Which Pythons to stay away from?

F

FoghornLeghorn

New member
I'm giving my son my six inch barrelled Python as a gift. That means I'm in the market for another Python with a six inch barrel.

I bought mine years ago, but remember that there was a period when Colt's quality control slipped on revolvers. In 1989 I bought a new single action Colt that was really sorry. In fact, the mainspring broke after only cocking it a few times.

Was there such a period with the Python that was inferior? Is there some way to know the serial number range? I plan to go to the Wannamacher show in a few weeks to shop, and want to be prepared before I drop $2,000 or more for a revolver.
 
Which Pythons to Avoid?

The ones let lose in the Everglades? ;)

I've never been a fan of the Colt Snakes myself. I've had a couple and never warmed to them.
I'd like a nice early Detective, though.
 
Guns are not bottles of wine. There are no "good years" or "bad years" there are just good or bad guns.
Guns made during the Colt strike of the mid-1980's are the most likely to see something not right, but even then, most of them were fine quality.

The way to buy a Python is to LOOK at them. If it seems to look good and is in proper timing, it usually IS good.
Buying a gun based on just the year made will cause you to miss a good one or buy a bad one.

The main thing to watch out for today are Pythons that have been "helped".
That means re-finished guns being sold as like new-original.
Also beware of counterfeit boxes, manuals, papers, test targets, and even fake hang tags.
You have to know what to look for to ID fake boxes, but these days it's gotten so bad any Python "in the box" should be assumed to be a fake box unless proven otherwise.

So, if you see a Python that's in your price range and looks like it's a good one, if probably is and will almost always be a good shooter.
If you're shopping for a collectible that's like new in the box, be very careful, the fakers are out in force.
 
Colt employee's went on strike in 1985 and the strike lasted 5 years. They were part of the UAW. This is the period when QC went down hill in Colts production as non skilled workers were assembling firearms. My personal opinion is not owning anything that came out of Colt from 1985 and later.
 
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RE: Colt Python dates:

SN T27541 was 1984

SN T34453 was 1985

IDK whether those SN's were the 1st-made or the last-made, of their respective years.



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I own two stainless Pythons, both made during the strike.

The 4 inch is superb quality and is extremely accurate. Timing, alignment and all mechanical and appearance items were dead on right out of the box.

The 6 inch is not only superb quality, it's very possibly the most accurate Python I ever fired of the MANY MANY I worked on over the years. (All pistols were test fired for accuracy and function off sand bags after servicing).

Had I passed on them due to the years made, I would have missed out on some of the best Colt's I ever saw in all those years.
On the other hand I've seen Pythons made during the late 1950's that were messes.
 
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