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  #1  
Old 08-02-2016, 10:03 PM
Carl LaFong Carl LaFong is offline
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I may have an opportunity to trade a 6 month old Les Baer for a 1970 Colt Python. I'm no expert on Pythons, I've seen more of them at gun shows lately and the prices seem to be coming down some. I love my L.B. and would replace it sometime but I've always wanted a Python too. The Colt is blued with a 6" barrel. Good deal or not?
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  #2  
Old 08-02-2016, 10:18 PM
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Yes all day and Sunday! You can always pick up another Les down the road.
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Old 08-02-2016, 10:39 PM
Geno44 Geno44 is offline
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What value do you place on the Les Baer?
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Old 08-02-2016, 10:43 PM
Carl LaFong Carl LaFong is offline
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I've got about 2000.00 in it.
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:15 PM
Protocall_Design Protocall_Design is offline
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I've had 4 Pythons over the years, and a lot of S&Ws. The Python is still the best looking revolver ever made. As shooters, I'll take 3 686s over 1 Python. About the same cost for either choice. The Python lockworks are rather fragile and parts are hard to come by.

I only shoot revolvers, but I would not trade a Les Baer for a garden variety Python. The LB is a much better built handgun. All my Smiths have action jobs (I do my own) and every one of them has a better action than any of my Pythons ever did.

Just one man's opinion.
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:23 PM
RILEY31 RILEY31 is offline
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I love Pythons but they are fairly common I can find a lot more Pythons around here at gun shows and LGS than Les Baer's but you can order a Les Baer new. So if you really want the Python do it
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:39 PM
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I don't know the Les Baer, but I take it it's a 1911, presume a very nice one.

I have a Colt Diamondback, little bro to the Python. I love the Colts, then are worth having at least one nice one in any well rounded collection, with the Python of course being the best of the brand. If it's not necessary to have a Python but maybe a different model will fill your need, there are other nice models to be had for well less than the Python. However, if it's in good condition, i.e. no real blemishes in the bluing, lockup and all functions are tight, overall say 98% condition or so, then $2k is a very good value for you. Hard to say how well they will hold that value though, in truth there are a lot of them and we may be in a bubble for the older Colts. If it's LNIB, then it will probably retain it's value a little better, but if it's more of a shooter, then I would guess it will more likely go down in value at this point rather than up. I think the collectors largely have one if they were going to get one, the feeding frenzy is probably behind us more than ahead of us as it were. So I would be careful if you are doing this in terms of trying to increase the value of what you hold. But if you want to experience a true masterpiece, and it's in top condition, then it's a more than fair value for an excellent gun as it stands right now.

I love my Diamondback, and do shoot it regularly, but I'm looking to back off of shooting it as much as I used to. As was mentioned, the internals are going to be harder and harder to find parts for and someone who can work on them. They are well made, and one that is moderately used with care should last a lifetime if in good condition to start with. But don't plan on shooting it extensively for prolonged periods of time least you may eventually find it won't function as it should and fixing could be problematic. Think of it more like that 100 year old Model-T you keep in the garage and only drive it on weekends, not the F-150 you drive everywhere you go.
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Old 08-03-2016, 01:02 AM
Toblerra Toblerra is offline
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Trade for the Python and buy an Ed Brown Kobra Carry.
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  #9  
Old 08-03-2016, 09:04 AM
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There are a group of shooters that when they cannot afford to buy a gun, instantly start saying that the gun is of terrible quality... In this case it's the Python.

We've owned & shot Colt Pythons and Diamondbacks since 1970, neither us nor our friends have ever experienced problems with them. They are neither fragile nor finicky. Although to the best of my knowledge, the Colt factory remains the sole source of parts for Pythons & Diamondbacks

As with all of our .38special & .357magnum revolvers, better than 90% or more of our shooting with the Python is done with .38spec lead wad cutters over a load of Unique that runs about 750fps. The remainder of the shooting is done with duty loads. We've retired ours to target shooting only since the prices have risen considerably...though it served well as a duty handgun whenever we had a sheriff who didn't like semi-autos.
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Old 08-03-2016, 09:33 AM
cowboy4evr cowboy4evr is offline
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Buying / trading for a python can be a bit risky as you probably won't know if it's still in time or not till you get home , then it's too late if there's a problem as the deal is " final " .
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  #11  
Old 08-03-2016, 09:38 AM
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if the finish is excellent-yes.Shooter grade-no
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  #12  
Old 08-03-2016, 09:52 AM
muzzleblast muzzleblast is offline
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Personally, I'd rather have a nice Python than a Les Baer 1911. Post your question on the Colt forum and you will get feedback from some very knowledgeable folks.
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  #13  
Old 08-03-2016, 02:46 PM
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Dollars being the only consideration, if the Python is in very good to excellent condition I'd trade if I didn't already own a Python.
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  #14  
Old 08-03-2016, 03:10 PM
josywales josywales is offline
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I love the 1911s and I know LesBaer and others make really fine 1911s. What I can't figure out is why so many guys are always selling and trading them. I would NEVER buy a high end 1911 new, because there are so many available with low round counts. Do the owners have buyer's remorse, because the gun didn't live up to their expectations, or did their credit card bills finally catch up with them? Can't figure it.
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Old 08-03-2016, 08:27 PM
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I just saw 3 Pythons (all very nice condition) sell this last Sat. A 6" Nickel one went for $2750, a 6" blue for $2100 and another 6" Blue for $2000. Now what does that Les Baer sell for?
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  #16  
Old 08-03-2016, 09:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by josywales View Post
I love the 1911s and I know LesBaer and others make really fine 1911s. What I can't figure out is why so many guys are always selling and trading them. I would NEVER buy a high end 1911 new, because there are so many available with low round counts. Do the owners have buyer's remorse, because the gun didn't live up to their expectations, or did their credit card bills finally catch up with them? Can't figure it.
I bought a Ed Brown Kobra Carry off a friend of mine who didn't think it lived up to the hype.I sold that gun later because I couldnt fall in love with the the look of the bobbed grip.I believe that some sell to upgrade to a higher 1911, and ones selling with a low round count are un impressed owners.JMO.
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  #17  
Old 08-03-2016, 09:17 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is online now
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If the Python is in proper condition, and it is has the features I wanted, I would do it.

You can always get another LB.
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Old 08-03-2016, 09:33 PM
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You can always do what Walking Dead did with Rick's Python a few months ago. . .buy two. . .one to use on the show and one to use for parts. The original gun suffered a broken hammer and trigger. They could not be replaced with quality parts. They tried that. So, they bought the second stainless steel Python. I only got see and hold the parts gun (it was a nice one). You know what they say, one gun is none and two guns are one. I guess that's true for Colt Pythons.
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Old 08-03-2016, 09:35 PM
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I second the opinion that the Colt action is NOT fragile. It takes ABUSE to break them. Yes, there aren't many people who will work on them, but they are not hard. I do my own work and I am not a gunsmith. Parts are no longer made, but can be found on ebay all the time. I have all the spare parts I could ever need, most NOS, gotten for dirt cheap because I know what to look for.

You can easily check the timing on it BEFORE purchasing. It is easy to do and you can go to the Colt forum for the 'how to'. If you really want to get technical, take some feeler gauges and measure the tolerances. I do this for any Colt V spring I look at. You will find the barrel/cyl gap about .004, and .006 max, and there should be NO endshake. None of this .012 ridiculousness nowadays. Pull the trigger and let the hammer down while still keeping pressure on the trigger, once down try to move the cylinder. It should have zero wiggle or movement, 'bank vault lockup'. Check all that out and if good, the gun is solid as a rock. It will take you a lifetime to make it go out of time, unless abused.

Now the original question, if the Python is like 98-99%, I would do the trade if you really want one. The value is there. If it has the original box and docs better yet and definitely worth it then. But if the condition is 97-% and puts it into just 'shooter' category, then I would say no. Shooters can be had for under $2K. It all depends on how bad you want it at that point then.

I will mention that the 6" blue is the most common. I use one for whitetail hunting. My 2.5" barrel rides with me daily IWB.

Last edited by iPac; 08-03-2016 at 09:38 PM.
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Old 08-03-2016, 11:29 PM
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Given what you might be able to get for Les Baer

What might you be able to get for more beer?
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  #21  
Old 08-04-2016, 09:21 AM
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another vote for the python.
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Old 08-04-2016, 10:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by da gimp View Post
There are a group of shooters that when they cannot afford to buy a gun, instantly start saying that the gun is of terrible quality...
That is so true.

Wish I had a dollar for every person I've run across who does that.
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  #23  
Old 08-04-2016, 04:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shawn mccarver View Post
If the Python is in proper condition, and it is has the features I wanted, I would do it.

You can always get another LB.
+1 for this. Sheesh, all this Pyhton talk and no pics. I guess I'll just leave these here...

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  #24  
Old 08-04-2016, 04:19 PM
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Another for the Python. They are still going up in price.
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