Question for Colt Python historians

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ChazHollywood

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I recently purchased a Colt Python Elite with a 6" barrel with a bright stainless finish. I got a really good deal from a local shop who had it on consignment.

My question is regarding the finish. The finish is clearly what is known as a "bright stainless" or "ultimate stainless" finish. However, through a little research on available models, I don't show this finish as being an option for Colt Python Elite's. It looks like the Python Elite models were only offered in a Royal Blue or matte stainless finish, not the bright stainless that I have here.

Now that being said, I have seen a few Python Elite's on Gunbroker that did have a bright stainless finish. However, when the sticker on the box is shown in the auction it always just says "Stainless finish". One of the auctions, the owner said that bright stainless Python Elite's were rare and that he had sent his back to Colt for refinishing to bright stainless.

Mine is a late model, probably 2004 construction with a blue plastic box. The sticker on my box just says "Stainless finish", not "Bright stainless finish" as the stickers did on earlier non-Elite Python models.

I can think of three possible scenarios and I'd like your input please.

A) Some Python Elite's did come from the factory with a bright stainless finish, but for some reason the sticker on the box does not reflect this.

B) Python Elite's were NOT offered in bright stainless, and any example with this finish was sent back to Colt after the sale for refinishing.

C) Someone other than the Colt factory has refinished some revolvers to a bright stainless finish.

I'd be very happy to hear any thoughts on this from those who might know the answer.

Here is a photo of the revolver:

Tosc3.jpg
 
I can't help you with your question but that is one fine looking Snake.Is this your first Snake? Any others you'd care to share a photo of?
 
Look at the prancing horse...is it a good clean strike or faded?

If crisp, factory. If faded, polished probably.
 
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hard to tell with pictures.

It looks like the legs are a little light, indicating polishing.

Could just be a light strike, but I am leaning towards polishing
 
Guillermo said:
Look at the prancing horse...is it a good clean strike or faded?

If crisp, factory. If faded, polished probably.
Click to expand...

Polishing anything without protecting the roll marks with filler should be criminalized. Then again, that's a dead giveaway that whoever did the polishing, didn't know what he was doing. Some Colts like Woodsman series pistols have very faint roll marks from the factory and they're difficult to polish without fading them out.
 
Here is a close-up of the horse.

JqjsF.jpg

I don't have another to compare it to. In person it looks very sharp and crisp but I can see where the impression is heavier at the top and bottom than in the middle.
 
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To me, in your first link that looks like a satin or matte finish even though the seller describes it as bright. Perhaps it's just the photography.

Mine looks more like your second link. By the way, notice how on his box the portion where the finish would be listed is cut off? ;) I've yet to see a Python Elite box label that actually reads correctly as "bright stainless".

(Edit: Actually, on closer inspection of the detailed photos on the second link, his also doesn't look like a very bright finish. Mine is much more of a mirror like shine where these are dull looking)

There's no question that mine is a brightly polished mirror finish. I just don't know if it was offered that way originally.
 
looking at the close up of the horsey I would say factory
Click to expand...

I'm not enough of an expert to say either way, but can tell you I've seen factory-fresh Pythons and other revolvers with emblems that weren't that clear. There's always been quite a bit of variation.

Pretty gun!
 
To a true collector, if the label on box doesn't say bright finish it wasn't a factory finish at the time of production unless you can produce a letter from Colt stating that it was. Anything other than that is a guess.
 
Of course CPE is correct

be sure the serial number on the box matches the gun

if not the gun was possibly unwittingly switched at the store
 
Through more research I had discovered that the gun I have does not appear to be an original bright gun, but satin. Whether it was polished by the factory after the fact or some other company doesn't appear possible to determine. I called Colt and they said they cannot provide information on whether a gun has been refinished by them.
 
Don't sweat it unless you paid factory bright money for it and got a Bubba shined gun...I really like it and could care less who polished it. I'd like to own it.
 
ColtPythonElite said:
Don't sweat it unless you paid factory bright money for it and got a Bubba shined gun...I really like it and could care less who polished it. I'd like to own it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. It was on consignment for $1500, and this was just a few months ago so I'm really happy with what I paid, it was definitely a steal.

Whoever did the polish job does really good work.
 
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