga. "marks" you. It's like parking a Mclaren Benz in front of the haberdasher - you're going to be shown the good stuff.
The ones that get folks worked up actually have 3" Colt Barrels correctly marked with the proper number of vents in the rib and etc. There's no way of telling without a factory letter as the 3" barrels were sold by Colt and made their way into the marketplace.
I would not be surprised to learn that Colt unloaded more "loose" 3" barrels than were supplied actually attached to Pythons but that's just a guess.
One of those would likely be worth around 1,200.00 just for laughs or just because it makes a darn fine shooter. If the work was done by someone reputable, it should have a "telltale" somewhere discrete to avoid its being mistaken for a factory original 3".
More on the mystery:
http://grantcunningham.com/blog_files/313d147655ed0bd481fff03548082b2d-58.html
The ones that get folks worked up actually have 3" Colt Barrels correctly marked with the proper number of vents in the rib and etc. There's no way of telling without a factory letter as the 3" barrels were sold by Colt and made their way into the marketplace.
I would not be surprised to learn that Colt unloaded more "loose" 3" barrels than were supplied actually attached to Pythons but that's just a guess.
One of those would likely be worth around 1,200.00 just for laughs or just because it makes a darn fine shooter. If the work was done by someone reputable, it should have a "telltale" somewhere discrete to avoid its being mistaken for a factory original 3".
More on the mystery:
http://grantcunningham.com/blog_files/313d147655ed0bd481fff03548082b2d-58.html
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