OP
Well, I bought the 686-1 today and it's gonna clean up nice. The Colt was nice...
Python or 686-1 ?
- Thread starter jeffrefrig
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I want to find the dude who wants to sell his Python for $900, and would have possibly taken $850!
That gun could have been flipped for an easy $200 profit. Easily.
$850, cash, no paperwork? Oh my……
*didn’t like the recoil?
Wow.
That gun could have been flipped for an easy $200 profit. Easily.
$850, cash, no paperwork? Oh my……
*didn’t like the recoil?
Wow.
tate razor
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I stated my opinion as you have yours,
There are a whole lot of Colt Pythons for sale on gun broker in the $2500 - $3500 price range without any bids on them, so I think the term easily sell them could be debated. I also know the problems with the newer Pythons have been resolved but how do you know that this gun is one of the later ones without any issue?
I have owned and shot several Colt Pythons/ Trooper MK III revolvers The most accurate one is a custom shop Python I bought used 40 years ago. I also have a 1974 unfired with box and paperwork that was a Christmas gift that I have never fired.
Back in 1997 I went into a gun shop and found a mint Python 6" blued that caught my eye and asked to look at it, the shop owner said he had something he just got on a trade that I might like. It was an older unfired 1970s S&W 25-2 1955 Target model in the Presentation wooden box with the factory shipping carton.
The price of both of the revolvers was the same. I had never owned a S&W revolver before, and I took a chance and bought the S&W 29 years later I can honestly say I have never bought another Colt after buying that first S&W There's a reason why Jerry Mikulek shoots S&W.
Out of these three, the S&W is my favorite due to accuracy and trigger pull.
686-1 bought about two years ago. $700 OTD.
Looks like the OP already chose, but one factor in favor of the Python is it has an interchangeable front sight. The 686 does not. Depending on the revision, it is integral with the barrel and can’t be changed at all.
Indeed sir.
It's possible the gun in question could be an early one that had issues, but it's highly unlikely 6 years after production began and the issues were not super common to begin with before they were resolved. It's easy to call Colt with the serial number and they will tell you the production date. One could do that before buying the gun to make sure.
I'm just stating facts as an owner of both guns and as a gunsmith who works on both guns. Nothing I said in my post was an opinion; they are known facts. As for opinions, both have advantages and disadvantages, and I like both. I would never try to sway someone toward either because only the buyer can make the right decision based on personal preferences. And that's what the decision boils down to: personal preferences. Either choice is a good one. The OP made his choice and will likely be very happy with his 686.
As for Jerry Miculek being an S&W shooter, he shoots S&W for 2 reasons, the main one being that S&W sponsors him, so he gets guns for free and gets paid to shoot their guns. The second reason is because his style of shooting demands a very fast trigger return, and no revolver has a faster, more positive trigger return and can be tweaked as easily per the shooter's preference as a S&W. Colts have notoriously more sluggish trigger return in comparison, so Jerry's finger would outrun the Colt. Hell, I even prefer the lockwork of an S&W overall vs a Colt. But again, both guns have their strong points and weaknesses.
And yes, if the gun in question was a first gen Python offered for sale at $1180 and it was in good condition, then you could indeed sell it at a good profit very easily. The numbers I gave are the going rate for legacy Pythons, and if in excellent shape, it's not too difficult to find a buyer at those prices, as Pythons remain one of the strongest selling vintage revolvers on the used market today.
Wee Hooker
Member
I've owned several hundred of SW revolvers over the years. I still keep 3, in the 686/586 flavor. As someone above mentioned, I've been thinking that everyone should own at least one a python at some point so I bought a newish one in the 4.25" barrel version just today. As much as I'm a SW guy, I have to say the fit and finish on the Colt is pretty impressive as compared to my 686's. My only complaint with the Python is the trigger has this strange , spongy and heavy spot just before it breaks in DA. Almost like the sear has to push over a hump before breaking. It's not horrible but I've never felt anything like it in any SW. IF it was a 686, I'd have been in there and fixed it already. However, having never torn into a colt of any kind, this couuld take a while to figure it out. Not sure if I'll keep the Python but it is an itch that has been scratched for the time beeing.
As to the OP's question, I don't think the Python warrents the $400 difference but both revolvers will hold their value.
As to the OP's question, I don't think the Python warrents the $400 difference but both revolvers will hold their value.
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I like both, the Python slightly more, but relative to used values, the 686 is a good deal. ASSUMING the Python is a recent (2020's model).
EXACTLY. Thad hit it on the head here.
Mike LaNier
Member
I collected Colt pistols for years, and had a Python, which was not nearly the gun "everybody" said was the best .357 around. To my mind, they are decent guns, but severely overpriced. I have a 3" 686+ and it has become a favorite, along with a 4" 586, (a super-shooter that I'm sure my grandkids will fight over). As a geezer with small hands, Colt DA guns were never comfortable for me; the stacking at the end of the trigger pull was an issue; so it would be a Smith for me!
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Yeah, still kicking myself. If I didn’t have my two daughters at the range with me that day, I would have found a way. They would have ratted me out big time, though. My wife was already going to be mad as hell when I had to tell her that I spent close to $2500 in just a couple of days on a Model 16-4 and a Model 610 no dash 5” (both grail guns for me); sometimes you just gotta keep the peace.
Glenn R. McMannly
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The NEW Python is a better gun than any 686.
Breakaway500
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Buy both. 
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I have shot my friend's 6 inch older Python against my 6 inch 686. The Smith and Wesson fits my hand better,
seems more natural and sights line up better. I shoot the 686 much better than the Python. Two members
at my gun club purchased the newer Python. Both had to send them back more than once. One guy
after the 3rd time back to the factory they replaced the revolver! Put a little drag when rotating the cylinder
and it locks up rotation? The Python design has no lock up on the front of the cylinder like the Smith.
seems more natural and sights line up better. I shoot the 686 much better than the Python. Two members
at my gun club purchased the newer Python. Both had to send them back more than once. One guy
after the 3rd time back to the factory they replaced the revolver! Put a little drag when rotating the cylinder
and it locks up rotation? The Python design has no lock up on the front of the cylinder like the Smith.
HILARIOUS.
Pythons old and new have always been that way. That's because their cylinders rotate clockwise, into the frame rather than CCW away from the frame like a Smith. The Python's hand is pushing the cylinder hard against the frame during carry-up and when locked during firing. I still prefer having locking at the front of cylinder and I installed ball detents on the crane of my new Python and Anaconda, but this has always been the design of Colt DA revolvers and has never posed a problem.
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