Colt Diamondback in .22LR - What might it be worth?

Is it true that there is a scarcity of Canadian gunsmiths for Colt wheelguns in comparison to S&W's?

Yes,and it just isnt the case in Canada either,in the US,there are probably only a small handful of gunsmiths who have the tools or knowledge to work on Colt revolvers.

With Colt no longer producing DA revolvers as standard production,there are fewer and fewer smiths out there with the knowledge.It seems that in the US at least,Colt is still one of the first options for working on their guns(but obviously not much of an option for us up here)

OTOH there are a quite a few very competent gunsmiths to work on Smith and Wessons
 
I have a 4", sort of a younger brother match for my Python. I've never experienced any accuracy problems that have been mentioned here by others. It seems to do well with anything I put through it. I also still have the original box it came in. Last year I was offered $850.oo.

Colt22LRDiamondback.jpg
 
I've seen no problems with my Diamondbacks in either .22 or .38.
We all know of the Python and the Diamondback, but has anyone had a Viper? Back in the early 80's? Colt made a few in .38 special, aluminum frame, a real lightweight. I got the first two,, and maybe the only two, that Alan Lever got in. Both were in Diamondback boxes with the ends written over with "Viper" in felt marker. Then Colt decided to discontinue the "D" model and that was the end of the Viper. eventually they did bring back the Diamondbak and Python for awhile. Mine are in blue and Nickel and both unfired due to their rarity, but it's alway been a temptation.......!
 
Maybe just a damaged crown. Easily fixed by a good gunsmith.

THIS HAD NO DAMAGE AT ALL, 20 ROUNDS SHOT THREW IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, IT WAS 99.99% CONDITION, THE FELLOW WAS A COLLECTOR NOT A SHOOTER AND ORIGINAL OWNER! 2 POLICE ARMOURERS LOOKED IT OVER AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST THE OPPOSITE IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT, JUST LIKE THE COLT GUNSMITH SAID THERE WERE A BUNCH OF DUDS IN THE SMALL PRODUCTION AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY AND WHEN THEY TOOK THESE BACK IN FOR WARRANTY IN THE STATES HE TOLD ME THEY WOULD USSUALLY SEND THEM A NEW GUN AND STRIP THE OLD GUN FOR PARTS AND PUT THEM INTO THE PARTS BINS. THIS WAS THE ONLY GUY THERE WHO WAS TOTALLY HONEST WITH ME, I WAS JUST MAD I COULDN'T SHOOT THIS FINE GUN, AND THEY ARE HARD TO FIND HERE IN 6" BARRELS, REGARDS dALE:(
 
I have a 4", sort of a younger brother match for my Python. I've never experienced any accuracy problems that have been mentioned here by others. It seems to do well with anything I put through it. I also still have the original box it came in. Last year I was offered $850.oo.

That sure is a beauty, John. ;)
 
You don't see many of those. Why do I have a feeling that you'd be paying the better part of a grand for something like that.

Because the OP would be crazy to let it go for less than $1000.


In that condition I wouldn't take less than $1,000. Those are the nicest grips I've ever seen on a Colt revolver.

+1. It looks in fantastic shape. Combined with the rarity and what even well used Pythons go for and I think $1000 would be a very reasonable deal. If I was selling, I would start at $1250 before I went down to $1000, too. After all, how many pristine, restricted length Diamondbacks are still floating around in Canada?

Mark
 
A new S&W model 17 is approx. $1100, and a used one around half as much depending on condition. Given the premium Colt charges along with their rarity I'd probably do as mmattckx suggests.
 
I've seen no problems with my Diamondbacks in either .22 or .38.
We all know of the Python and the Diamondback, but has anyone had a Viper? Back in the early 80's? Colt made a few in .38 special, aluminum frame, a real lightweight. I got the first two,, and maybe the only two, that Alan Lever got in. Both were in Diamondback boxes with the ends written over with "Viper" in felt marker. Then Colt decided to discontinue the "D" model and that was the end of the Viper. eventually they did bring back the Diamondbak and Python for awhile. Mine are in blue and Nickel and both unfired due to their rarity, but it's alway been a temptation.......!

Bought one from Klondike Arms back in the day. Sold it to buy a silhouette gun I had a yen for. Sometimes I excel in stupid. - dan
 
Bought one from Klondike Arms back in the day. Sold it to buy a silhouette gun I had a yen for. Sometimes I excel in stupid. - dan

And I thought I was alone in that field. Two Pythons, four or five S&W 29s, two 10ga AYAs and two 71 Winchesters to name but a few I've sold then repurchased:redface:. For a nice little 'family' of Colts Snakes, I have my old production 6" Python 357 Mag.

357MagColtPython.jpg


And its younger brother, a 4" Diamondback 22LR

Colt22LRDiamondback.jpg


Next on the list that has been delt on and I hope to get before too long, the Anaconda in 44 Mag.
 
I had the opportunity to buy one and I paid $1300. for a 6 in Diamondback in 2008. The gun was in excellent condition, with original box. I hadnt seen any previous to that so was concerned about the high price. However due to its colt manufacture and scaricity I think it was money well spent. It is a very well built and collectable pistol
and expect it to retain its value. If you want to sell it name your price and see what happens... .
my 2 cents
wyle1
 
Next on the list that has been delt on and I hope to get before too long, the Anaconda in 44 Mag.

I might have two LNIB Colt Anacondas one in .44 mag and one in .45 Colt for sale in the near future. Both are very low round count with blue plastic box, cardboard outersleeve and original Colt manual.

H.C.
 
I might have two LNIB Colt Anacondas one in .44 mag and one in .45 Colt for sale in the near future. Both are very low round count with blue plastic box, cardboard outersleeve and original Colt manual.

H.C.

Sounds interesting:). When the near future arrives, could you keep me posted? In the meanwhile, any details on prices, barrel lengths etc? PM me if you wish, and like your avatar:).

Johnn
 
I had the opportunity to buy one and I paid $1300. for a 6 in Diamondback in 2008. The gun was in excellent condition, with original box. I hadnt seen any previous to that so was concerned about the high price. However due to its colt manufacture and scaricity I think it was money well spent. It is a very well built and collectable pistol
and expect it to retain its value. If you want to sell it name your price and see what happens... .
my 2 cents
wyle1

I'm not sure but I would imagine they may have come in a variety of boxes over the years. This is the one mine came in.

BabySnakeandbox.jpg


Johnn
 
So here is another mystery. One member noticed that both the trigger and hammer on my Diamondback are not black but silver. He had never seen a Diamondback like this before and quite frankly neither had I. I did a bit of an internet search and I think I came upon one on Widipedia. I also posted a thread on the Coltforum to see if anyone on that website had a clue but no solid answers as of yet.

So has anyone on this website every seen one like this?

It might help to update you on the production year as well. The Coltforum has a DOB thread where you can find out when your Colt was made. I was amazed to find that Diamondbacks with 'S' prefixes were not only made in '79, but in '80 and '81 as well. Mine apparently is not a 'late '70's' model but a 1981 model.
 
I bought a 4 inch barrel .22lr Diamondback back in the late 80's. I couldn't tighten down the grips and the gun jiggled when I held it. Anyone else had this problem? I read an article written by the late Robert Shimek that this was is a common problem with the grips on the .22 Diamondbacks.
 
Back
Top Bottom