Question about a Colt Python's value

[nn3453]

Gentlemen and ladies,

I have been presented with the opportunity to purchase a Colt Python from the 60s (or 70s not exactly sure). I've inspected the gun, it seems to lock up fine. Trigger is great. The seller said that it has been reblued by Colt (he inherited it from his father who had sent it to Colt to have it redone). It has Colt medallion wood grips. Seems like a good gun.

He is asking around $1500. Is it worth it?

I don't know much about Colts.

Thank you.

[tankerman]

I wouldn't pay that much for a re-blued gun. Colt does the best re-blue, and I'm sure it looks great, but it's still not original. For $1500, I'd expect a cherry gun, all original.

[nn3453]

I wouldn't pay that much for a re-blued gun. Colt does the best re-blue, and I'm sure it looks great, but it's still not original. For $1500, I'd expect a cherry gun, all original.

How much would you offer for it? I might be able to talk him down if it is truly overpriced.

[ivanimal]

I dont like reblued guns myself. 1500 seems high for even a Colt Factory reblue. I would expect to pay 900 to 1100 depending on the gun.

[tankerman]

Have to see the wear. Re-blue can hide wear particularly on the muzzle and cylinder.

Don't be overly impressed by the Colt medallion grips, they are a dime a dozen.


Without seeing it, maybe $900'ish. Tough without more info or pictures.

[dfletcher]

How do you know it's been reblued by Colt and not someone else - are there receipts, does Colt mark the gun if they did the reblue? Also, original Python grips are expensive and there are slight differences in the grips from the 60s and 70s. I think you'd really want to ensure you know what you're getting. For a Colt reblued with correct grips seems like a slightly less than $1K gun. Can quibble a bit, but I think $1,500.00 is way out there.

[BigDogatPlay]

I saw a pretty sweet mid 70's vintage six inch yesterday in a consignment case priced at $1350. I've seen a couple others recently at similar prices. All were original finish and in good to excellent shape. To me, $1500 on a Python is LNIB, with the box, papers, tool and a minimal round count.

$1500 seems a very steep premium for a re-blued unit. Even though it's a factory re-blue. Me personally, I wouldn't go higher than probably $1100, and I would start in the $900 range. The grips would be a consideration as noted above. Do a bit of homework before you make an offer. A 1960's s/n with 1980's grips would be a big mitigator on price, when coupled with the re-blue.

[nn3453]

Thanks gentlemen. I'll talk to the seller. I don't think he's trying to screw me (I met him through a common friend). He doesn't really have an idea of what the gun is worth, in his defense, he threw out a number and asked me if I could find out more.

[SCMA-1]

Perhaps someone with access to the Blue Book of Gun Values Online here can give you a price range; also look on Gunbroker and check out existing bids for similar Pythons. Don't consider asking price with no bids or any auction with 0 bids; asking price doesn't mean anything; it's the buyer that establishes market value, not the seller.

SCMA-1

[Mute]

Blue book values won't help much in CA, where Pythons can only be bought through PPT. They're a bit harder to get here than outside of the state.

[SCMA-1]

Blue book values won't help much in CA, where Pythons can only be bought through PPT. They're a bit harder to get here than outside of the state.

It would give the seller a rough baseline to start with.

[ivanimal]

It would give the seller a rough baseline to start with.

Very rough. I dont use mine unless I am trying to steal a gun. Which is never. You see what I mean? Go to gunbroker and then add 1 to 200 bucks for CA.

[norcal77]

I wouldn't pay that much for a re-blued gun. Colt does the best re-blue, and I'm sure it looks great, but it's still not original. For $1500, I'd expect a cherry gun, all original.

+1...with the box and papers..

[nn3453]

+1...with the box and papers..

I understand what you guys are saying, but you can't really purchase Pythons off of gunbroker.

I'd offer $1600 instead of $1500 to anyone right now if I could get a cherry Python with the original box and papers. Hard to find in CA.

Unfortunately, we have to pay a premium for off roster handguns.

I'll try to talk him down but I think $1500 for a cherry Python + box and papers is a little unrealistic.

Thanks.

[norcal77]

I understand what you guys are saying, but you can't really purchase Pythons off of gunbroker.

I'd offer $1600 instead of $1500 to anyone right now if I could get a cherry Python with the original box and papers. Hard to find in CA.

Unfortunately, we have to pay a premium for off roster handguns.

I'll try to talk him down but I think $1500 for a cherry Python + box and papers is a little unrealistic.

Thanks.

Yeah...the cali rules suck. I'd offer him $1300 if it was me...