RARE Colt Python .41 Magnum
- Thread starter 41mag10mm
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Python 41 magnum
Hi guys, I would like to clear the air a little bit about the Colt Python 41 Magnum. There was indeed pythons chambered for the 41 magnum, but not from Colt or their custom shop. The only shop that ever made the Python 41's (that I know of) was Peebles Gun Shop in Arlington Tx. back in the late 70's and early 80's (the shop has long sense closed). I knew Jerry Peebles very well and also Jerry's gunsmith that actually made the guns. As far as I know they were all made from 6" 357's or the 8" python target 38's most were refinished in E-Nichol with a few left in blue by customer request. Back then they were popular enough that Jerry had a roll stamp made, he would buff off the Python 357 or Target 38 form the shroud and roll stamp Python 41 in their place. Colt got wind of what he was doing, got in contact with Jerry and made it clear to him that they did not mine if he rechambering the python but must make it perfectly clear that the 41 did not come from Colt. I remember Jerry saying that they tested max 41 mag loads with no issues at all. He said the python cylinder was so hard that his reamer was only good for one cylinder. Back then, if I remember correctly the cost for the gun with the conversion was just over $600. By the way, never offered to the public, Jerry did chamber a few Python's in 44 special for a few of his friends. Hope this helps a little to clear up the Python 41 saga.
Hi guys, I would like to clear the air a little bit about the Colt Python 41 Magnum. There was indeed pythons chambered for the 41 magnum, but not from Colt or their custom shop. The only shop that ever made the Python 41's (that I know of) was Peebles Gun Shop in Arlington Tx. back in the late 70's and early 80's (the shop has long sense closed). I knew Jerry Peebles very well and also Jerry's gunsmith that actually made the guns. As far as I know they were all made from 6" 357's or the 8" python target 38's most were refinished in E-Nichol with a few left in blue by customer request. Back then they were popular enough that Jerry had a roll stamp made, he would buff off the Python 357 or Target 38 form the shroud and roll stamp Python 41 in their place. Colt got wind of what he was doing, got in contact with Jerry and made it clear to him that they did not mine if he rechambering the python but must make it perfectly clear that the 41 did not come from Colt. I remember Jerry saying that they tested max 41 mag loads with no issues at all. He said the python cylinder was so hard that his reamer was only good for one cylinder. Back then, if I remember correctly the cost for the gun with the conversion was just over $600. By the way, never offered to the public, Jerry did chamber a few Python's in 44 special for a few of his friends. Hope this helps a little to clear up the Python 41 saga.
I think GUNKWAZY has the scoop. Colt might have played with a prototype, but they would not go to even limited production with that small a safety margin in the cylinder walls. Plus, such things as the obviously fake barrel marking and the lack or any documentation should be red flags.
Is it a "fake"? Or just a gunsmith conversion, the sort of thing that has been done thousands of times? That, IMHO, depends on what a seller claims. It is certainly not factory original.
Jim
Is it a "fake"? Or just a gunsmith conversion, the sort of thing that has been done thousands of times? That, IMHO, depends on what a seller claims. It is certainly not factory original.
Jim
Dfariswheel
New member
There was more then one gunsmith converting Pythons to .41 Magnum.
One I saw was an extraordinarily crude conversion with barrel stampings that looked like someone's kid had done them with a chisel.
One barrel mark was a laughably crude Serpentine Colt logo.
It looked like the "machine work" to make the conversion had been done with a dull file.
Latest info is that Colt got a request from a big distributor asking for something special to offer, and they wanted a Python in .41 Magnum.
Colt made up 2 or 3 prototypes, then had second thoughts and recalled the one they sent to the distributor.
Last I heard, all 3 were in the Colt museum and were sold in the big Colt auctions a few years ago.
Other then that, Colt made up one Python in .256, fired one shot and it locked up.
They also apparently made up a couple in .22 LR, and even had them on the cover of a Colt catalog in the 1980's. They changed their mind about producing them but the catalog was already printed.
The bottom line is this: Colt never sold any Pythons in any caliber other than .357 Magnum, and the Colt Python Target in .38 Special with an 8 inch barrel.
Anything else is either one of the prototypes from the Colt museum or it's a non-Colt conversion someone made.
This has gotten so bad, one owner of a .41 Magnum Python lettered it from Colt and it came back as a standard .357 Magnum.
He refused to accept this and swears that Colt is lying about making it for some reason.
One I saw was an extraordinarily crude conversion with barrel stampings that looked like someone's kid had done them with a chisel.
One barrel mark was a laughably crude Serpentine Colt logo.
It looked like the "machine work" to make the conversion had been done with a dull file.
Latest info is that Colt got a request from a big distributor asking for something special to offer, and they wanted a Python in .41 Magnum.
Colt made up 2 or 3 prototypes, then had second thoughts and recalled the one they sent to the distributor.
Last I heard, all 3 were in the Colt museum and were sold in the big Colt auctions a few years ago.
Other then that, Colt made up one Python in .256, fired one shot and it locked up.
They also apparently made up a couple in .22 LR, and even had them on the cover of a Colt catalog in the 1980's. They changed their mind about producing them but the catalog was already printed.
The bottom line is this: Colt never sold any Pythons in any caliber other than .357 Magnum, and the Colt Python Target in .38 Special with an 8 inch barrel.
Anything else is either one of the prototypes from the Colt museum or it's a non-Colt conversion someone made.
This has gotten so bad, one owner of a .41 Magnum Python lettered it from Colt and it came back as a standard .357 Magnum.
He refused to accept this and swears that Colt is lying about making it for some reason.
Deaf Smith
New member
No doubt a call to the Colt factory for some research would clear this up but I bet Colt chanrges for that service.
Deaf
Deaf
I remember a few years back a gentleman claimed he had a 'Stainless 1911 A1" Colt that was supposedly made during the WWII years. He was convinced that Colt, who claimed they never made such an animal and the US Army who claimed they never wanted nor needed such an animal and never ordered a proto type, was lying and had a cover up going. He was asking a vast amount of money ( IIRC around 40 some K's). I bet cha he still has it.
Deaf Smith
New member
Well I have a Glock that was used by Gen. Patton in WWII! Even has 'Blood and Guts' inscribed!
Yes, Just 1/2 a million folks! That's all I ask for this genuine piece of history!
Deaf
Yes, Just 1/2 a million folks! That's all I ask for this genuine piece of history!
Deaf