This is just an anecdote - for all the Python fans. I did a trade with a nice old guy not long ago and we got into conversation about some of the cool guns he has. So, he began pulling various guns out of one of his safes (he has about 5 full-size, upright safes lining the walls of his gun room !).
Out comes a 4" Python, in really good condition, EXCEPT that there is a nasty rust spot (deep pitting) on one side of the barrel....and another on the side of the muzzle. The rest of the gun is in very nice condition. Unfortunately, though that barrel may be shootable, it will never look good again. (I was incredulous as to why in the world the previous owner would allow something like that to happen.) Anyway, this guy mentions that he paid $500 for the gun. Then he pulls out a perfect, 4" Python barrel, which he says he paid "almost $400" for.
So, he has less than $900 in it. He is planning to send it to Colt, to have the barrel swapped and a factory refinish done. That won't be cheap, but nevertheless, the gun, once restored, may be worth as much as $2000 around here (perhaps more like $1600-$1800, I don't know). I saw a 6" Python go for $2300 at a gun show here, about a year ago - watched it happen.
That was not the only "treasure" he showed me that day, I promise you. He was very casual about the whole thing. I left shaking my head, just thinking......Wow.