Shooting Colt's Diamondback DA revolver

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duelist1954

New member
I'm a big fan of Colt's wheel guns. I have wanted a Python for many years, but I've been unwilling to pay the inflated prices that Pythons command.

A few years ago I decided to compromise and get a Diamondback...Python looks without the Python price. I'm glad I got it. It has become one of my favorite plinking guns.

This video shows my little DB in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSfZ70O_gCs
 
Dude
Prices must be very different where you live. Around here Diamondbacks are as expensive if not more so than a Python. I actually traded a Diamondback for a Python and a Like new S&W Model 10-5 in Nickel a few months ago.
 
I paid less than $600 for my Diamondback a couple of years ago. Pythons started at around $2,000 then...and went up from there.

Pythons still cost about the same here. Didn't know Diamondback prices had jumped that much.
 
If I could find a Diamondback for that price I would buy it all day. Check out gunbroker to see the prices Diamodbacks are going for.
 
I love the Diamondback, but I've never found one I could afford. I wish Armscor would go back to making their Diamondback look-alike on the M200/M206 chassis.
 
The action of the Diamondback is essentially the same as the Python, though on a smaller frame (same size as the Police Positive and Detective Special). However, they did NOT receive as much hand tuning as the Python. They are, nevertheless, fine handguns.

When Colt quit making Pythons, the prices started going up. It seems to me that the price on the Diamondbacks stayed relatively stable for a while but then started going up as well. Colt made fewer Diamondbacks than Pythons. Below are my two Diamondbacks, one in .38 spl and the bottom in .22 (the grips are from a Cobra).





Added: BTW, nice video. I do have to ask what kind of ammo you were using on the water bottles. I'm guessing FMJ or wadcutters. A good .38 spl +P hollow point, like Gold Dots, would be much more effective for defense.
 
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With Colt out of the DA revolver business prices on used ones have soared. With used Pythons fetching 2 grand+ I can't believe that Colt can't make new ones for a profit but there you go. They were more interested in military M16 sales than they were in commercial products.

The Diamndback is a deluxe small frame revolver but never enjoyed the fit and finish of the top of the line Python. I have a pair of 4" D'backs that I bought on the same day in 1999. (Wow, been 14 years already?) Stopped at a gun shop in Salt Lake City on my way to a gun show. Bagged the 22 in like new condition for $325. Went on down to the show where I bought the 38 (showing some holster wear) for $185. At the time I felt the $325 price was a bit high but I wanted it. I was happy with the deal on the 38.

The 38 was wearing Pachs and I picked up a set of brand new factory stocks (although from a later period than the gun) for $15. The guns and the stocks would cost considerably more today.


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Duelist - you have modern guns?! :eek: I enjoyed your video.

SaxonPig - we must be brothers. I also have 4" Diamondbacks in 22 LR and 38 Special. I paid $299 with tax for the 22 LR. I think I paid $350 for the 38 Special. Both are great shooters.
 
Here is a little .22 R.F. Diamondback I had a few years ago that I bought as a squirrel gun. I never could warm up to the grips that came on it, and it just didn't "hang" like a single action.



It was a nice little gun, but, well, it wasn't a Ruger.

Bob Wright
 
I never could warm up to the grips that came on it, and it just didn't "hang" like a single action.
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I actually like the feel of the Cobra grips on my .22 DB more than the target style grips (see post #9) for casual plinking, but they're not "perfect" for my hand size. Maybe there's another grip in-between that will hit the sweet spot.
 
Another lost love

The Diamond Back is another gun I let get away when I was in the Navy back in the 70's, the same time I let my original Colt Peacemaker get away... I used to hunt jackrabbits with it, it was a lovely gun...
 
As mentioned before, great job on the video. I used to judge gun shows by how many Pythons and Diamondbacks were for sale. I have a pretty good selection of DB's. Wish I had kept a 2.5" and 4" DB 38spl back when I used to buy them right to trade on other guns. I was generally focused on the rimfire versions.
 
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I almost bought a 4" Diamondback .38 a couple of years ago. My buddy had one at his shop that was unfired, with the original tags on it. He showed it to me when I was there on my usual Friday visit. I meant to call him on Saturday to make him an offer on it, but between his shorter hours that day and the club motorcycle ride I was on, that didn't happen.

On Sunday, I went to the gun show, looking to sell my Kimber Royal to fund the Diamondback. While I was there, I spotted a 1966 Python and ended up trading my Kimber straight across for it.

The next day, I went to his shop, and told him what happened on Saturday, and asked if he would have sold the DB to my for $$$? He said to me, for cash he would, but it was already packed to go to the Tulsa gun show. I told him if he didn't sell it there, I'd buy it from him. He ended up getting $400 more than I offered. So, I missed out on that, but I never expected to end up with a Python.

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It's a shooter, not a safe queen. My gunsmith can work on Colt revolvers, so I had him touch up the timing, and it's a great shooter. I was banging a gong at 100 yards with it just the other day.
 
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Well, as long as we are showing pictures.....

Both of mine are 38's. I bought the original one (nickeled) back in 76(?) for about $235 or so. I would have to look up the details.

The blued I bought just this year. I had shot my nickeled so much I did not want to wear it out so I bought another. I was well past 5 times that price.
 
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