need some HELP WITH A COLT Python

[walter o]

I have a beauty full python ,except for some pitting on the outside of the cylinder ,{above 2 chambers} .What cylinders will replace the
pitted cylinder? The python is a 1975 mfg,date and an x Chicago Police gun
Also will the replacement cyl .need to be fitted to the gun?
I think the pitting is from being left in a holster for a long time , they are small but just grinds on my soul . I don,
't think they will buff out as metal will have to be removed

 

[Malysh]

Pythons and all Colt revolvers of that era were largely hand fitted. You cannot merely buy a cylinder and have it replaced easily. There are only a small number of
gunsmiths that can hand fit a replacement cylinder and adjust the hand and other parts.

Contact Frank Glenn in Arizona. He is a very experienced gunsmith who can do this job for you without worry. His turn around is fast, too.

A new condition Python cylinder can be obtained from The Custom Shop Inc. in Hamilton, Montana (not affiliated with the Colt Custom Shop), but it will be expensive.

If you can't live with the cylinder and decide not to have the work done, contact me if the Colt has a 2.5, 3, or 4 inch barrel and maybe we can work out a deal.

Good luck with your project!

 

[boykinlp]

walther o, have you considered just simply getting the cylinder refinished or the whole gun refinished? To me, that would be the easiest thing for you to do and end up with a gun that won’t “grind on your soul” anymore. I would suspect that it might even be less expensive than finding a cylinder and getting it fitted to your gun.
Larry

 

[stansdds]

Those older Colt Pythons were pretty much all hand-fitted revolvers. Finding a replacement cylinder that has matching blue and drops in is unlikely. If the finish bothers you that much, you might be better off having it refinished, but expect to pay a lot of money for a refinish that makes it look like the Python's of yesteryear.

 

[murphydog]

Agree with the idea of getting the cylinder refinished, presuming the rest of the gun won't look bad compared to it. If you send the 'crane' with it, whomever does the work should be able to get it to match. Good luck in your decision.

 

[sodacan]

Just curious. Why did you buy it with the issue being apparent?

 

[glenwolde]

One of the main reasons I gave up shooting Colts is the difficulty of getting them worked on. It's been 20 years since the last pythons shipped. Most of the Colt gunsmiths have died off. There are still a few around. Do not under any circumstances give it to anybody you can't verify is competent to work on it.

I'd live with it or sell it and buy a better one. You'll likely end up spending more fixing it up (plus the original cost) than a good one would cost you. I think that's happened to a lot of us.

 

[Grayfox]

How bad is it? Pictures would be helpful.
In general, a refinish of any kind hurts value. Maybe just doing the cylinder would be cheapest and make you happy, "IF" the refinisher can get a good match. But, I just don't see where spending money on it will be worthwhile.
I suggest that either you learn to live with it as is or sell the gun if it bothers you that much.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I have a beauty full python ,except for some pitting on the outside of the cylinder ,{above 2 chambers} .What cylinders will replace the
pitted cylinder? The python is a 1975 mfg,date and an x Chicago Police gun
Also will the replacement cyl .need to be fitted to the gun?
I think the pitting is from being left in a holster for a long time , they are small but just grinds on my soul . I don,
't think they will buff out as metal will have to be removed

Are you sure that you can't live with the pitting, walter? I imagine you bought that Python because the price was right...I did the same thing. I bought this "truck gun" that had been bouncing around in someone's pickup truck before it was traded in to a local gun shop. I thought about having it refinished, but changed my mind. I've learned to appreciate my Python for what it is...slightly dinged up but a great shooter. Yours has LEO provenance and some character. My 2 cents: I'd leave it as is and enjoy it!

 

[stansdds]

One of the main reasons I gave up shooting Colts is the difficulty of getting them worked on. It's been 20 years since the last pythons shipped. Most of the Colt gunsmiths have died off. There are still a few around. Do not under any circumstances give it to anybody you can't verify is competent to work on it.

I'd live with it or sell it and buy a better one. You'll likely end up spending more fixing it up (plus the original cost) than a good one would cost you. I think that's happened to a lot of us.

You are correct, the gunsmiths, even those at Colt, who knew how to work on them are mostly gone. These days, you might be best served by learning to do your own repairs and tuning.

 

[LoadedRound]

Hi Walter

Just a thought. To many shooters, a small amount of pitting wouldn't be a big deal. You might be better off to move your gun along to one of those fellas and invest your money in a better example.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Golddollar]

Are you sure that you can't live with the pitting, walter? I imagine you bought that Python because the price was right...I did the same thing. I bought this "truck gun" that had been bouncing around in someone's pickup truck before it was traded in to a local gun shop. I thought about having it refinished, but changed my mind. I've learned to appreciate my Python for what it is...slightly dinged up but a great shooter. Yours has LEO provenance and some character. My 2 cents: I'd leave it as is and enjoy it!

I put a like on this because it reminds me of a similar occurrence that my dad had. Pop was over at the local hardware store when the proprietor/manager showed Pop a bunch of big Ka-Bar knives. The story was that these knives somehow got wet, which caused the finish on those knives to get somewhat blemished. The manager offered the blemished knives to Pop for $5 apiece (remember this was a good 30 years ago). Pop remembered how he carried knives that looked a lot worse and ended up buying them all. Pop gave one of them to me and I remember it took me all afternoon one day to sharpen, using a Buck sharpening kit that helped to keep the stroking angle consistent. That knife sure had good steel. I field dressed a few deer what that knife.

Writing this has just inspired me to dig this knife out. It was just where I put it decades ago, and it doesn't look like it changed at all. My nephews don't hunt, so I'm hoping that I can find that one of my little cousins will appreciate this knife for what it is.

 

[1911haulic]

The pistol is 50 years old, clean it, lube it and love it! Enough said. If you want a perfect one, buy a new one, and then you may still be disappointed.

 

[Fishinfool]

I am not up on older Pythons enough to say for sure, but will more common - read less expensive - Cylinder from another model from the same frame size fit? 3.5.7., Trooper, etc.?

I think you will have a hard time getting a good blueing match with the old finish. If that kind of thing eats at you, you might be better off selling it and find one you can live with.

Larry

 

[dsf]

Setting aside the "should you" - the cylinder may be a part that you can get away with as being "drop in" on the Colt. Here's why I say that's possible.

So long as the hand doesn't sit too proud and start movement of the cylinder prior to the cylinder bolt being cammed down by the boss on the rebound lever, you may get lucky and have the hand just the right length to do a complete lock up.

That "bank vault" lock up of the older Colts comes from the 2nd stage of the hand pushing up against the ratchet as the trigger is pressed - ratchets on the Colt are horizontal and pretty beefy, as is the 2nd stage of the hand. You can kinda' get away with the hand and cylinder relationship being not 100% fine tuned and still get a solid lock up.

One mark of a "fitted just right" hand is feeling a slight rub at SA trigger press, controlling the hammer drop with your thumb. You can feel the hand set solid against the cylinder ratchet as the SA sear clears the SA sear notch "just barely". Of course with time that wears in but the gun will lock up just fine.

Internals on the old Colt are extraordinarily interdependent. But on lock up and the hand, there's a bit of leeway that could cut in your favor.

If everything else works well, except the hand is too tall and moves the cylinder too soon, it can be taken down. If it's too short it can be stretched. But that's all I would venture to (carefully) remedy things.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Refinish of any sort will hurt value. I'm firmly in the find an upgrade then sell or live with it camp. That being said IMHO Frank Glen is your guy....if not he will point you in thr right direction. Good Luck!

 

[DHernandez]

Go on Coltforum.com and you will be amazed at the knowledge on Colt firearms. I guarantee somebody will steer you to the best answer and probably the best smith for the job.

 

[Malysh]

I'm a member of that forum. He'll be
told Frank Glenn is The Man for Colt gunsmithing.