Up in the Piney Woods taking care of some deer lease
business and I walked up on a NIB Colt Python with an
8 inch barrel.

Marked at $3300 but certain I can trim $400-500 off that
price.

My question:
Does the 8 inch barrel hurt it or help it ?

Thanks in advance.....

I'm not a fan of extra-long barrels. Too hard to carry, too cumbersome to get into action. They do have a place in the hunting world, and if that's all you're going to use it for it might be all right. Bottom line, the long barrel would detract from the value, at least for me.

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Everybody could shoot

I'd carry a lightweight rifle instead of something so unwieldy as an 8" revolver, but I can see where a serious handgun hunter might see otherwise. I've never owned such a revolver, but at sale or trade time, it might be a liability.

Based on the box looks like early 70's.
I am going back and take another look later today.

Have not looked at this in a while, since selling my six inch in 2015 for over four times what I paid for it, but:

I think generally the shorter barrels, 4" and below, command a premium over the 6". Not sure how the 8" fits in. As others have said, year and condition means a lot, with earlier and better being important, respectively.

If buying primarily for your own enjoyment, well, then it all depends upon how you feel about it.

Well, nowadays if you can get a like new V-spring Python for 2800, you probably wouldn't get hurt much at all. They are going for that plus more sometimes.

I'd try to offer 2500.

8" barrels may be less in demand, but they are also much more rare than 4 or 6" models, so factor that in.

Ditto for me.

I am not a collector, or a Colt expert, but if I were to guess, I would think there were less Pythons made with that barrel length compared to the more common 4 and 6 inch guns.

Since the market for these older, NIB Pythons is with collectors, not really shooters, it might be worth more than the shorter barreled versions.

I was at a high end auction a few weeks ago where 4 and 6 inch, excellent conditions Pythons (fired, no boxes) were bringing well over 2K. A 3 inch gun brought over 5k, based on it's rarity. A buddy bought a 4 inch, mid-1960's gun, tight, with a fair amount of holster wear for $1800, and considered himself lucky. The gun was shown with rubber grips, and he was surprised that it also came with the original factory grips in excellent condition. I am sure it would have bid higher if folks knew they were part of the package.

Larry

My only interest is to enhance my other collection...
Ben Franklin's.

I'm not going to say I wouldn't want it as a gift, but if I had to lay out cash money for it...nawww...I'll pass.

However, the guy who really wants one, really wants it. You just might have to look high and low to find him.

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John 3:16 .

Is the 8" .357mag,or a .38 sp.I was thinking that the 8" was .38sp only.

Hurts it, the shorter the barrel the more it goes up with a Python.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Upon closer review it is NOT the .357.
It is the 38 special Target.
Serial begins with the prefix V.

If You really, really, really, want it, Why Not??? Personally, I wouldn't.

Drive out would be $2800
Not enough meat left on that bone for
that much of a cash lay down.

Thanks everyone....

Me too. Being a 38, I think it's a much rarer configuration. I'm totally baffled by the prices on Pythons anyway. For a gun that's not rare, what's being asked for them leaves me confounded. I believe there are about 350 of them for sale on gunbroker.com. I'm the original owner of one I bought in 1972 for $198.00, and I've never considered selling it. I still shoot and enjoy it.

For collecting it probably adds value. For shooting it's a negative to me. I've tried shooting to different 8" heavy barrels. A Python Target in .38 Special and a Dan Wesson Mod 15. Just too heavy to try and shoot offhand, even for 26 year old me. I got rid of both of them and don't regret it. Now the k-frame 8 3/8 are not a problem. Or the standard Dan Wesson barrels.

Basically, they are benchrest guns. If that's your thing. The Python Target was the most accurate revolver I ever shot...from the bench. 1" at 25 yards with cast wadcutters was not uncommon.

Came in both. The .38 was barrel stamped "Python Target".

Hand guns should be handy, never cared for long barrels

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Len

I have an 8-inch Colt Python and it is chambered in 357 Magnum. With any Python, the longer the barrel, the less it seems to be worth. The long tube Pythons are very, very muzzle heavy, which limits them in terms of practicality, useful for hunting and long range pistol shooting, but poor for carry or general target shooting.

With the 8-inch Pythons, they were available in 38 Special and 357 Magnum. I have no idea what Colt was thinking with the 38 Special Pythons. I used to see them at gun shows, the same revolvers, month after month, year after year, no one seemed to want an 8-inch Python, especially in 38 Special.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Back in the early 80's Numrich Arms sold 8" python barrels in their ad for a very reasonal price. Jeff

Rarity does not always equate with value. If you shoot a lot of 38's, it might be worthwhile. It won't necessarily shoot better than a model 14 which would cost much less. Depends on what you want. BTW, I like the long tubes. Flash cash and see what happens.