Sept 2015 American Rifleman

[jrm53]

In the new issue of the Rifleman there is an article on how much the line of Colt revolvers have gone up over the last few years, I have ordered Colts for people but I never thought I wanted one. In the late 70's and the last year of J Carters term we were getting S. A. Krugerands it seems now I should have put everything into Colt Pythons and every thing else Colt sold in the revolver line and just put them up. The two most high pistols were the Python that in the 55 years since they were introduced went from 125 dollars to 18000 dollars (14300%) and the Boa in the 30 years it was in production it went from 1985 MSRP of 525 dollars to 13500 an increase of (2471%) another boat we S&W fans missed. These prices were current of July 2015. They were for new samples. Jeff

 

[H Richard]

Have you seen the prices nice S&W's have been bringing? Mod 27's in the $1500 range, and Mod 16's (about as scarce as Colt Boa's) up in the $4000 to $6000 range. Reg. Mags are up in the 5 figure range now.

 

[kthom]

I had a Python once. Also had a 70's model Detective Special, which I liked much better than the Python. The only reason I wish I had either one still today is because of the money they are bringing, not for any other reason at all! Personal preference, I know, but it's mine. I just like having the S&W's I own whether or not they are ever worth any more than I have spent for them. But guess what, many of them are worth more today than I gave for them. Win win for me! Plus, I've gotten an immense amount of pleasure from shooting and using them along the way. Can't lose!

 

[jrm53]

One reason I could never get to fired up on Pythons was I already had a model 27 with a 8 3/8 barrel and smooth rosewood S&W grips, they were nice and smooth but I always had a thing for the Smiths, I have a series 70 combat decked out .45 with a comp that we built about 84. Also have a Colt woodsman that has the original box, factory target, factory screwdrive and the bill of sale where my best friend bought it in 1968 at the Hat Box in Little Rock before he went Viet Nam, its only vauable to me. Jeff

 

[Aticus]

Y'all need to read the new thread about the Sept. Rifleman. Then you'd know how to feel about this article and the Rifleman in general.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/441987-well-finially-happened.html

 

[CCantu357]

I too read this article. I mostly recall reading about some folks paying over ten grand for Pythons. While I generally love Colt firearms as much as Smiths, I found this ridiculous. When I was a kid, I had the chance to shoot a 1960s vintage 4-inch Python. I cannot deny that it was a good gun, but to this day I would prefer a same vintage Model 19 or N-frame. I get the premium for Colt brand 1911s, but the overpricing and overrating of Colt DA sixguns makes me scratch my head.

 

[KSDeputy]

I read the magazine which came day before yesterday. If I had kept every gun I ever had I would be a millionaire today. Like most of you, I had to sell one or trade it to get the newer one I wanted. So many guns, so little money.

 

[ken158]

I would imagine there is a very small market for these overpriced Colts... regardless of what someone may have gotten for a premium piece. Put a few thousand of them in the market and what does the price do? We all know the answer to that - the price drops like a rock.

 

[hkcavalier]

I read the article and scratched my head too. Spot on re: the reason...all the baby boomers collecting retirement with lots of time to ruminate about this sort of thing.

It's a strange world when a Colt Python is worth more than a S&W Registered Magnum in similar condition.