Reality check: Colt Python 4" Blued price in CA

[SJshooter]

The key to $1900 to me is that the gun is unfired (unfired guns can have mild turn rings as the guns are test fired at the factory). A simple 98% gun is a no brainer for $1200 in the Silicon Valley region - the five or six Pythons I've seen for sale at my local shop went between $1100 and $1500 and all were snatched up very quickly. I think if you add in box and papers (a big plus for real collectors) and the gun is truly unfired, then $1900 is not an Antique Roadshow quote. Again, it may not be what everyone would pay, but there are tons who would and I don't think the gun would sit on the shelf more than a week.

[rivviepop]

My "deal" meter was pretty good then, I thought that the price was OK but not a great deal. After sleeping on it I'm going to pass on the revolver as they're asking $1550; it might be worth it to another Calgunner though - I was only interested if it was a *great* deal (having not been looking for this revolver to begin with) and I'm not a collector that can see the added value in the box/paperwork.

Krausewerk Collectibles in San Mateo (650-571-7583) just got this puppy in from an auction at Rock Island Armory (in the past week?), as mentioned $1550 for a lucky soul. I asked and was told it would be a FFL sale, not PPT. Here's a quick picture I snapped with the phone camera to make y'all salivate:



Merry Xmas someone! If you buy it you gotta invite me to the range with you when she gets some rounds in the cylinder, I'd love to try shooting one.

[mike452]

You have a nice camera phone. The cylinder ring seems a bit heavy. Maybe it's showing more on the bluing.
You are generous to rate this 95% to 98%. It will be waiting for that lucky soul for a while at $1550.

BamBam-31 sold his last month on here for $1K. put less than 300 rounds

[rivviepop]

You have a nice camera phone.

Thanks - this is even a 'bad' picture, it's a BlackBerry 8320. Here's what i call a good one from my Flickr stream:



It's much better outside in the daylight, but I've taken some great concert photos with it as well.

The cylinder ring seems a bit heavy. Maybe it's showing more on the bluing.
You are generous to rate this 95% to 98%. It will be waiting for that lucky soul for a while at $1550.

That was my opinion as well to a degree, for a supposed virgin the ring seemed awfully heavy, as if it had been turned quite a large amount. The rest of the weapon however is really clean (muzzle/bore/etc.) so it's hard to tell what's actually happened with it. Seeing as how it came from an auction I bet we'll never know.

[ar15barrels]

I was just talking to my FFL today.
He just sold a new-in-box, un-turned, polished nickel Python (or were there ever stainless ones?) for $2700 on Gunbroker the other day.
A guy in CA bought it because it could go private party transfer...

[JAFGO]

My "deal" meter was pretty good then, I thought that the price was OK but not a great deal. After sleeping on it I'm going to pass on the revolver as they're asking $1550; it might be worth it to another Calgunner though - I was only interested if it was a *great* deal (having not been looking for this revolver to begin with) and I'm not a collector that can see the added value in the box/paperwork.

Krausewerk Collectibles in San Mateo (650-571-7583) just got this puppy in from an auction at Rock Island Armory (in the past week?), as mentioned $1550 for a lucky soul. I asked and was told it would be a FFL sale, not PPT. Here's a quick picture I snapped with the phone camera to make y'all salivate:

That Python has some timing problems. I've seen a lot of Pythons, some shot a little, some shot a lot. None had a complete ring through the bluing down to steel around the cylinder like that. Usually the marks are just in the bolt cuts and maybe slightly before the cut.

That cylinder bolt is dropping way to soon to mark the cylinder like that. Perhaps it's a victim of home gunsmithing. Or it could just be a factory lemon. Let the buyer beware. $1550 is ridiculous for a Python with unknown problems and wear marked like that.

[Moonclip]

I was just talking to my FFL today.
He just sold a new-in-box, un-turned, polished nickel Python (or were there ever stainless ones?) for $2700 on Gunbroker the other day.
A guy in CA bought it because it could go private party transfer...

Yes they came in stainless. Both polished and matte.

[ar15barrels]

Yes they came in stainless. Both polished and matte.

Then it was stainless.
I did not know they made them stainless and I thought my FFL buddy had just confused it with a nickel plated gun.

[Moonclip]

But they also came in nickel too!

[rivviepop]

Then it was stainless.
I did not know they made them stainless and I thought my FFL buddy had just confused it with a nickel plated gun.

While in the shop looking at this another fella (a Python collector) was working on buying a pair of 6" models, one blued and one nickel (both flawless) that came from the same estate auction, truly in New shape - you could just tell. While talking to him (he also owns 3x 4" blued/nickel models and a few others) he mentioned that Stainless versions were pretty much ignored by collectors like him, they were produced but aren't sought after. *shrug*

At that $2700 tag I bet that thing was nickel, having seen one in real life it is a thing of beauty - there are nickel sidearms and then there's a nickel Python - the workmanship was fantastic (of course I manhandled the ones he was buying), much better than a lot of stuff I've seen in my travels. I'd be hard pressed to even shoot it looking the way it does...

(personally I'd buy a SS one because I want to shoot the sh*t out of it! )

[ar15barrels]

(personally I'd buy a SS one because I want to shoot the sh*t out of it! )

That's why I paid $225 for a 686.
Colt's cylinder releases are illogical.

[ar15barrels]

At that $2700 tag I bet that thing was nickel

It was stainless, here's the auction:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87073474

Here's the really crazy Python auction though...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87383948

[rivviepop]

Here's the really crazy Python auction though...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=87383948

$13,000?!? yeah, uh... no thanks.

[CALI-gula]

Anything above $1500 for an average mint NIB all-paperwork 4/6/8 inch unturned blued Python is ridiculous, even in CA; unless one of the 3" Combat Pythons, a "Hunter" Python, early (prior to 1969) 2.5 inch barreled Python, or other specialty release.

$2700 for a 4 or 6 inch nickel is illogical, even if NIB and all paperpwork. They are not seen as often, but not very rare either. But they are impressive to look at in person (the plating is very well done) and the flash tends to bring the dollars out of the wallet easier.

However, the $13,000 3" Nickel Python makes every bit of sense to me due to rarity (and verified with Colt letter) and the excellent condition of the one shown.

The stainless Pythons are nice guns too, but I'll only ever see them as my shooters - they'll be sought after one day, but they aren't anything special to collectors at the moment. Even the visual aethestic of the stainless used to make the SS Pythons tends to have a dirty grey, tan, or yellowish look to it; the tint is just not as "blue" looking as stainless found in other makes.

From what I am seeing in this thread... I could pay off 1/3rd of my home mortgage with just my Python collection alone.

.

[gileas]

there was an amazing 6" blue python with custom grips for sale a few weeks ago, I think. I fell in love. I am also amazed at two things (at least, very least) 1) how *expensive* this gun is now... 2) California. What the heck?! I used to live near Oakland in Berkeley, and *none* of the "bad guys" (ie drug dealer types) had *ANY* problem getting guns. I saw a Glock 19 (? the full auto one) and Mac10 that were confiscated by a cop on my block. He said it was not at all unusual that these kids go heavily armed. Meanwhile, I cannot go buy 99% of the handguns made in the world (not talking a full auto here, just say a Python 6" or a Desert Eagle .357) with my ZERO history of crime, no insanity, got a state ID card (boy *that* was a tough test :P) to buy a gun, when it would be easier to just get one from some drug dealer on any random corner.

Sorry about the rant. Maybe that doesnt belong here. I feel better though.
Gil