Happy Birthday to me - Colt Python

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AID_Admin

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Well, it just happened to be a coincidence, that I found a Python right for my birthday. In reality I was "kind of looking" for one for a while. But something always came up. I couldn't find a fair deal, or the configuration wasn't the one I desired, etc. Finally about a week ago I found exactly was I was looking for: 6 inch, blue Python which would be in mint "barely fired" condition if it wasn't for a nasty scratch around the cylinder left by a loose side plate screw. Well, that scratch and the absence of the original box drove the price down significantly from usual $2K+ that these guns demand in mint condition.

On top of it, this is a 1984 production year, which is the last year before Colt was plagued by worker's strikes and other events that sometimes effected the quality of their products. And the quality of this gun is outstanding. The finish is amazing (ones you get past the scratch I mentioned above). It's deep blue, almost black, mirror like with no visible flaws anywhere. Lockup is tighter than anything I've seen before. And the action is as good as on my SW with replacement Wolff springs (and Colt's springs are original of course). Action feels different from SW I am so use to, but it's expected.

I can't really check timing well, as I don't have a good light, but with what I have it looks good. The final test will be on the range, of course. But I am out of town now, so it will have to wait for a week. I am pretty sure I will not be disappointed though. :)

python_1984.jpg
 
Awesome, totally awesome.

If two were sitting next to each other and one had a cylinder with a screw-scratch around it at a much lower price, that's almost assuredly the one I'd buy. But that's just me. :o I like "collectible" guns, I like high-dollar and 'valuable' guns. But I'm a shooter, I want to shoot 'em, and I want to put wear on them.

I can't see a lot of fiscal sense in putting a bunch of wear on a pristine revolver that I paid a heap of money to get, so I'd choose the one you ended up with. :D

Very, very cool.
 
That Colt "Royal Blue" is a finish you won't see on very many new production firearms. Too costly to sell at a price most folks won't pay. :(
 
Congrats! As they say . . . "seek and ye shall find". If a person is diligent, sooner or later you'll run across one. I don't think that little 'ol scratch is going to affect the way it shoots . . . have fun! :)
 
NIIIIIICE!

Congratulations on getting your hands on one of the most legendary handguns ever made. Have fun with it!
 
Thanks guys! I will provide a full range report once I am back ion town. The scratch bothers me a little visually, but I bought this gun to shoot it and shoot it often. So, a blemish like that is almost an advantage in the way that I am not afraid to put another scratch on this gun now. And it saved me 20%-25% of the "common price" these guns demand nowadays, which also was a big factor.
As for resale value, I am not too concerned about it, but I've heard that Colt will re-blue the cylinder for under $100. I don't know if it's true or not... I may look further into it at some point.
 
Very nice!!!

A truly iconic American handgun.

Plus you should be able to shoot the bejeebers out of it and still be able to pass it down to someone in the next generation that will be amazed (and maybe surprised) at the good taste and sound judgment you had in firearms.

Enjoy.
 
On top of it, this is a 1984 production year, which is the last year before Colt was plagued by worker's strikes and other events that sometimes effected the quality of their products.
Click to expand...
Sorry to burst the bubble, Colts strike was in 1982.
 
Python

That is definitely a dream acquisition for most people who appreciate looks and functionality of a great design.
 
Don P, this is from Wiki and it must be true, because it's on the Internet! :D

"In 1985, Colt's workers, members of the United Auto Workers went on strike for higher wages. This strike would ultimately last for five years, and was one of the longest running labor strikes in American history. With replacement workers running production, the quality of Colt's firearms began to decline. Dissatisfied with Colt's production, in 1988 the U.S. military awarded the contract for future M16 production to Fabrique Nationale. Some criticized Colt's range of handgun products in the late 1980s as out of touch with the demands of the market, and their once-vaunted reputation for quality had suffered during the UAW strike."

Here is another article I used as a reference, which refers to Jan. of 1986 as a beginning of the strikes:
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/01/nyregion/workers-rejoice-at-end-of-4-year-strike-at-colt.html

Either way, partially I thought this gun is a good choice because it was made "before the strikes", but even if it's not so, I still can not find anything less than stellar with it quality wise...
 
I was miss informed by a fellow shooter who is very big into Colt. My apologies for the wrong info and I was just going to post the same paragraph as you did. I have one from 1982. Beautiful shooter and I use it in our ICORE matches.
 
Very nice!

Almost identical to the one I bought at a pawn shop in Las Vegas in 1981. I liked it, but I broke the hand on it, and after it was fixed, I got offered a nice profit on it, so I let it go. I had 3 Dan Wesson 15-2's that I liked better and I wasn't afraid to carry, and I could work on, so I was ok with selling it.
 
Thank you! Indeed the gun is very nice. I just came back from a range. It took me about 20 or 30 rounds to get use to it. Afterwards I could fairly easily stay within 2 inches in groups from 10 yards in DA mode. Amazingly smooth trigger. Different feel from my SW guns, but very enjoyable. I think I am going to shoot this gun often ;)
 
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