Reconditioning a Colt Python?

V

Vinnie Harold

New member
Hi.
I am going to bid on a 357 Colt Python (buy now at $1700). The description of the revolver is good, a 96% rating from the seller due to a minor blueing ware at the muzzle, and a small chip on the underside of the frame. If I win this piece, and I want to have the revolver checked out, perhaps re-blued, and everything looked at so i might return it to "almost" new condition, where would I send it? Colt? or can somebody recommend another place?

Thanks.
 
If you want a shooter, I'd bid what you're willing to pay and just leave it as/is and shoot it.

But I wouldn't buy it to rebuild or repair it... you'll have a fortune in it, well over what it'll be worth.
 
If it is really 96% I wouldn't re-blue it, even a factory re-blue.

But if you really want to do it, you should send it to Colt for it to be done as it won't harm the value nearly as much.
 
Having the gun reblued even by the best professional in the world will remove over half of the value of the gun. So if your thinking of selling it down the road. You will cut a loss not only on what you paid for the gun. Also for the bluing job.

Buy it. Clean it, oil it. Shoot it. Clean it, oil it. Simple.

If it has small cosmetic issues that bother you. Do not buy it. If you do buy it. Leave it Alone. Shoot it and enjoy it, or turn it into a safe queen.
 
Leave it alone. If it is a shooter grade at a good price, like the pic below, I would get it refinished if desired. This one was parkerized before I got it.

976664122-1.jpg
 
At $1700, does it come with the original box and papers? If it's in the % you are talking about, why do anything to it? If you are purchasing for investment and want it perfect, then hold out for one that is pristine with the origianal box, papers and grips serial # to the pistol. if that's not what you want, then I'd still wait and look around. I purchased a 4" blued Python - no box or papers but about 98% as far as finish - just a very light wear mark at the edge of the muzzle - hardly noticeable for $800. Keep your eyes open and check LGS, pawn shops, etc. A couple of weeks after I purchased mine, I walked into another LGS and they had a 6" blued they had just put in the case with a $800 tag on it - same condition as my 4". Like an idiot, I hesitated and went back the next day to buy it - of course it left the store about a half hour after I did the previous day. I bought mine for an investment and to shoot as I wanted to see what all the hype was about in regards to the "Python experience". I'm haning on to mine as it will only increase in value but I don't shoot it much - to me it has a lot of extra iron on it and I don't really care for it. I'd much rather shoot my Colt Army Special with a DOB of 1910 or my S & W M & P Target with a DOB of the 1920s. I personally just prefer the more vintage, lighter weight models. Python lovers, don't take offense please - the Python is a legend and to each their own. I guess what I'm saying to the OP is that if you really want a Python in the worst way, keep your eyes open and don't overspend for what you're getting. Just because the auction has a BIN price on it doesn't necessarily mean that the gun is worth that - do your research and be prudent in getting the most bang for your buck. Good luck!
 
I had mine done by Colt reblued came back like new I baught it new in 1979 and used itholster wear and a little rust I'm happy with the work and cost from Colt
 
lol 1700 for a Python that you want to reblue?

No offense sir but I don't think you know enough about the game your in.
 
I'd be more concerned with the timing than a slight bit of finish wear. Parts are rather expensive & they don't just drop in and work. If you want a like new gun your odds are a lot better buying one in the first place than buying one that isn't and trying to make it that way.
 
I'm in much the same boat.

I just bought a Python (4" blued) that looks and shoots great, but has a couple of issues.

First, the bluing, while still mostly nice, shows some wear at the last 1.5 inches of the muzzle, like it was in a wet holster or something. It's just not shiny like the rest of the gun. More troubling, though, is that the gun keeps getting surface rust in the crevices. It seems that the gun was stored in a high humidity environment. The rust isn't pitting, it just keeps re-forming as an orange film.

The final issue is that the cylinder release is wobbly.

My plan is to just send it in to Colt for rebluing and fixing the cylinder release.
 
I had mine done by Colt reblued came back like new I baught it new in 1979 and used itholster wear and a little rust I'm happy with the work and cost from Colt
Click to expand...

Ed, if you don't mind me asking, how much did that reblue from Colt run you?
 
Ed, if you don't mind me asking, how much did that reblue from Colt run you?
Click to expand...

I'm not Ed, but I sent an email to Colt a few month ago (Oct.) about having my "shooter" Python reblued. I got this response.

Sent: 10/24/2012 11:58:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Colt Python


In response to your email, the cost to refinish the Python in Blue finish would be approximately $250. Our shipping instructions cal be found on our website at www.coltsmfg.com under “contact us”. We would ask that you include a letter describing exactly what you would like done as well as your contact information with that. The typical turnaround time for a refinishing job is 3 to 5 months. Thank you for your interest in Colt!
Click to expand...

I had just bought a 1964, 4" Python for $800.00, that I was thinking of sending back, and might still do it, but after a good cleaning, it looked better than I thought it did when I found it at the LGS.

100_0469.jpg


For $1700.00 I would think it should be in NIB condition with box and papers.
 
I'm going to chime in with everybody else and tell the OP to simply buy one already in the condition he's looking for.

By the time he buys the gun, pays for shipping to his FFL, pays his FFL's fee, pays for shipping to Colt, pays for the reblue and then pays to have it shipped back, he could have simply bought what he wanted with some change left over.

And that's not even counting the time it takes to do all this. Driving around, dropping off, picking up, etc.

And all the above is assuming the gun is mechanically sound. If it isn't, the OP can either pay to ship it back to the seller or have Colt fix the internals.

I've been down this road with other guns. It's best just to get what you want the first time around, even if you pay a premium price.

Edited to add: Re premium price. No offense, but $1700 already sounds like a premium price.
 
Oh I don't know about that.....This Bud's AUS Police trade-in Model 10 turned out pretty nice. I don't buy guns with the intention of selling, I buy them for my personal pleasure. I'm not sure if Colt still offers this for revolvers, but that is where I would send it......I sent the one below to S&W. (It took 12 weeks)

OP, I say go for it, regardless of what the others say. I'm sure glad I did it with this one and it is far less valuable than the Colt you are looking at.....

p161663890-5.jpg


p1249025522-5.jpg
 
I had just bought a 1964, 4" Python for $800.00, that I was thinking of sending back, and might still do it, but after a good cleaning, it looked better than I thought it did when I found it at the LGS.
Click to expand...

CajunBass, thanks for the reblue info. I'd be on the fence about sending your Python in for a reblue. The wear on it looks kinda cool to me.

I would actually like to leave mine alone, but the recurring surface rust (really more of an orange film in the crevices) is bugging me, and I need to get that wobbly cylinder latch fixed, anyway.

I figure that I'll try to get mine as "perfect" as possible, and then put some Grashorn stag grips on it.
 
HKGuns, that Model 10 looks great, and I like those grips.

I think I remember seeing it in a previous thread.

I have an old Model 19-3 that I want to get done the same way.
 
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Hmmm....let me see if I'm still good with math...

$1700 for a $1500 gun, $300 more approx to reblue (Colt factory refinish), which then makes the gun worth approx $1200 to $1300 after reblue.

The new colt bluing is a slightly different shade than the old, because the chemical formula is now different related to safety issues with the old bluing process.

Conclusion: Apparently the OP is wealthier than myself!
 
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CajunBass, thanks for the reblue info. I'd be on the fence about sending your Python in for a reblue. The wear on it looks kinda cool to me.
Click to expand...

Yea, I don't think I'm going to now. When I wrote to Colt and got that price I hadn't picked the gun up from layaway at the LGS. It looked sort of rough the first time I looked at it, but that all wiped off the first time I cleaned it. The action was stiff, but a flush with gunscrubber, and a few drops of Break-Free and it was good to go.

You're right. The wear it's got gives it "character." :D

Shoots just fine too.

Oh, and HK. That is a fine looking Model 10. Maybe better than new. Beautiful grips.
 
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