Show your PYTHONs & Snakes Here +++
- Thread starter bigi
- Start date
If you are talking Ellwoods, yes the initial write up on it was so-so. I decided to get some info on it and after talking to them they changed the write up, who ever wrote the initial write up underrated the python. I saw the one at Switzer auction Dec 8 sold for $2350 plus all the fees not sure what the final price was but my calculations put it over $3000.
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I saw the initial “good” condition and subsequently changed to “excellent “ with lot more details in the description. The price was more than fair for what you got. Nice score indeed!
I requested some pics, it took them a couple of days to send a few pics. While I was waiting for the pics I thought someone would have picked it up before I received them but I guess "good" gave people second thoughts. For a "good" condition I expected some wear here and there, bluing worn, but when I received the pics the bluing looked really good, didn't see any scratches, grips looked original and in good shape so that's why I wanted more info.
Epps usually rate their stuff on the button, when i bought my King cobra 6 inch, they indicated polished SS and it is the same description on the carboad cover of the blue case.
Anyway it was rated excellent and this is why i bought it.
I am not a connaissor like certain members here, i cant see that it have been shot, mayble handle a lot, i rate this pistol mint so did a very knowledgable RO at the Ruisseau Noir, i am happy with my buy.
I did noticed this Python on Epps site and the good only rating did steer me away from it, this is a great score. I will buy one excellet + if i find a great deal.
I bought some Mother, i will give it a good polishing, i think it need it.
Anyway it was rated excellent and this is why i bought it.
I am not a connaissor like certain members here, i cant see that it have been shot, mayble handle a lot, i rate this pistol mint so did a very knowledgable RO at the Ruisseau Noir, i am happy with my buy.
I did noticed this Python on Epps site and the good only rating did steer me away from it, this is a great score. I will buy one excellet + if i find a great deal.
I bought some Mother, i will give it a good polishing, i think it need it.
Grips are original, she is tight, slight ring but I think that is more from dry firing than actual ammo and that was the info I also received. The forcing cone is clean, not dark and clean around it, back of cylinder is pretty clean. When I picked it up the staff where saying it's one of the cleanest ones that had seen in awhile. Guess they had an apprentice rate this gun because even the serial number on the sale tag of the pics they sent didn't match the gun, yet the tag that was on this gun matched. I guess they changed that too when they changed the description. Since I had the serial # from the pics they sent I tried looking up the MOD and it gave me all these other colt pistols from as far back as 1905 and I was like weird. I point it out because I had the pics with me and they were like wtf, so they went to back and pulled up all the info they had on the gun. It definitely was the same gun though because the grain pattern on the grips matched the pics they sent. With the the new serial # it popped up right away and only thing that came up was 1988 python. I guess someone was still hangover from weekend when they put this python for sale 
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Epps usually rate their stuff on the button, when i bought my King cobra 6 inch, they indicated polished SS and it is the same description on the carboad cover of the blue case.
Anyway it was rated excellent and this is why i bought it.
I am not a connaissor like certain members here, i cant see that it have been shot, mayble handle a lot, i rate this pistol mint so did a very knowledgable RO at the Ruisseau Noir, i am happy with my buy.
I did noticed this Python on Epps site and the good only rating did steer me away from it, this is a great score. I will buy one excellet + if i find a great deal.
I bought some Mother, i will give it a good polishing, i think it need it.
JP, you wrote that the description on the factory cardboard outer sleeve (the sleeve the blue plastic case sit in) state that your King Cobra is "Polished Stainless Steel"?? Or is it the Ellwood Epps sale tag with brief description??
If it's indeed the factory Colt outer sleeve with matching label, it would be a first for a factory BSS KC that didn't have the trigger flats & hammer polished! Could you please share this important detail?
But first a little piece of history on the end of the Colt strike that went from Jan. 24th, 1986 till March 22nd, 1990...
"THE first wave of union workers, suddenly the proud owners of the country's oldest handgun maker, triumphantly marched into the Colt's Manufacturing Company in Hartford last week to end the longest strike in Connecticut history. The start of the 7 A.M. shift on Wednesday was delayed an hour while the jubilant workers, armed with banners proclaiming ''We Beat 'Em and We Bought 'Em,'' celebrated their victory after four years on strike with a spirited rally outside Colt's gritty, brick factory building.
''It's like being home again,'' said 62-year-old William Smith, who maintained the gun-making machines for 22 years before he and 1,050 other members of United Auto Workers Local 376 walked off the job on Jan. 24, 1986, after 10 months without a contract. The strike officially ended on March 22 with the announcement of a buyout agreement that makes the U.A.W. members co-owners of the plant along with Colt managers, the state of Connecticut and private investors.
Since the strike began, about 60 union workers have retired, nearly 40 have died and a few have chosen to remain at other jobs they found. But company officials said 90 percent of the strikers contacted so far said they planned to return. The buyout agreement with New York-based Colt Industries, parent of the gun maker, meant all 600 replacement workers hired to keep Colt plants in Hartford and West Hartford running during the strike lost their jobs. Company estimates on how many replacement workers can expect to be offered jobs have ranged from about 100 to only a handful. Union officials say none of the replacement workers will be retained.
The agreement gives the workers a total of $13 million in back pay, settling a suit against the company that alleged unfair labor practices. Workers also got a 13 percent wage increase and a stock ownership plan that will allow the U.A.W. members to own 11.5 percent of the company."
"THE first wave of union workers, suddenly the proud owners of the country's oldest handgun maker, triumphantly marched into the Colt's Manufacturing Company in Hartford last week to end the longest strike in Connecticut history. The start of the 7 A.M. shift on Wednesday was delayed an hour while the jubilant workers, armed with banners proclaiming ''We Beat 'Em and We Bought 'Em,'' celebrated their victory after four years on strike with a spirited rally outside Colt's gritty, brick factory building.
''It's like being home again,'' said 62-year-old William Smith, who maintained the gun-making machines for 22 years before he and 1,050 other members of United Auto Workers Local 376 walked off the job on Jan. 24, 1986, after 10 months without a contract. The strike officially ended on March 22 with the announcement of a buyout agreement that makes the U.A.W. members co-owners of the plant along with Colt managers, the state of Connecticut and private investors.
Since the strike began, about 60 union workers have retired, nearly 40 have died and a few have chosen to remain at other jobs they found. But company officials said 90 percent of the strikers contacted so far said they planned to return. The buyout agreement with New York-based Colt Industries, parent of the gun maker, meant all 600 replacement workers hired to keep Colt plants in Hartford and West Hartford running during the strike lost their jobs. Company estimates on how many replacement workers can expect to be offered jobs have ranged from about 100 to only a handful. Union officials say none of the replacement workers will be retained.
The agreement gives the workers a total of $13 million in back pay, settling a suit against the company that alleged unfair labor practices. Workers also got a 13 percent wage increase and a stock ownership plan that will allow the U.A.W. members to own 11.5 percent of the company."
Starting with the youngest of my Pythons, a brand new, unfired Ultimate Bright Stainless from late 1990. This Python shows exquisite craftsmanship, achievable by the original and back then very proud and happy to be back to work Colt employees. It's also one of the last two pins front sight and one of the first Ultimate Python manufactured as they switched to the single pin front sight with the change of barrel/frame thread from .563-32 to .562-36 in December 1990. The thread change was to conform the Python threads with the threads used on the King Cobra. This eliminated having to maintain two different threading and tapping tool sets and saved money and complication in manufacturing. This was the second "major" modification after the late-1966 hollow lug to solid lug change.
Colt Ultimate Python in Ultimate Bright Stainless finish, Custom Shop tuned action. Serial T91### confirmed original from factory by Colt:
Colt Ultimate Python in Ultimate Bright Stainless finish, Custom Shop tuned action. Serial T91### confirmed original from factory by Colt:
Followed by a minty mid-1966 hollow lug Python wearing Gen II smiley checkered pattern factory grips, the medallions show some discoloration probably due to some cleaning solution used but some gold still present in the inner edges. This one is also one of the last hollow lug Python manufactured as Colt switched to solid lug in late 1966. Serial 55###
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That stainless is fantastic Harry but something about blue guns. Very nice! Dammit I had been avoiding getting into pythons.................
I hear you, I've been collecting for ~20 years and owned over two dozen Pythons in various trims & vintages, over a dozen King Cobras & Anacondas in both .44's & .45's plus a few .3-5-7's, Troopers (Original, MK III & V). I've been fine tuning my collection in the last few years and kept the best out of the best plus THE ONE to shoot when I feel like it. This '57 is the most accurate of all snakes I've owned, sure they were some NIB's that never seen a round but if they showed signs of use I would try it out to get the feel of it. Heck, I would say that this '57 is as accurate as my 5¼" Manurhin MR73 and that's probably the most accurate .357 revolver of them all.
Here's a pic compared to another very accurate .357, the S&W M627-0 Model of 1989 N frame 5.5" stainless revolver. 25 rounds of 148gr target HBWC reloads @ ~725fps out of each revolver at a measured 20 yards, two hands weaver stance slow fired.
Thanks JP. Here's the complete list of King Cobra model numbers:
A3020 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 2" SS
AA3021 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 2-1/2" Bright SS
AA3021CC Combat Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 2-1/2" Bright SS
AA3040 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 4" SS
AA3040E King Cobra Enhanced Revolver 357 Magnum 4" SS
AA3041 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 4" Bright SS
AA3060 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 6" SS
AA3061 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 6" Bright SS
AA3061E King Cobra Enhanced Revolver 357 Magnum 6" Bright SS
AA3080 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 8" SS
AA3620 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 2" Blue
AA3640 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 4" Blue
AA3660 King Cobra Revolver 357 Magnum 6" Blue
Yours was definitely a 6" brushed stainless finished from factory, not a BSTS.
