What's this Python worth?

[Kestrel]

a 4" Python, Royal Blue finish, made in the 70s. Approximately 98% finish. Appears to have been fired very little. Grips hardly have a mark on them.

Dealer wants $900 for it, which is high, but wondered what I should offer.

Any good reason to get it? I've always had Smiths and Rugers, but this thing didn't feel as good. Just didn't fit me like a Smith or Ruger.

Thanks for any help,
Steve

 

[Majic]

The price is high, too high IMO. People are really trying to cash in on Pythons these days. Depending on your location they do go for extreme prices (such as in Kali.), but it should sell for a couple of hundred dollars less. Does it have the box and all original paper work? That would add to the price, but not up to $900.

 

[labgrade]

Hope it isn't the beautiful 6" I traded away about '85 - never did a reliable DA ...

As such a woderful thing is a Python, I think I'll pass forever on = not worth the money for what they deliver - (as sobeautifully constructed as they are .... wish I had another .... (wah! ) )

 

[Majic]

Shoot one that's properly timed and you may change your opinions.

 

[Kestrel]

Nope - this thing had no box or papers. It's irritating to have some shops try to charge so much for things...

Still don't think I would want it, though. It just didn't feel right to me.

Steve

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Steve (and other's)-

I'd make an offer starting in the vicinity of around $750.
See how the dealer react's; and you may have too adjust
your offer accordingly, if you are really interested.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[JPM70535]

Pythons are works of art, at least the older ones are, however the one glaring fault they had was the slabs of wood that Colt passed off as grips.

Only way to properly decribe them is GORILLA GRIPS

 

[Sean Smith]

I just purchased a very similar gun, and that price sounds too high by about $200. Unfortunatley, Python prices vary wildly, so you'll see similar guns often go for anything up to $1,000.

I'm not usually big on rubber grips, but going to a set of Pachmayrs on my Python made a world of difference comfort-wise. Most, if not all, of any negative "feel" from a Python is the original grips.

 

[redhead]

I just saw a Python today for $1200. Blued, 4" barrel. $1200. I didn't look closely at it, and didn't ask any questions about, since I wasn't in the market for one, but that seems like a pretty steep price. I've seen them up to $1400 at northern Cal. gun shows.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd offer the dealer $650, but doubt he'd even consider it: if he's patient enough, he'll get the full $900 for it.

 

[Kestrel]

After doing some searching on this forum, it seems the Pythons are prone to going out of time. How prone are they to doing this?

For that price, I don't want something delicate.

Maybe I would just be buying a headache...

Steve

 

[BluesBear]

Any good reason to get it? I've always had Smiths and Rugers, but this thing didn't feel as good. Just didn't fit me like a Smith or Ruger.

Seems to me you have answered your own question.

Why would you buy a gun that didn't feel right?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore 60s & 70s Blued Pythons. They're my all time favorite .357. From the first time I held a 6" version I knew I HAD to have one. I bought a brand new one in 1976 when I turned 21. Talked the dealer down to $300 and it was worth every penny.

But to me it sounds like you're trying to talk yourself into something you really don't want.

Have you been watching too much daytime TV during the holidays?

 

[Majic]

After doing some searching on this forum, it seems the Pythons are prone to going out of time. How prone are they to doing this?

If the Colt is first properly timed, not abused, and not fed a diet of overloads it will stay in time indefinately. The stories are blown way out of proportion and most of them are centered on abused revolvers. You will generally hear those in comparing them against a Smith and alot of those telling the story have never shot a Python, but just passing along urban legend. It's a mechanical device like any other and will break if not maintained, but it is not delicate. If it was true then how after almost 50 years they are still being made today? Now some may scream and shout about this, but no manufactor has shut down their repair department for lack of work.

 

[stans]

I think the Python's can be beaten out of time by heavy handloads and rapid double action shooting. I think with sane loads and single action or double action shooting at a reasonable pace will make the Python last a long, long time. By the way, heavy loads and rapid double action shooting wear out all the other 357's faster too, it's not just a Python thing.