The python bubble

[DaveInOroValley]

My 1957 S&W .357 five screw frame, short cylinder pre (model designation) seems to continue to rise in value every year as well. I guess some models will always hold a certain value based on collectibility.

[den888]

It's a discontinued and high demand model. Rare supply and high demand, very unlikely that it will ever burst.

[The Gleam]

Anyone using California as a litmus test, qualifier, or measure of pricing is out of their mind. Of course such guns sold here will fetch crazy pricing as I said, but the same could be said for a P7M13, a Steyr GB18, a Walther P88, or pre-GCA 1965 Walther PPK. Throwing California in the mix as to being a cause as to whether Colt Python prices will continue to rise astronomically as this latest ridiculous fervor has presented is ludicrous. A no-box, mid 1980s 6" blued example available in CA on Gunbroker will breach $3500 but that same gun outside of CA will be lucky to get above $1,600. It's just stupidity or novice collectors making more of the Colt Python than it really is.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=358738450

But no, I don't believe there will be a "burst" - just a plateau. Some idiot will always point to a completed Gunbroker auction for a Python that was available to CA buyers as to the justification for their asking price as if GB is a blue-book. It's no different than as I noted above about the loser with a beat-up Dodge Dart with a slant-six comparing his "rare classic" to a 1967 Dodge Dart GTS housing a 383 under the lid.

As for Colt not making the Colt Python anymore; correct - FOR NOW. The Elite has always been in and out of production runs through the Custom Shop. I guarantee that Colt will re-release runs of the Python on an occasional basis, and may even bring it back as a production gun in the next few years. They still have all the tooling and machines; those are not going anywhere. It's like HK with their P7 series they keep bringing back in limited runs every so often.

But for a company to continue to market and sell a revolver that is more than 140 years old - it is not completely irrational to think they would remake and sell the Colt Python again one day, and likely soon, considering the current legislative atmosphere will look the other way on revolvers of any kind:

http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtRevolvers.aspx

, Colt has defined the standard of excellence that others strive to match."

As the above implies, they even know they have something special in the Python marque and I bet they won't be giving it up too soon (at least not entirely).

I agree with Scobun too; they simply are not all they are hyped to be. I've owned and shot Pythons for more than 30 years; they can easily go out of time, they are fragile, and honestly somewhat flimsy. They are very finely made and the barrels were excellent, true; but they are neither "working guns" or something that can handle full loads regularly. Likely, because they can be screwed up so easily is probably what contributes to their value, because if you find one in good shape, it's rare. The Manurhin MR73 was a better-built, just as accurate revolver, but is lesser known in this country due to import laws and a lower volume of production and marketing. And I would put most any S&W Performance Center revolver in .357-Mag made in the last 5 years over the Colt Python as far as quality and ability to perform goes (let alone a custom for similar prices.)

[beetle]

Agree with The Gleam and Scobun's assessments. The prices will hold but I don't think they will continue to rise as dramatically as they have in the past.

Don't forget that the earliest of Pythons are now C&R eligible. As time passes even the "California Premium" will start to go away.

The only ones that will constantly hold a premium are the super rare models with perhaps the "snake eyes" set being at the top of the heap. The one-offs will also continue to do well like the Hunter model.

As usual the Colt commemorative models fail to keep pace with their "normal" production models. For example, the "bicentennial" three gun set typically sells in the $3000 range and it has a Python, a SAA, and a Dragoon, yet a normal production Python will sell in the $2-3K range just by itself (in today's inflated market).

[The Gleam]

Agree with The Gleam and Scobun's assessments. The prices will hold but I don't think they will continue to rise as dramatically as they have in the past.

Don't forget that the earliest of Pythons are now C&R eligible. As time passes even the "California Premium" will start to go away.

And I also don't discount that in the next few years, due to the CA Handgun Safety Roster presenting a "nothing available" in the way of a commonly used firearm and be akin to the same issues under Heller, that it may fall by the wayside out of court/lawsuit results. Between Pena vs. Cid pending that would wipe out the roster and Heller, the whole thing may set the exclusivity of CA rarities on its ear, then all of this fabricated inflated prices for "off-roster" guns going back some 50 years will be null and void.

Inevitably, until that time, people will overpay for Pythons.

[Dexter1]

The python would still be hard to bring in on the BICENTINNIAL set because it is not over 50 years old.. They are 1976.
Stores have told me they can transfer in the SAA and the dragoon but the python would not be eligible .. Correct me If I'm wrong.
I have a bicentinial set and had to find one in CA because no dealer would transfer it from out of state for me.

[The Gleam]

The python would still be hard to bring in on the BICENTINNIAL set because it is not over 50 years old. They are 1976.
Stores have told me they can transfer in the SAA and the dragoon but the python would not be eligible .. Correct me If I'm wrong. I have a bicentinial set and had to find one in CA because no dealer would transfer it from out of state for me.

True. But we are talking about Pythons in general, not specific rare cased "editions" that had been rare out of the gate. I see such cased sets as the Double Diamond or Snake Eyes sets of so-called "special editions" similar to "commemorative editions" or tacky engraved guns, carrying little interest with collectors because such guns will never fall out of such favor; there is essentially no threat they will ever be lost to use or disregard.

They are pretty, and sure, neat to own in any Python collection, but they will always remain as such. They still fetch good prices, but they did from the start. I would pay more for a 3" Combat Python, Hunter, or Silhouette example or similar than I would a "Snake Eyes" set.

[Dexter1]

I gotcha..

[beetle]

The python would still be hard to bring in on the BICENTINNIAL set because it is not over 50 years old.. They are 1976.
Stores have told me they can transfer in the SAA and the dragoon but the python would not be eligible .. Correct me If I'm wrong.
I have a bicentinial set and had to find one in CA because no dealer would transfer it from out of state for me.

I think the Bicentennial set is listed as C&R so you can bring them in.

[John Browning]

I've owned and shot Pythons for more than 30 years; they can easily go out of time, they are fragile, and honestly somewhat flimsy. They are very finely made and the barrels were excellent, true; but they are neither "working guns" or something that can handle full loads regularly. Likely, because they can be screwed up so easily is probably what contributes to their value, because if you find one in good shape, it's rare. The Manurhin MR73 was a better-built, just as accurate revolver, but is lesser known in this country due to import laws and a lower volume of production and marketing. And I would put most any S&W Performance Center revolver in .357-Mag made in the last 5 years over the Colt Python as far as quality and ability to perform goes (let alone a custom for similar prices.)

I love Colts, but you don't even have to look for a PC Smith to outshoot a Python. The Python lockwork is nothing special, the trigger stacks in DA and is almost exactly the same internally as the Colt Officers Model .38, which is just as nice on the outside, shoots just as well, and can be had for $400. Any Pre-1960 S&W in very good shape can hold it's own with a Python, and the Pre-27s are much nicer shooting revolvers to boot.

The top is a 1961 Model 19 that is bone stock (except grips) and the bottom is a 1961 Model 27 that has gone to the PC Center for a total action job and going over. Both will out shoot a Python any day of the week and twice on Sunday.



This is a 1960 Model 27 that is absolutely new. I bought it from the original owner who had never fired it. I don't see how a Colt Python has anything on this, and I paid $900 shipped for everything you see way back in 2011.

[Dexter1]

Agree that all the same tools and machining is there for the python but the quality builders are few and at between , colt takes forever to even work on the pythons that are sent in because only few workers are available to repair them.
The originals will always be worth more in the end vs a new production version.

[NikePenguin]

I'd say a market correction in price is much more likely than a bubble burst. I really don't see a flood of the market once the speculative price starts to come back down.

[Dexter1]

And Yes blue book is estimated value but you don't see all these million dollar homes going for estimated value .. They are empty all over so they go for way less then value.. Same with the python Just flip flop, they are just few and far between in CA so they fetch way more .. if they were all over the place the market would have never demanded more for them.

[TeddyBallgame]

I never owned a Python, my buddy did, and when I saw it I had to have one...when I went to the LGS they had Pythons and Cobras...keep in mind, this was over 30 years ago, lol...anyway, I cheesed up, became a tightwad, and, ended up buying the Cobra, instead of the Python, because it was about $75.00 less, at the time

Paid $299.00 for a 4" Colt King Cobra SS...I actually like it a little more than the Python

Kept it for about 4 years, then, GAVE it to my brother...never figured they would become such a hard to find item...yes, even the Cobras are somewhat of a collectable too...my brother kept it a few years, then, used it as a trade-in for a new gun

[raws]

I had a chance to buy a slightly worn one for $600 once and missed out because I went a day too late to look at it. Still kicking myself over that one.