<<<< Colt 6" Stainless .357 Python >>>> advice needed

[gtarifa74]

Hello Gunners I have a really nice 1983 Stainless 6" Colt Pyton, I am thinking about taking off the black rubber factory colt grips buying some earlier wood python grips for it and sending it to Colt to give it a bright stainless finish , anyone have any recommendation on sending it to Colt for this job? I know of a few local Gunsmiths that are telling Me they can make it look like a mirror shine, I am real scared of getting it ruined or them buffing down the roll marks or what not. I also know it will devalue the Pistol because I am removing it from its original form, but I am going to have it for a real long time and just want it nice and shiny. Any advice or personal experience sending to Colt is much appreciated. Thanks in advance....

[1911R SSS]

In in the same boat as you, but I have a few stainless Anaconda's and I'm going to get one polished. If you send it to Colt you will not devalue it much since Colt did the finish work. Don't worry about the value just shoot it, if it was MIB unfired then that's a different story. Get it polished by Colt and enjoy your beautiful revolver. That's what I'm going to do.

[Mute]

Send it to Colt. Don't mess around.

[gtarifa74]

Thanks 1911and Mute ^^^ I wonder what the downtime on something like that would be, might as well give the pistol a tune up as well

[GM4spd]

It could take a year for you to get it back. It will be done right! Good luck.
I believe cost is over $400. Pete

[nickel plate]

I have the practically same setup as yours except mine is B STS finished. I still have the factory issued black Pachmyar grips packed away in the safe, now the Python sports a set of NOS Colt factory Gen III walnuts that I bought from a Colt Python dealer who goes by "keystone arms" over on http://coltforum.com. He has a stellar sales reputation so I felt comfortable sending him a MO in advance, look for him in the python specific sub forum. Also, factory walnut grips in various degrees of condition pop up from time to time in their classified section.
As anything Python, expect to pay a premium price but just as important, know which generation walnut grips to buy-there's that information over there too. Be careful if you look in gunbroker as there are quite a few Asian reproductions selling as new and for a lot of dough. They originally were sold with a dead giveaway brass screw and threaded insert but I have read lately that they wised up a bit and replaced them with darker hardware. Another tipoff of being fakes is that they list how many new sets they have for sale! Need I say more?
1st photo/fakes 2nd photo/authentic GenIII 3rd photo/mine.
One of the finer aspects of swapping to factory walnut grips is since they are paired and not wraparound like the Pachs, so you can now expose the nicely fluted back strap (matches the face of the trigger) that has been hidden from view all these years. I'm so glad that Colt didn't skip that part of the machining process when releasing the wraparound rubber gripped models.
RANGE REPORT: After shooting the Python with the rubber grips there's a night and day difference when even shooting .38 ammo with the NOS walnuts. Tremendous hand sting! The checkering is really sharp!

In regard to you wanting to turn it into a B STS finish, that's your call but somewhere down the line that Python will change hands and quite possibly the new owner may pay to have it lettered through Colt and it will come back stating the original factory finish when first shipped so you need to think about disclosure when that time comes.
Your concern is valid pertaining to buffing over the roll marks. My Python's Rampant Colt roll mark on the frame isn't as deep as the barrel roll marks so if mine was issued as plain stainless, it wouldn't be a good candidate for buffing to B STS.
What ever you decide to do, enjoy your Python as it is truly a remarkable, timeless revolver.

[Guncollector84]

Go buy a new 686 have it polished and action tuned. BOOM you have yourself a nice polished shooter that resembles a python!
I know a local shop with a few BNIB 4" 686 left in stock!

[GM4spd]

Go buy a new 686 have it polished and action tuned. BOOM you have yourself a nice polished shooter that resembles a python!
I know a local shop with a few BNIB 4" 686 left in stock!

OP wants his Python in brite stainless. A 686 is a nice gun but ----let's make
no mistake it's no Python. Pete

[bsg]

Go buy a new 686 have it polished and action tuned. BOOM you have yourself a nice polished shooter that resembles a python!
I know a local shop with a few BNIB 4" 686 left in stock!

OP wants his Python in brite stainless. A 686 is a nice gun but ----let's make
no mistake it's no Python. Pete

i believe that Guncollector84 is advising the OP to leave the finish on the Colt as is, which is what i would advise as well.

nevertheless, i wish the OP the best with his efforts.

[Guncollector84]

That is correct

[gtarifa74]

Nice review and Snake Nickel Plate! Il buy the knockoff grips off you

[nickel plate]

Don't have and didn't buy the fake knockoffs grips-gather your head-you own a Python, many here do not so don't cheapen it with phony grips or an aftermarket polish job. End.

[gtarifa74]

^^^ have two, it was just a joke man. The End

[nickel plate]

O.K.-I'm better now.
I was just over on http://coltforum.com and in their classified section a very, very nice set of GEN III grips sold for $275.00 in a little over a half hour from it's original listing. Tremendous deal-guess who snatched them up? None other than "keystone arms"! He'll most likely make at least $100.00 flipping them. That man has a good eye for Pythons.

[JTROKS]

It's your gun do whatever you want to it. If you do sell it down the line don't forget to mention the refinish. Don't worry be happy.