Something I've never seen before...

CajunBass · October 20, 2012, 06:19 PM

Stopped at the LGS the other day and to my surprise I saw the rarest of the rare...at least for me, anyway. A shooter grade Colt Python.

Never seen one before. Everything I see are in at least near new condition, and most of them have the box and paperwork with them. And they are WAY out of my pay grade.

This one however appeared to be an old cops gun. Holster wear, some light rust, and it just looked "Dry" I guess is the word. It wasn't cheap, but it was the least expensive Python I've seen since they stopped making them, and was well under four figures. Mechanically it was in great shape.

I took it home, flushed the innards with gunscrubber, and watched the crud pour out. A few drops of Break-Free here and there, polish and buff the exterior with silicon spray, and it looked a lot better.

coolbreezy · October 20, 2012, 06:22 PM

sweet! i love the look of a well used blued revolver! how much did you get it for?

Joe_Pike · October 20, 2012, 07:42 PM

I looked at one last summer that the guy behind the counter said he would sell to me for $750. Another shop had one for $675 not too long before that. I've never really wanted a Python, though, so I passed. Those are the only two shooter grade Pythons I've seen here and they were close to the same time period oddly enough.

Winchester_73 · October 20, 2012, 07:54 PM

You are right, shooter grade pythons are rare. I don't see many shooter grade diamondbacks either. I think for under $1000 you did fine. 4 in guns seem to be more sought after, and yours appears to be a 1960s gun. If there is no letter prefix or suffix, its before 1970.

CajunBass · October 21, 2012, 03:29 AM

I gave $800.00 for it. Like I said, it's the least expensive one I've seen in years. S/N 388xx indicates 1964 according to Proofhouse.

It looks worse in the pictures than in real life actually. The macro setting and the flash enhance the flaws, and it looked a lot worse at the dealers. I almost passed on it, it looked so "dry." There was some fine rust here and there, and the barrel was filthy. Most of the rust wiped off however, and the stuff in the bore turned out to be dust. One pass with a Hoppes soaked patch, and it was as bright and shiney as new. Same thing with the cylinder.

Hope to shoot it in a day or two.

silvermane_1 · October 21, 2012, 04:29 AM

nice score there cajunbass

Grant D · October 21, 2012, 06:56 AM

Awesome find!! I've been saving to buy one exactly like that one!
I just can't find any in my area.
I havent seen one in years for sale that I can get mt hands on.
I have a Colt Detective Special,a Lawman,and a Officers Model Match.
I want a 4" Python and 6" Trooper

ZEBRARANGER · October 21, 2012, 08:26 AM

Congratulations on a very nice find and a nice price too. A Python that can be throughly enjoyed, something most revolver enthusiast would like to find, I know I would.

BLUETIP · October 21, 2012, 08:34 AM

AWESOME FIND, IM JEALOUS

NO-BODY · October 21, 2012, 06:13 PM

Dang nice, the first handgun I ever shot was my Uncle's Python. And I remember that one shot to this day!!!!
Love it! Hope you don't ever have to let her go.

RsqVet · October 22, 2012, 01:34 AM

Very cool. Pawn shop here has one that tempted me till I saw the trigger guard had a number electropen engraved on it.

Still if I can deal on it maybe it would be a good shooter and
I could have it refinished

FM12 · October 23, 2012, 10:19 PM

Ya done good! Now, shoot and enjoy!!

3rdDragoon · October 24, 2012, 06:09 AM

What a great find you lucky b$@&*)d!!

where i live guys will pay double that for a shooter grade 4 - inch Python.

Well done sir. No go and shoot the hell out of it.

ac700wildcat · October 24, 2012, 12:26 PM

Nice find. When I was newer to handguns probably four or five years ago I had someone offer me a Python for $600......kinda wish I woulda grabbed that one.

savit260 · October 24, 2012, 06:41 PM

Very nice score and welcome to the "we actually shoot our Pythons" Club.

This one gets shot AND (gasp) carried sometimes too!!

CajunBass · October 24, 2012, 09:00 PM

Now THAT one is nice Savit. I've had this fantasy of this one refinished in Colt Royal Blue, a set of (faux) ivory stocks, and gold fill-in in the roll marks, but I think I'll hold out for a while anyway.

I do plan to shoot it. I had hoped to today, but "events" got in the way. Tomorrow....

I'd consider carrying it, but I've gotten spoiled by my Model 12-2, Smith & Wesson Airweight.

savit260 · October 26, 2012, 01:14 AM

Thanks Cajun Bass!

If you saw it in person, you'd see that it's not a pristine show piece.

It had been used before I got it with some holster wear and a few marks on it, and it continues to get used.

There are pleny enough nice and NIB one's preserved for posterity out there for me to not feel guilty about shooting this one to death if I'm so inclined.

CajunBass · October 26, 2012, 05:48 AM

I did take it to the range yesterday. I put 125 rounds or so through it. Most were some wadcutter loads I had already loaded, but I loaded up 50, 125 gr, jacketed TC bullets over a moderate charge of powder. I don't shoot a lot of .357 ammo, but wanted to see how it did.

Well, it did about what I would have expected. It worked. The wadcutters were as expected, very accurate, with very little recoil. The Magnums had a much bigger POP, and kicked a bit more, but certainly nothing to surprise anybody. I wouldn't want to shoot them without ear protection though.

I guess the big thing that surprised me was the fact that it still locks up tight, and didn't get out of time. From what I've read around the internet, Pythons are only good for a few rounds before they wear out.

poprivit · October 29, 2012, 02:24 PM

Mine was built in 1968. I carried it as a duty weapon for year. I've launched mayhaps 5k rounds through it. It's definitely a working gun. Four inch, blued, rubbed off, slightly worn grips, been dropped a few times. I paid $210 for it. Had my initials engraved on the trigger guard so's I wouldn't sell it.

My other keeper is a Ruger SBH made in 1970. Bought it new; shot the hell out of it. Three screw without safety mods. Cost $91

October 20, 2012, 06:19 PM	#1
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Something I've never seen before... Stopped at the LGS the other day and to my surprise I saw the rarest of the rare...at least for me, anyway. A shooter grade Colt Python. Never seen one before. Everything I see are in at least near new condition, and most of them have the box and paperwork with them. And they are WAY out of my pay grade. This one however appeared to be an old cops gun. Holster wear, some light rust, and it just looked "Dry" I guess is the word. It wasn't cheap, but it was the least expensive Python I've seen since they stopped making them, and was well under four figures. Mechanically it was in great shape. I took it home, flushed the innards with gunscrubber, and watched the crud pour out. A few drops of Break-Free here and there, polish and buff the exterior with silicon spray, and it looked a lot better. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

October 20, 2012, 06:22 PM	#2
coolbreezy Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2010 Posts: 271	sweet! i love the look of a well used blued revolver! how much did you get it for? __________________ S&W highway patrolman 28-2/ Springfield mil spec 1911 (semi custom)/ Sig P220 match elite .45 acp/Kimber micro 9 stainless/ Remington 870 tac14/ Taurus pt22/ S&W 629-1 3" .44 mag/ S&W 629 PC V-Comp/ Beretta M9/ Stevens/Savage 311A 12 ga double bbl/ Magnum research Desert Eagle XIX .44 mag/ S&W 460 xvr/ Glock g40 10mm longslide/ H&K usp compact .45 acp/ Ruger SuperBlackhawk Lipsey Edition/ S&W 686+ 3-5-7 talo edition

October 20, 2012, 07:42 PM	#3
Joe_Pike Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2010 Posts: 1,581	I looked at one last summer that the guy behind the counter said he would sell to me for $750. Another shop had one for $675 not too long before that. I've never really wanted a Python, though, so I passed. Those are the only two shooter grade Pythons I've seen here and they were close to the same time period oddly enough. __________________ Stay Groovy Last edited by Joe_Pike; October 21, 2012 at 02:26 PM.

October 20, 2012, 07:54 PM	#4
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	You are right, shooter grade pythons are rare. I don't see many shooter grade diamondbacks either. I think for under $1000 you did fine. 4 in guns seem to be more sought after, and yours appears to be a 1960s gun. If there is no letter prefix or suffix, its before 1970. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

October 21, 2012, 03:29 AM	#5
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	I gave $800.00 for it. Like I said, it's the least expensive one I've seen in years. S/N 388xx indicates 1964 according to Proofhouse. It looks worse in the pictures than in real life actually. The macro setting and the flash enhance the flaws, and it looked a lot worse at the dealers. I almost passed on it, it looked so "dry." There was some fine rust here and there, and the barrel was filthy. Most of the rust wiped off however, and the stuff in the bore turned out to be dust. One pass with a Hoppes soaked patch, and it was as bright and shiney as new. Same thing with the cylinder. Hope to shoot it in a day or two. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

October 21, 2012, 04:29 AM	#6
silvermane_1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: Burien,WA Posts: 897	nice score there cajunbass __________________ Rugers:SR1911 CMD,MK 3 .22lr 6",Sec. Six '76 liberty .357 4",SRH .480 Ruger 7.5",Mini-14 188 5.56/.233 18.5", Marlins: 795 .22lr 16.5",30aw 30-30 20",Mossberg:Mav. 88 Tact. 12 ga, 18.5",ATR 100 .270 Win. 22",S&W:SW9VE 9mm 4",Springfield:XD .357sig 4", AKs:CAI PSL-54C, WASR 10/63, WW74,SLR-106c

October 21, 2012, 06:56 AM	#7
Grant D Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2011 Location: Brazos County, Texas Posts: 1,038	Awesome find!! I've been saving to buy one exactly like that one! I just can't find any in my area. I havent seen one in years for sale that I can get mt hands on. I have a Colt Detective Special,a Lawman,and a Officers Model Match. I want a 4" Python and 6" Trooper

October 21, 2012, 08:26 AM	#8
ZEBRARANGER Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 620	Congratulations on a very nice find and a nice price too. A Python that can be throughly enjoyed, something most revolver enthusiast would like to find, I know I would.

October 21, 2012, 08:34 AM	#9
BLUETIP Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2012 Location: tennessee Posts: 119	AWESOME FIND, IM JEALOUS

October 21, 2012, 06:13 PM	#10
NO-BODY Junior member Join Date: October 9, 2012 Location: ALEXANDRIA,LA Posts: 59	Dang nice, the first handgun I ever shot was my Uncle's Python. And I remember that one shot to this day!!!! Love it! Hope you don't ever have to let her go.

October 22, 2012, 01:34 AM	#11
RsqVet Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Posts: 2,474	Very cool. Pawn shop here has one that tempted me till I saw the trigger guard had a number electropen engraved on it. Still if I can deal on it maybe it would be a good shooter and I could have it refinished

October 23, 2012, 10:19 PM	#12
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Ya done good! Now, shoot and enjoy!!

October 24, 2012, 06:09 AM	#13
3rdDragoon Member Join Date: February 20, 2010 Location: Western Victoria Posts: 63	What a great find you lucky b$@&*)d!! where i live guys will pay double that for a shooter grade 4 - inch Python. Well done sir. No go and shoot the hell out of it. __________________ You gonna pull those pistols or whistle dixie?

October 24, 2012, 12:26 PM	#14
ac700wildcat Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2008 Location: ND Posts: 239	Nice find. When I was newer to handguns probably four or five years ago I had someone offer me a Python for $600......kinda wish I woulda grabbed that one.

October 24, 2012, 06:41 PM	#15
savit260 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2006 Posts: 702	Very nice score and welcome to the "we actually shoot our Pythons" Club. This one gets shot AND (gasp) carried sometimes too!!

October 24, 2012, 09:00 PM	#16
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Now THAT one is nice Savit. I've had this fantasy of this one refinished in Colt Royal Blue, a set of (faux) ivory stocks, and gold fill-in in the roll marks, but I think I'll hold out for a while anyway. I do plan to shoot it. I had hoped to today, but "events" got in the way. Tomorrow.... I'd consider carrying it, but I've gotten spoiled by my Model 12-2, Smith & Wesson Airweight. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV) Last edited by CajunBass; October 24, 2012 at 09:05 PM.

October 26, 2012, 01:14 AM	#17
savit260 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2006 Posts: 702	Thanks Cajun Bass! If you saw it in person, you'd see that it's not a pristine show piece. It had been used before I got it with some holster wear and a few marks on it, and it continues to get used. There are pleny enough nice and NIB one's preserved for posterity out there for me to not feel guilty about shooting this one to death if I'm so inclined.

October 26, 2012, 05:48 AM	#18
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	I did take it to the range yesterday. I put 125 rounds or so through it. Most were some wadcutter loads I had already loaded, but I loaded up 50, 125 gr, jacketed TC bullets over a moderate charge of powder. I don't shoot a lot of .357 ammo, but wanted to see how it did. Well, it did about what I would have expected. It worked. The wadcutters were as expected, very accurate, with very little recoil. The Magnums had a much bigger POP, and kicked a bit more, but certainly nothing to surprise anybody. I wouldn't want to shoot them without ear protection though. I guess the big thing that surprised me was the fact that it still locks up tight, and didn't get out of time. From what I've read around the internet, Pythons are only good for a few rounds before they wear out. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

October 29, 2012, 02:24 PM	#19
poprivit Member Join Date: November 22, 2007 Location: Port Charlotte, FL Posts: 17	A work Python Mine was built in 1968. I carried it as a duty weapon for year. I've launched mayhaps 5k rounds through it. It's definitely a working gun. Four inch, blued, rubbed off, slightly worn grips, been dropped a few times. I paid $210 for it. Had my initials engraved on the trigger guard so's I wouldn't sell it. My other keeper is a Ruger SBH made in 1970. Bought it new; shot the hell out of it. Three screw without safety mods. Cost $91