Colt Python 1970 - I don’t get it

[BigBill]

I picked up a 5.5” barreled ruger Redhawk in 357/6 shot. I’d like to come par it to the m27/28 6” barrels. The Redhawk is a heavy frame.

 

[pawngal]

Just looked at a S&W Model 64-5 on Cabela’s website. Basic shooter, Pachmayr grips, no box. $1300. Either this world has gone mad or I’ve crossed over to another dimension!!!!

That is even crazier than than the Python prices. Aim Surplus had them awhile back for $449. Many of the recent sold ones on GB were around $350

 

[Beemerguy53]

...What makes these old Pythons so expensive?

The same thing that makes '57 Chevys, '67 Austin-Healey 3000s, '76 BMW R90s motorcycles, M1-C Garands, Winchester 94s, and now Browning High Powers so expensive...

People still want 'em, and they ain't makin' any more of 'em!

 

[Beemerguy53]

True story: The gun about to knock the bottom out of inflated Python prices is....the NEW model Python! It is, by all accounts, a far BETTER revolver with better action, smoother, cleaner, better fitment, and all for the amazing low buy-in of $1,499 MSRP! I just picked up a 4.25" version at Sportsman's for exactly MSRP plus tax or $1,662 out the door for a brand new 2021 Python that is without any doubt far superior to my original 4" Royal Blue model!

You were right to pass...

The person who will pay that kind of vig for a Python is a devoted Python aficionado, not a "shooter."

The new Python however, was designed from the outset to be the "shooter" the original series never was.

I haven't seen a new Python yet, let alone fired one, but with all due respect, it would have to be one terrific revolver in order to be better than my 2-1/2" and 4" Pythons. I love the Royal Blue finish, and that buttery smooth action is amazing...

 

[boykinlp]

I am kinda weird. To me, when I think of a Colt Python, I see a revolver with a spectacular blued finish. For that reason, I have a NIB 1974 blued one with a 4 inch barrel. It is my perfect example. I, personally, don't care for the nickel or stainless steel models. If Colt ever makes a new blue finish one, I might worry a little bit about the value of mine dropping. I don't think that will ever happen. Like I said, I am weird.
Larry

 

[03hemi]

So out of the blue my local FFL calls me and says you interested in an old revolver?

Heck yeah!

Story is this guy bought this revolver back in 1970, shot it once, cleaned it and oiled it and kept it in the safe. He wants to sell it to someone who will appreciate it and shoot it and not flip it.
Luckily my FFL knows I’m an old school revolver guy as I have gotten some great deals from him over the years
LNIB 15-4 Nickel for $400
Pristine 66-1 2.5” for $600
And others

So he shows me a 1970 4” Blue Colt Python. Rates it 98%

Guy whose selling says he knows these go for big bucks online but wants to deal for the person who will appreciate it

So I ask how much?

FFL says the seller is willing to let it go for
3500-4000

YIKES

So much for the willing to deal part

No thanks

I have a blue well worn 19-3 with Herrett grips I got a few months back for a heck of deal at a gun show for $350
So spending that kind of money for another 4” blue .357 just doesn’t make sense

I knew they were expensive and I was thinking he would offer it for lower but a pipe dream on my part.

What makes these old Pythons so expensive?

They are nice, but...
Seriously, they have always been top tier guns. In the 70's, according to documents, they were in the $150.00~ range back then which sounds cheap, but if you use an inflation calculator you'll see that was equivalent to $1,500.00 in today's dollars, so they've always been very pricy.
Here's my "new" 4.25 Python (sans timing issues) I just bought for around that amount next to my GP100 that was there trying on holsters.

 

[03hemi]

I am kinda weird. To me, when I think of a Colt Python, I see a revolver with a spectacular blued finish. For that reason, I have a NIB 1974 blued one with a 4 inch barrel. It is my perfect example. I, personally, don't care for the nickel or stainless steel models. If Colt ever makes a new blue finish one, I might worry a little bit about the value of mine dropping. I don't think that will ever happen. Like I said, I am weird.
Larry

Think about it like this Larry.
Does a brand new, gen 8 corvette lower the value of a classic Corvette?
Absolutely not, neither will a new iteration of a blued Python, if anything it'll make it more desirable!

 

[03hemi]

Colt 'snake guns' pricing of late has become insane. Driven by speculation and the fact Colt is now owned by CZ and no longer making revolvers of the same quality as the vintage Colts of the 1970's, the prices have gone beyond reason. That being said, their prices do not go down, only up. Neither S&W nor Colt modern production retro revolvers have the same look and feel nor performance of their vintage counterparts.

I get what you're saying, but I respectfully disagree.
New CNC machining produces parts far superior in tolerances than the machines of yesterday.
Speaking of the Python, it's literally 30% stronger because of the advancement of metallurgies. Not to mention, they removed somewhere around a dozen unnecessary parts in the action making it more reliable with the same feel as the older one's and some argue that the new Pythons actually have a better trigger now too. I certainly am impressed with my new one!

 

[Onomea]

...In the 70's, according to documents, they were in the $150.00~ range back then which sounds cheap, but if you use an inflation calculator you'll see that was equivalent to $1,500.00 in today's dollars....

Just ran an inflation calculator. $150 in 1970 would be $1060 today. In 2003, I spent just over $1000 for a new stainless Python, so that sounds about right.

Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2021

 

[Bill Lear]

I haven't seen a new Python yet, let alone fired one, but with all due respect, it would have to be one terrific revolver in order to be better than my 2-1/2" and 4" Pythons. I love the Royal Blue finish, and that buttery smooth action is amazing...

I absolutely understand your comment and feelings. The originals are indeed beautiful, however, bear in mind I said, "knock the bottom out" of the Python market. The gun(s) shown in your photos don't look like shooter grade, or 70-80% grade revolvers. When confronted with paying $2,000-$3,000 for an original, which by definition means "used" the new generation of revolver shooters - now discovering revolvers and the "New" Python, will opt to pay $1,499, and not just because the new models can be had for less, but because when they handle them, they will be as blown away by the new model as I was.
I don't doubt the high-end, >95% finish, and special issue models of the originals will continue to garner big money, just that the "shooter grade" models will be far less compelling in the face of the exceedingly well done new model.

 

[sigp220.45]

I absolutely understand your comment and feelings. The originals are indeed beautiful, however, bear in mind I said, "knock the bottom out" of the Python market. The gun(s) shown in your photos don't look like shooter grade, or 70-80% grade revolvers. When confronted with paying $2,000-$3,000 for an original, which by definition means "used" the new generation of revolver shooters - now discovering revolvers and the "New" Python, will opt to pay $1,499, and not just because the new models can be had for less, but because when they handle them, they will be as blown away by the new model as I was.
I don't doubt the high-end, >95% finish, and special issue models of the originals will continue to garner big money, just that the "shooter grade" models will be far less compelling in the face of the exceedingly well done new model.

I think you are spot on.

Add in decades of “your Python will shoot itself out of time” and “all the guys who knew how to fix them are dead” lore, and a brand new Python with a factory warranty looks pretty good for $1500.

I bought this 4” 1976 Python after I had already gotten my 6” 2020. Note price. (1200 if you don’t have your specs on!) Its not typical because it was at a police supply place that only sells to cops, but several people had passed on it because the cylinder was hard to open and it was stiff to turn. I knew a lot of the police trade in guns had sat for years in evidence rooms or gun vaults and sometimes only needed a cleaning. All this one needed was oil, and I had it clicking along fine before I left the parking lot. The owner of the place is pretty knowledgable - I think he priced it low because he didn’t have much in it and he knew new ones were $1500.

 

[Paul7]

Its because they are excellent guns and they don't make them anymore. Simple as that. As near as I can tell, the average Colt collector ain't hurtin' for money and are more than willing to spend it for what they want.
If anything, I believe the 2020 Python actually drove the price of the older guns up. Many folks prefer the original over the remake.

Exactly, just like when Sig introduced the new P210s it had zero effect on the value of the old models.

I just got my older Python back from the shop for repair, but recently bought a S&W 19-4 that immediately went to the same shop for repair. Having said that, I am impressed with the 19-4.

 

[Bill Lear]

New Colt Python

 

[cmansguns]

Met a REAL Colt Collector once

Back in the late 80's, into the 1990's I thought I was a Colt collector, having many nice pieces, and actually enjoyed them until one day..my profession brought me in contact with a REAL Colt Collector.

There was a major fire and damage to a plastic plant in Freeport Texas, around 2006 and I happened to be called in as an expert witness during the Cause & Origin investigation. There I met a very nice gentleman, a renowned Tribology expert. We got to talking guns after tromping around in fire residue all day, and he mentioned that he had just taken possession of a documented early Colt Walker and was mentioning the heavy weight of that gun.

My all original, Python, OMM's (22 and 38), Woodsman, 1944 1911A1, and many more, most with boxes and tools, appeared pretty meager up against some of his collection. The Walker cost him $65,000, some SAA's the same...beautiful pieces, museum class, but never to be for myself.

I went home very happy to adjudge myself an "accumulator", not a "collector" and I was extremely happy to sell all the prancing ponies in my accumulation...and turn those funds into more, and nicer, Smith & Wesson's.

In fact it was while I was months in Freeport for that fire investigation, that I began "lurking" on this Forum...joining 10 years later and really appreciating gathering, shooting and simply enjoying S&W quality products.

PS: The Python and the 1911A1 each brought $2,600, the others were all over $1k....and times were not crazy like now, so it had to be just that prancing pony on the frame.

Don't miss em a bit.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Many moons ago I owned a 6" Python and a 5" 27-2 at the same time. Love them both. Shot them both alot and well. Someone talked me out of the 27 and the Python got stolen. I told myself that someday I would again own both. I found a very nice shooter grade 27-2 and thoroughly enjoy it. I was standing in front of a gun case at Brownells a couple weeks ago looking at four new 4.25" Pythons for msrp of $1495. I had the money in my pocket but walked away. My "new" 27 seems to have satisfied my 357 sweet tooth.

 

[Xfuzz]

Couple years ago had a member on my deer lease beggin me to
fine him a shooter Python.
Scored him one (first pic) he backed out at $800.
Decided to keep it and sent it to Fords.....$500.00 later....
Second pic.

 

[JohnRippert]

Then there are those who will happily drop $3500-$5000 for a 1911 that’s still in production, but whine about the price of an early Python or uncommon Smith.

If I had the money to drop $3500-5000 on a 1911 I doubt I would be whining about much anything.

 

[Shortcut Man]

I have a blue well worn 19-3 with Herrett grips I got a few months back for a heck of deal at a gun show for $350
So spending that kind of money for another 4” blue .357 just doesn’t make sense

That's hilarious. A 19-3 with cheap after market stocks isn't even in the same league as a Python.

 

[Birdhunter6]

I am a Smith guy. No Python urge. I understand the mystique though.

Any product is worth what a buyer is willing to pay. No more and no less.
When I see the prices old Pythons bring I think 'Who would pay that?'. Obviously, more people than you would think.

On the other hand, when I see the price a P&R 27 or a blued Lew Horton .44 special brings I think 'I wish I could afford that!'

Lucky for me, my Combat Masterpiece, Combat Magnum, Distinguished Combat Magnum and Highway Patrolman will all do anything I need a general purpose revolver to do. Do I need them all? Of course not. What are they worth to me? They are priceless. Are they for sale? NO!

So in other words, if I was a Colt guy I'd probably be shooting Troopers. I will admit that when a Python of any vintage appears on the range I will shoot it before it slithers away...

 

[geen]

I love my Model 19 but also love my 1961 Python. I have a 2.5 inch 19-2 and a shooter python. cost a lot less than a new one and I rather have a 61 shooter than a new stainless.