Colt Python: Are these(Made in 1980's strike years?)of good quality?

[boa2]

I have the following questions, regarding the Colt Python's made in the Colt "Strike" years(Approximately, 1984 to 1988?)?

1)For those of you who had purchased a Python during this "Strike" period, did you find your Python to be of good quality? Please comment?

2)For those of you, who had purchased a Python during this "Strike" period, that didn't like the quality of these Python's, please report it here?

3)If you have also owned Python's from earlier years, how much difference in the quality level, did you find between these Python's and your Python's purchased in the "Strike" years(Approximately 1984 to 1988?)?

4)Do very many Python collector's, care about collecting a mid 1980's Python that originally came from Colt's, with the rubber grips(With Colt emblems!)instead of other year model's of Python's(That came with Colt wood target grips?)?

 

[Dfariswheel]

Here's the best info on mid-1980's Colt quality:

1. I own TWO Pythons from the mid-1980's. Both are stainless guns.
These are some of the finest Python's I ever saw, MECHANICALLY, and in fit of parts.
THAT'S why I bought them.
I'm an expert on Colt DA revolvers, and I know what to look for.

2. I've seen Python's from the strike years that had mechanical or cosmetic problems.
I've also seen Pythons from the mid-1950's when quality was supposed to be at the top that had problems.
Also guns from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's.............
GOOD guns get made during Bad times, BAD guns get made during good times.

3. The Python's from the 50's and 60's "USUALLY" had somewhat better polish and blue jobs.
NOT always, but usually.
The mechanics and fit of the guns were no better or worse than later guns.

4. Up until the mid-1990's Colt "usually" had the standard of fitting rubber grips to stainless guns, and wood grips to blued guns.
Depending on the circumstances at the factory, the stainless guns sometimes had wood grips.
I personally know of NO standard production blued Python that left the factory with rubber grips, UP UNTIL the mid-90's.

In every case I personally have seen, blued standard production Pythons from the pre-mid 1990's that were fitted with rubber grips, were fitted AFTER the factory.
Usually this was a case of people selling the gun, and robbing the wood grips.

So, if you have a pre-mid 1990's blue Python it almost certainly left the factory with Walnut grips.
If it's a stainless gun, it "probably" left with rubber.

Bottom line: LOOK at Pythons. When you see one that looks good to YOU, buy it.
You have to look at the INDIVIDUAL gun.
Buy a Python based on what someone on the internet says is a "good" or "bad" time, and you'll either pass on a gem, or buy a dog.

BUY A PYTHON. You'll like it, Hillary and Schumer will hate it.

 

[Nosh]

I bought a late 80's Python and discovered later that the muzzle was crowned at an angle which was easily seen by the naked eye when viewed from above. I took it to the local Colt warranty place and they told me about the strike problems and that he had seen a lot of poor quality during this time.

Colt was represented by the UAW. I have worked with the UAW in the auto industry and find it very easy to believe that they would allow junk to pass through the assembly line when they are not happy. In our plant they were so bold they would tell us that there would be production slow downs and quality problems if they didn't get what they wanted and that was in Texas, I can only imagine what they are like in Union country.

 

[Ninjato]

I have a Blued 6" Python and a refinished hard chromed 4" Python and my wife has a nickel 8" Python. They are all very accurate. The 8" gets a little heavy and the 4" shoots the best in my hand.

I prefer a S&W trigger over the Pythons

 

[boa2]

Colt rubber grips on the "Blued" Python I'm considering to buy?

Well, the "Blued" mid 1980's Python that I'm in the process of buying, has the Colt rubber "Finger groove" grips! I still haven't heard from Colt Customer Service, regarding when this Python was made(Based on it's serial number)? I will now need to ask Colt, if this Python would have, in fact, come from Colt, with the wood grips(As dfariswheel has pointed out!)or, if(For some reason?)ended-up getting fitted with the Colt rubber grips(With Colt emblems!)?

 

[Sir William]

boa2, my e-mail to you bounced? I see rubber Pachmayr grips of their Presentation and Gripper line with gold Colt emblems for $15.00 locally. The wood target grips were serial numbered and fitted to each Colt revolver type. Those wood grips are selling for up to $100.00 by themselves. Many older Colts show up with aftermarket grips for that reason. I had a early 80s (83?) Python that was a POJ. The revolver had broken parts, it was out of time and needed to be hand aligned for full lock-up. I wound up finding the parts and selling it with the parts and warts revealed to the buyer. He had it reworked/rebuilt by Colt and it broke the same parts again. He sold it. I have had three Colts with problems. One from 1894, one from the 70s and that early 80s Python. I would suggest that you not pay too much attention to when it was made but, how it was made. If it checks out, and you WANT it, buy.