Why are Colt Pythons so desirable?

[sd1023x]

Its just a beauty to behold and mechanical wonder like a rolex. Cylinder spins like its skatin on ice like Kristi Yamaguchi. Excellent trigger and one of the only revolvers I've handled with a decocker.

[Peter W Bush]

I have 2. One is 6" with a 4-4.5lb trigger, the other is a 4" with about a 5.5lb trigger. Trigger work was done by Kings and theyre two of the best revolvers Ive ever shot.

[audihenry]

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Wow!

[HCz]

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Nice collection there!

[ST5MF]

I see them fetching crazy prices. Why? What is special about it that current revolvers can't match?

I'm genuinely curious.

They are guns with a "Horsey" on them that are no longer in production.

From a "collectability" stand point Colt "Rules the Roost."

The Python and Python Elites are certainly the best LOOKING DA Revolvers IMO.

However, S&W and even Ruger make just as fine shooting revolvers.

I have seen the Python Elites go from $1200 to $3K in the last 4-5yrs. If you find one for $2k- it is a steal. Colts, especially limited production models are a solid investment.

If you are just looking for a shooter S&W isn't a bad choice...

[Peter W Bush]

They are guns with a "Horsey" on them that are no longer in production.

From a "collectability" stand point Colt "Rules the Roost."

The Python and Python Elites are certainly the best LOOKING DA Revolvers IMO.

However, S&W and even Ruger make just as fine shooting revolvers.

I have seen the Python Elites go from $1200 to $3K in the last 4-5yrs. If you find one for $2k- it is a steal. Colts, especially limited production models are a solid investment.

If you are just looking for a shooter S&W isn't a bad choice...

No.. No they don't. I have a Ruger in .357 that also has a trigger job and it shoots good but nowhere NEAR my Pythons. S&W makes good ones too, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one that shoots as good as the Python. They're expensive because they're some of the finest examples of firearm engineering and design, and you can't get them anymore.

[ST5MF]

No.. No they don't. I have a Ruger in .357 that also has a trigger job and it shoots good but nowhere NEAR my Pythons. S&W makes good ones too, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one that shoots as good as the Python. They're expensive because they're some of the finest examples of firearm engineering and design, and you can't get them anymore.

I will concede that a Python is like a "Rolls" and a Smith/Ruger a "Toyota." However they will all get you there; the Colt Python will do so with much more style and a hell of a lot smoother...

For most, a Toyota is just fine. The OP asks- "why the price?" The rarity/scarcity is perhaps the most obvious reason. They are engineered differently than Smiths and Rugers; and you need a smith who knows Colts to work on them.

Though I enjoy shooting Colt DA revolvers- I can do the same thing with a Smith 686 that I can do with a Python Elite. The Smith will run a 1/4 of the cost however...

[D.R.E.]

Too expensive to hand fit and finish everything anymore.
Along with the general demise of Colt at the time.

And let's not forget our fine friends the UAW.

[D.R.E.]

Once you hold and shoot one you will know why

The trigger on them is awesome.

A trigger on a *tuned* python is awesome. IMHO, stock is just ok.

I'll never understand why colt shipped the triggers they did when it was so easy to make them so they were stunning. They didn't have to keep the E frame trigger design.

On the other hand, it does make them easy to improve so I shouldn't complain

[D.R.E.]

Originally Posted by nick
Hand fit often means that the parts are generally sadly out of spec

No, it means exactly the opposite.

keep talking, it's confirming what was already suspected.

Actually, he's right: hand fitting = tight tolerances (.001 or less in key places). Which given how old many of these guns means many are no longer w/in spec. An easy way to see this is to check the timing, bolt pickup, etc on them. Many (close to most?) will be out of spec. And let's not even talk about barrel/cylinder gap issues.

A compounding, common problem is that they get taken to smiths that claim to know how to work on colts but know jack**it about them. Or at least they know how to take the sideplate off and then jack everything up.

Other revolvers have a lot of slop, so can tolarate more wear. Also other revolvers are simpler, so the clueless cause less damage.

This isn't a complaint about colts though. I have many

[drdanno84]