Python: price/value. Any levity?

This table ends at 1985, and more were produced after that time.

Just with a quick cut & paste on to a spreadsheet, I tallied those numbers.

466,497. Good grief. That, folks, is an absolute BUTTLOAD of revolvers. The Python has an awful lot going for it, but exclusivity and rarity (in general) is simply NOT it.
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My personal opinion is that year 1985 was the end of top quality Pythons coming out of Colt. That is the year they went on strike. Strike lasted 4-5 years.
By the time the strike ended all the old smith/craftsmen were gone. So again in my opinion quality went down the tubes after the strike.
 
I bought and returned a 4" Colt Peacekeeper in 85. That was the biggest pile I have ever bought, exchanged it for a 44spl stainless Buldog ;-) Bad time for Colt.
 
My personal opinion is that year 1985 was the end of top quality Pythons coming out of Colt. That is the year they went on strike. Strike lasted 4-5 years.
By the time the strike ended all the old smith/craftsmen were gone. So again in my opinion quality went down the tubes after the strike.
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Some would argue that there is a genuine dividing line in Python production but it came somewhere in the mid-to-late 1960s with the advent of CNC machining. And I don't know the market for them well enough to comment... but it wouldn't surprise me if the market reflected that.
 
6" Blue

Here's mine. Purchased new 8/19/83. The serial number suggests an '82 manufacture date "K78. . . " I conservatively guestimate 90% - 95% condition.

Yes, I have the original grips. Yes, they're in pristine condition; as I took them off right away after purchase.

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IMO, the Pythons are also pulling other nice Colt revolvers with them.
It is kinda déjà vue, when an average Joe couldn't spend the $ on a Python in the late 50's or 60's, but could swing a Colt Officer Model Match.
Kinda the same today, people are finding the OMM's to be as close to a Python as they can get.

I need to acquire 2 OMM's, one in 38 and one in 22.
I keep eyeing the nice ones and watch the $$ go up.
 
Kev
I need to acquire 2 OMM's, one in 38 and one in 22.
I keep eyeing the nice ones and watch the $$ go up.
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I got an Officer's model heavy barrel 38 from 1960 last year for $425.
I got an Officer's model 22 from 1930 last year for $540.
I made a non invasive scope mount for the 22.
I took it to the range and shot a couple groups at 50 feet with Fiocchi 22FHPSUB 22LR 40 gr sub sonic ammo.
 

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I laugh when I hear TWD is responsible for the high cost of Pythons
It's been climbing since the moment Colt discontinued them
TWD has been on for what 4 seasons and Python $ have been soaring for 30 plus
 
I had to read every post to figure out you were not talking about The New Taiwan dollar.

I spend a lot of time arguing with other investors.

I have to listen to a lot of talk about China dumping the US dollar as the defacto petro dollar.

While I expect Pythons to beat most other guns [that average 3% compounded], I expect Pythons long term to be more like 6%.

It is like Mark Twain's father said to him, "Son, buy Colt double action revolvers. They're not making them any more."
 
I know they have been climbing since they were discontinued. But the walking dead has sure spurred them on. Now there are people who had no intention of buying a gun buying one. The duty rig the main character wears is now made by Tex Shomaker. Whole setup sells for over 200 bucks. Some people are even copying the dumb way he carries it and using 4 inch open bottom holsters for a 6 inch gun! They're flying out the door. Gunshop near me had a used Python for 2400! Tag said "just like the one on the walking dead!" Gun sold in 3 days
 
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Love 'em or hate 'em, the prices just seem to keep going up. Personally, I like the way they look. OTH, I think that the newer S&W's with the full length underlug look sort of ponderous.


I got an Officer's model 22 from 1930 last year for $540.
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How cool it that! I too, have a OMT from 1930, Mine is a three digit serial number and is in roughly 98% condition. It makes the collectors cringe when I take it out and shoot it. :)

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I snagged a stainless King Cobra, 6-inch, non-Enhanced version in the summer of 2012 that came in as a used gun at my FFL. I knew as soon as I saw the price at $700 that I was very unlikely to see one for less money, so I bought it.

Since that time, I've noticed the King Cobra revolvers quite a bit more, and I've noticed their prices. Seems to me that if I needed to replace it quickly and I didn't have time to wait for a miracle of a deal, it would take a minimum of $1,250 to snag a comparable one right now, and that price is not the highest I've seen in the last 6 months.
 
I agree with your original points...prices are going up on the Colt's ...and they are not rare at this point / I still see a lot of them at the gunshows.

Personally, I like the S&W model 27's better than the Pythons ..../ so I have acquired a number of model 27's both blued and nickel..in various barrel lengths. The traditional grip style of the model 27's fit my hands better...and I like the triggers better on the S&W than the Pythons I've fired over the years.

I may still buy a Python at some point.../ they are fine looking revolvers / but I'm happy with my N frame S&W's at this point.
 
I really like the Colt Woodsman target pistols, but I can't shoot them as well as a Colt Officer's 22 or Smith K 22 revolver.

My brother can shoot all three better than me, and his groups with his 4X scoped Python and deep seated 148 hollow base bullets 38sp target loads are unbelievable. But his Python groups with 357 mag ammo are terrible.
 
Expect another bump in price. I just watched an episode of Gun Stories on the Outdoor channel about the Python (maybe it was a rerun). It was so gooey, your shoes would stick. :) I love my Pythons, though, and my other top tier Colts (OMT, OMM, .357 Magnum).
 
I've only owned one Colt Python. That was way back in 1977, after I got out of the military.

I bought a NIB 4" Nickel Python. Price back then, was $350.00 +tax. I fired it a few times, but wasn't impressed all that much by it. I shot my S&W's just as well.

Anyways, I traded the Python in part on a motorcycle in 1984 (still have the bike :D). I do agree, that the prices on them have constantly risen over the years. Not so sure that they are justified though.
 
There were 15,500 Colt Pythons made together with my 1972 Python. There were not two dozens Korth Sport .357/9 in built in 1983 ( mine has the rare 9mm conversion cylinder).

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There were 697 Korth 22 series revolvers in .22 l.r. manufactured in 1967. I don't know how many OMM were made together with mine in 1961.

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While production numbers may have an influence on value, I have seen Colts appreciate more in value than Korths lately.
 
"Now if it was one that was owned by Elvis Presley"

I have a Model 15 though w/o provenance every time I wrap my hand around the stocks I feel the king's presence. Riding the wind through the trees and rustle of leaves faintly endears, "Thank ya, a-h-h thank ya very much".

No sense in preachin' to the choir, but I feel ya pain. I'm looking at a nickel DS at the big C B&M that isn't LN, yet is w/o box/papers, and they're asking 8 bills that will total me out at close to 900.

I get it. It has the rampant pony, they don't make 'em anymore it's kind of a cult status symbol even at 1978 3rd issue shrouded brl. Then I see how much the same store attempts to obtain for a Taurus/EEA/Bersa/Rossi/Charter Arms etc., and step back thinking, I'm starting to see a pattern here.

For what it's worth they're asking about the same for an older SS Ruger Redhawk 44 mag 5.5" w/small wood stocks as the nickel DS w/walnut wraparound stocks in close to excellant shape. Which is fun one handing relatively cheap 240 gn WWB, yet doesn't conceal very well.

A DS, Agent or PP/PPS is all I can even eyeball. Forgetabout the snakes for me.

"The vented rib on the 6" Pythons always reminded me of a V-1 launch ramp."
Perceived sacrilege or not that's funny.

" It makes the collectors cringe when I take it out and shoot it. "
Egads man every full cylinder shot deducts 0.01% off the cylinder line value.

Next thing you know you'll resort to polishing the cylinder stop and spraying the cylinder w/Lemon Pledge.
 
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I bought a lot of guns before I paid as much for a gun as a Python box sells for today on Ebay.

Even today, few of my guns are worth as much as a set of Python grips on Ebay.


Watch out for counterfeit boxes or counterfeit grips.
 
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