How much is an unfired colt python .357 worth? [Archive]

dc202

07-28-10, 16:06

The title asks the question.
What is the barrel length?
Are their drag lines on the cylinder?
What is the finish? (Colt Royal Blue, nickel, or stainless)
Is the finish 100%? (Just because a gun is unfired does not mean the finish is mint.)
What year was it built?
Does it come with original box?
Does it come with the original grips?
All of these things matter to Colt Python people.

1_click_off

07-28-10, 21:19

I don't know what it's worth, but I wouldn't take $2000.00 for mine. I love it. 6" Bright SS. But that is just what it is worth to me..... I'm sure someone will be able to give you some info once you supply the info from the post above.

OOH RAH!

07-28-10, 23:00

What is the barrel length?
Are their drag lines on the cylinder?
What is the finish? (Colt Royal Blue, nickel, or stainless)
Is the finish 100%? (Just because a gun is unfired does not mean the finish is mint.)
What year was it built?
Does it come with original box?
Does it come with the original grips?
All of these things matter to Colt Python people.

The finish is colt royal blue, yes the finish is 100% and original everything with box.

montanadave

07-28-10, 23:54

There's currently a NIB Colt Python in Royal Blue on GunBroker bidding at $3300 (reserve not met) with a Buy Now price of $4995.

I'm guessing your Python is worth a nice chunk of change.

Here's the link to the one I referred to above:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=181032206

dc202

07-29-10, 00:14

Most Pythons in mint condition sell for between 1000 and 2000. They have to be very special, such as the limited run of Python Combat revolvers, to go for more than two big ones.

dc202

07-29-10, 00:15

The finish is colt royal blue, yes the finish is 100% and original everything with box.

What year was it built? PM me if you need a source for manufacture dates.

mvician

07-29-10, 00:58

Mine :cool:
My Dad bought it in the mid 60's

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/Python.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/pic005.jpg

dc202

07-29-10, 09:38

[QUOTE=mvician;719104]Mine :cool:
My Dad bought it in the mid 60's

A 60s gun is definitely worth more than many. Craftsmanship at Colt was at its peak and collectors will pay more.

kaiservontexas

07-29-10, 09:40

Mine :cool:
My Dad bought it in the mid 60's

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/Python.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/pic005.jpg

What happened seriously? Why aren't these made today and done with the same love and care?

Nice revolver you got there by the way.

TOrrock

07-29-10, 09:43

What happened seriously? Why aren't these made today and done with the same love and care?

Nice revolver you got there by the way.

Short answer.....the Union took over everything in 1972.

kaiservontexas

07-29-10, 09:44

Short answer.....the Union took over everything in 1972.

Thanks, so sad.

bnanaphone

07-29-10, 11:57

TOrrock

07-29-10, 12:10

Where does the King Cobra fall in line behind the Python? Was it more of the run of the mill .357 without the bells & whistles?

I have a 6", SS King Cobra and have wondered just how different it was from its big brother.

thanks

The King Cobra is completely different from the Python. The Python is built on Colt's old I frame, basically an Official Police that was made to exacting standards in .357 Magnum with a heavy barrel.

The King Cobra was built on the more modern V frame, a Trooper Mk.5 with a heavy barrel and underlug, that uses a modern coiled spring vs. the older leaf spring that the Python uses.

The King Cobras were decent. I actually remember the last of the Revolver Wars between S&W's L frame (586, 686), Colt's King Corbra, and Ruger's GP-100. The ad campaigns in the mid to late 80's got amusing.....with S&W comparing revolvers to burgers and thickness.....

Artos

07-29-10, 12:19

The python also was much more labor intensive compared to the other snakes with a lot of hand fitting....although some of the cobras can get a little collectable;)

bnanaphone

07-29-10, 12:45

Thanks for the input guys. Soooo the only thing that makes the King Cobra special is that it is no longer made? ;) Works for me.

MadDog

07-29-10, 12:55

Artos: Is that "your" Lew Horton edition Colt Combat Cobra? I have been looking for one for years. I need one to keep my 2/5" Python company. Wanna sell it?

MadDog :dance3:

TOrrock

07-29-10, 12:59

Mine :cool:
My Dad bought it in the mid 60's

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/Python.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/pic005.jpg

Unfortunately, you'll never see that level of craftsmanship, finish, and pride in manufacturing on a production handgun in this country ever again.

Truly a different, lost age.

Artos

07-29-10, 13:28

Artos: Is that "your" Lew Horton edition Colt Combat Cobra? I have been looking for one for years. I need one to keep my 2/5" Python company. Wanna sell it?

MadDog :dance3:

yep...but she sleeps good where she is.;) It's actually the 2nd i've owned. Wish i kept the fisrt one as the earliest ones had deeper role marks.

I'm still searching for the ellusive 3" python that doesn't cost as much as my house.

If you find a good clean officer's model match in 22lr, grab it. Fine shooting plinker.

jasonhgross

07-29-10, 13:30

If you want to sell it, resist all temptation to pull the trigger, leave it in the box and untouched to preserve collector's value. It looks like there are zero drag marks, you can sell it as NIB.

RogerinTPA

07-29-10, 15:05

Mine :cool:
My Dad bought it in the mid 60's

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/Python.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/mvician/Python/pic005.jpg

That is one beautiful Python!

My roommate in college (80-84) had one, a Trooper, and a .41 Magnum Ruger.

d90king

07-29-10, 15:39

Here is mine from 1970... Beautiful revolver!
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/d90king/DSCN0791.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/d90king/DSCN0793.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/d90king/DSCN0794.jpg

randolph

07-29-10, 16:16

Unfortunately, you'll never see that level of craftsmanship, finish, and pride in manufacturing on a production handgun in this country ever again.

Truly a different, lost age.

isnt that sad ? Colt is sitting on a gold mine but cant capitalize...

Littlelebowski

07-29-10, 16:36

Short answer.....the Union took over everything in 1972.

Yet another reason to hate the unions......

TOrrock

07-29-10, 16:39

My first revolver when I was 18 was a 2 1/2" Colt Python that had been built in 1970.

My second was a Colt Detective Special, nickel, from 1969 or so. It was a trade in from the Richmond Sheriff's Dept.

Artos

07-29-10, 16:50

I've always liked the 1/2 moon checkering around the prancing pony on those pic'd pythons compared to the straight line.

The full checkered grips on earliest are really really cool.

My understanding is all the colt tooling for the da wheel guns is gone & there will never be any more. No way would they retool.

I bought a Colt Grizzly s/n 500 from an LEO in OK a few years ago & was stolen by a UPS employee on dec 23rd...i cry myself to sleep some nights still.

OOH RAH!

07-29-10, 21:38

Where can i find the year it was made?

TOrrock

07-29-10, 21:50

Where can i find the year it was made?

5 second search on Google brought up ProofHouse, which goes up to 1978.

I'm sure there are others.

http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html

dc202

07-29-10, 22:08

5 second search on Google brought up ProofHouse, which goes up to 1978.

I'm sure there are others.

http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html

Proofhouse is very reliable.

RAM Engineer

07-29-10, 22:39

I wonder if Colt's patents are up on some of these old Colt DA revolvers. Couldn't someone like US Firearms or Uberti make replicas? Maybe the market just isn't there.:(

dc202

08-06-10, 21:28

To make a real Python requires machinery and skilled hands that are difficult to come by.

BSHNT2015

08-07-10, 12:45

Here in Norcal, they're running about $1200-1500.00 for a 90%
used condition. Good luck.

Alpha Sierra

08-08-10, 20:56

To make a real Python requires machinery and skilled hands that are difficult to come by.
If someone today can pull it off it will be either US Firearms Company or Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company.

Both are a stone's throw away from Colt's in distance but light years ahead in the marriage of ultra high precision machining and old school craftsmanship.

d90king

08-08-10, 21:29

The harder thing to find these days is the old time smiths who still know how to keep them in time and work on them when needed...

IMHO the finest action on a factory tuned revolver ever produced...