I bought this Colt Python new for $750 in March of 1993 from Code 3 Equipment Inc. when I lived in Portland, Oregon. It's my understanding that Colt discontinued the Python in 1990 so maybe this was new old stock purchased from Colt directly or another dealer, but $750 was a lot of money for me at the time making $13/hour as a welder and my wife in school.
When my wife and I moved back to Hawaii in late '93 I read a gun magazine article about Walt Sherman in Tallahassee, FL doing roller bearing sear conversions on Pythons, so after a phone call to Walt I dropped the revolver off at a UPS hub and off it went to Sherman's Custom Guns. When it came back to Hawaii my wife and I really enjoyed shooting the Python at least twice a month for the better part of three years, mostly light handloads, but it was accurate and smooth and by far my wife's favorite handgun. The trigger is still the best double action variant that I've ever encountered. It was good from the factory but that roller bearing is a whole other level of smooth. Single action was always excellent too both before and after.
For a number of reasons I fell out of shooting for a few years and the Python sat in the safe. A move to the Windward side of Oahu and lack of due diligence on my part led to some minor pitting of the frame in a couple of areas. At some point during a moment of self-loathing and general disgust at my stupidity I decided to disassemble the entire revolver, spray everything down with oil and store it in a ziploc bag. It didn't help that during disassembly I managed to lose the bolt assembly screw spring in a dark and dirty garage. I looked for an hour but couldn't find it. The revolver remained in that bag for the better part of ten years.
In 2013 when I worked for Remington I tried a number of times to call Colt to see if they would/could restore the Python to its original glory. Having no luck with Colt I decided to polish the frame and related parts then back in the bag it went. The original finish was a really nice bead blast with a darker, non-reflective region on the top strap and barrel rib.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday evening more than 27 years after purchasing the Python. I took all of the parts out of the bag, cleaned them, did a partial reassembly and realized that I'm also missing the bolt spring. That night I placed an order with Numrich for two bolt springs, two bolt assembly screw springs and two latch springs. Once those parts come in (could be weeks due to COVID), I'll get the revolver back together. I'd like to order some tritium front and rear sights from Kensight, shoot the Python for a few weeks and then think about sending it to Cylinder & Slide to receive a bead blast finish. I don't think that they'll be able to reproduce the original finish, and bead blast isn't the easiest finish to maintain compared to brushed or polished so if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them. I like the look of a matt bead blast but my intention is to use this revolver a lot such as hiking, camping, hunting, etc so a durable finish that I can maintain would be ideal. I have no concerns at all about the value of this Python. I have no interest in selling it and am much more interested in function that speculation.
https://stores.kensight.com/elliaso...itium-insert-night-sights-with-rounded-blade/
https://stores.kensight.com/kensigh...a-night-sight-front-half-moon-pro-glo-orange/
Colt Python bought new in March of 1993
Roller bearing sear
Roller bearing sear
Letter that shipped with Python
Original box
Original box (end)
Original hard case
When my wife and I moved back to Hawaii in late '93 I read a gun magazine article about Walt Sherman in Tallahassee, FL doing roller bearing sear conversions on Pythons, so after a phone call to Walt I dropped the revolver off at a UPS hub and off it went to Sherman's Custom Guns. When it came back to Hawaii my wife and I really enjoyed shooting the Python at least twice a month for the better part of three years, mostly light handloads, but it was accurate and smooth and by far my wife's favorite handgun. The trigger is still the best double action variant that I've ever encountered. It was good from the factory but that roller bearing is a whole other level of smooth. Single action was always excellent too both before and after.
For a number of reasons I fell out of shooting for a few years and the Python sat in the safe. A move to the Windward side of Oahu and lack of due diligence on my part led to some minor pitting of the frame in a couple of areas. At some point during a moment of self-loathing and general disgust at my stupidity I decided to disassemble the entire revolver, spray everything down with oil and store it in a ziploc bag. It didn't help that during disassembly I managed to lose the bolt assembly screw spring in a dark and dirty garage. I looked for an hour but couldn't find it. The revolver remained in that bag for the better part of ten years.
In 2013 when I worked for Remington I tried a number of times to call Colt to see if they would/could restore the Python to its original glory. Having no luck with Colt I decided to polish the frame and related parts then back in the bag it went. The original finish was a really nice bead blast with a darker, non-reflective region on the top strap and barrel rib.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday evening more than 27 years after purchasing the Python. I took all of the parts out of the bag, cleaned them, did a partial reassembly and realized that I'm also missing the bolt spring. That night I placed an order with Numrich for two bolt springs, two bolt assembly screw springs and two latch springs. Once those parts come in (could be weeks due to COVID), I'll get the revolver back together. I'd like to order some tritium front and rear sights from Kensight, shoot the Python for a few weeks and then think about sending it to Cylinder & Slide to receive a bead blast finish. I don't think that they'll be able to reproduce the original finish, and bead blast isn't the easiest finish to maintain compared to brushed or polished so if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them. I like the look of a matt bead blast but my intention is to use this revolver a lot such as hiking, camping, hunting, etc so a durable finish that I can maintain would be ideal. I have no concerns at all about the value of this Python. I have no interest in selling it and am much more interested in function that speculation.
https://stores.kensight.com/elliaso...itium-insert-night-sights-with-rounded-blade/
https://stores.kensight.com/kensigh...a-night-sight-front-half-moon-pro-glo-orange/
Colt Python bought new in March of 1993
Roller bearing sear
Roller bearing sear
Letter that shipped with Python
Original box
Original box (end)
Original hard case
