Very nice!

 

The 71' has a nicer color and luster. Like looking at new jewel.

 

Congrats! That's an absolute beauty.

 

Wow, you got a great deal on that '71 model! It's a beauty.

Mike

 

Yes, I'm excited. After lusting over one of these my entire adult life, and having never found one in a condition I could accept at a price I could afford, lightning finally struck at long last. I was perusing one of the popular online websites like I usually do late in the evening when I suddenly spotted this one, advertised as mint (but no box) and for an extremely reasonable price (as far as original Pythons go), $2350. It almost sounded too good to be true, but the pictures looked really good and they have an inspection period so I jumped on it.
View attachment 741368
View attachment 741369

I just received it today, and it truly is mint. I had to look really hard to find any finish wear on it or signs of use, and the grips are in excellent shape as well. And yes I verified the finish is original. Bummer that the original box is gone, but honestly I'm not complaining.

Compared to my new 2020 Python w/ Deer Hollow grips and Elliason rear sight:
View attachment 741370

Yes, I bought the new blued Python earlier this year when they first came out, hoping that it would finally scratch the Python itch. While it's a nice revolver, it didn't. I still wanted an original, dammit. Now that I have both I'll have to make an objective comparison over the next few days and report back. As for initial impressions, the new one is a nice production revolver. The original is a work of art. And that's all I'll say about it, for now...

So your complaint is what exactly?

 

So your complaint is what exactly?

Collectors often groan about not having the original box, but this will never be sold so I don't care. I was also eyeballing another one from a different seller, unfired with the original box (1979 vintage) but they wanted $2999 for it (also a pretty good deal considering the market). However I decided I really didn't need a $650 cardboard and Styrofoam box.

 

Boxes are way overrated.

 

Welp, that there is a damn fine looking gun…congrats.

 

Man, that’s a sweet looking Python and for the price too….

Do you plan on shooting it much?

 

Do you plan on shooting it much?

Nope... the 2020 Python has just been demoted from safe queen to shooter. I'll put a few rounds through the original one on occasion, but I'm now fearful of putting the first scratch on it. I have a really bad habit of being a klutz with screwdrivers and cleaning tools.

 

GOOD JOB !!
That's a really nice find.

Now how about fetching me a really nice 29-2 in 6". Or help me find Elanor...?

 

GOOD JOB !!
That's a really nice find.

Now how about fetching me a really nice 29-2 in 6". Or help me find Elanor...?

You sure you want a 6"? They were only made for a couple years before they went to the 29-3. Usually they were 6 1/2"... the original Dirty Harry configuration.

The moral of the story here is patience and planning. I can't begin to think of how many Pythons I've looked at and contemplated buying over the last decade or two. They were always too much money, or not really that great of a condition, or worse yet had signs of being refinished or messed with. Or if it wasn't that, a decent one would come along and I'd be flat broke at the time (I missed out on a really nice one at Cabelas two years ago while still waiting for my tax refund). But I finally cleared off my debts, patiently waited for a good one, and kept beating the bushes until I found it. So they are out there, even your 29-2 Smith. Unfortunately though I can't help you with an Eleanor clone because collector cars are an expensive money pit I can't afford to fall into. Unless of course you're talking about a long-lost girlfriend... can't help you with that one either.

 

Congratulation. Very nice.

 

Agreed. I have an attic full of them. They're only useful when selling the gun. For storage purposes they're about the worst thing you can use.

 

Beautiful Gun, congrats!

 

I have a 6 inch my wife got me as a birthday present in the early 80s, I have the box etc. That is the only handgun I own that doesn't have a price, period. I do shoot it on rare occasions but it's still as new and will stay that way! I had Eagle grips make some Ebony grips for it when the old man still ran the place. Yours looks very nice, congrats. I do intend to get a new 4-inch blue one for a shooter.

 

I know what you mean. Grail guns can take a very long time to acquire depending on price and availability. I spent decades actually looking for one. Luckily on Halloween four years ago I was invited to go with a friend to look at a gentleman’s collection due to him wanting to sell a few items. When he opened his safe up I have never seen so many multiple Colt Pythons in one spot. Mostly in original boxes but some that were not that he called “his stragglers”. Those were the ones he was mainly selling. My buddy was buying a few things here and there then the guy pulls out a soft pistol case saying he only has one of these. Yes, my forever wanted grail gun. A Colt Python 2.5” barrel in Royal Coltguard (electroless nickel). The price was within striking distance and to top things off he also pulls an out an envelope with the gun’s Colt Archive Letter confirming the configuration and finish. It was a great day and one to remember.

 

Lucky find. A short Python... congratulations

 

Very sweet. One of my best old friend bought on about 1977 and still has it. World class double action trigger and stupid accurate. I remember back in the day a popular hybrid in ppc circles was a “cougar.” A Ruger Security Six with a Python barrel.
Have fun with it.

 

I'm jealous. A friend bought a Python in the early 80s. I wanted one but couldn't afford it so I wound up buying a Trooper Mk V.

 

Python in 4" barrel was my grail gun when I was young. Congrats @dsk, it's gorgeous!

 

Great find! Like many of us I regret selling my 6 inch Python for $575 about 25 years ago.

 

Even a klutz can stumble into a gem. Back in the day, a couple of guys I worked with (on the FD) bought the local Coast to Coast store. At that time (1976) they sold firearms. Being a good co-worker I decided to visit their store. Lo and behold, laying in their display case was a 6" Python. New and unfired since it left the factory. For the staggering sum of $350 it went home with me. I still have the original box and receipt. I have run less than 100 rounds through it since. When and it the time comes to sell it, I'll expect to get more than $350 for it.

Nice find.
Grumpy

 

That's a nice one as well. I worked at a Coast to Coast store for many years when I was young. It's a shame they went the way of the dodo because they were among the last of the true hardware stores.

 

Nice! The whole box thing is so overrated. I am surprised some enterprising person or company doesn’t go into a specialty business just making boxes for all things “collectible.” It could be done on a fairly large scale with appropriate setups and 3D machines etc. I would be interested in seeing a cost to launch and operate something like this… then you might have to deal with copywriting and trade marks etc. other things I am sure would be cost associated.

 

Actually there is a dude who sells vintage Colt boxes, end labels, manuals and hang tags on one of the auction sites, claiming they're new NOS. They're reproductions. One of the problems that has long plagued Python collectors is running into an example that looks too good to be true, and probably is. You really have to know what you're doing so you can spot the refinished ones in a fake factory box.

 

That is one sexy revolver !

 

That’s great to hear dsk. You’ve mentioned several times at how tempted you were to pull the trigger in the past, but stuck with your gut and waited. It payed off, because now you own a gem.

 

It really is pretty rare to see a blued one that vintage in that perfect condition. I don't think you could do better

Congrats!!!

 

It really is pretty rare to see a blued one that vintage in that perfect condition. I don't think you could do better

Congrats!!!

Funny thing but I was thinking of that earlier today. It's only two years younger than me, yet somehow it managed to survive five decades in nearly new condition. If I traveled in a time machine back to 1971 when it was brand-new and sitting in the glass case at the gun store, when Nixon was still president and people were watching The French Connection at the local theater it would have looked almost exactly the same as it does today. Me, not so much. I'm no longer wearing diapers but my baby butt isn't nearly as smooth as it once was.

 

I wish I were the photographer you are. I'm so bad with lighting. Here's my 1980. I've posted it before. Once my dad handed it down, it only had the styrofoam box...goodbye valuable cardboard sleeve! After months searching, I finally found a date-correct user manual. It looks like someone used it as a coffee mug coaster but was appropriate "enough" under the circumstances

You can see the grips are darker, and the contour on the right grip had already changed (I guess to accommodate lefties).

 

That’s a beauty, ether! I am a sucker for stainless….

 

See!!! That's my problem with lighting! It's actually bright nickel. The healthy layer of preservative may not be helping either. Maybe better?