Colt Python

Is a person automatically stupid because he wants something that maybe you don't appreciate, and can afford it? Would you also consider me stupid for collecting original art, and paying thousands for a painting I really like but that you might personally dislike? Am I stupid because I can afford to drive a Porsche, and really enjoy it, when a 2001 Civic will still transport me? You've voiced your opinion about Python owners being 'stupid' quite a number of times, and I don't take offense as for the most part I enjoy your knowledge and posts, but on this topic you might need to consider that just because you don't see the value in something doesn't make others 'stupid'. '

As for tying up money in a collectible, why not, if I can afford it? I have one I shoot, and 4 that I don't. I don't feel bad, or stupid about it. What I paid for them isn't even really the issue, at the end of the day. It's my money that I worked damn hard for, and if I spend it on a gun I like, maybe other gun owners can just be happy that I'm an active member of the shooting community, rather than an anti gun hater.

Jesus wept.

I don't mean they are stupid for buying the Python I mean they are stupid for paying $4000.00 for it.

They are fine guns but for some reason or other all of a sudden they are worth 4 times as much. Me I don't think so.

When Ebay first started people would pay almost any amount of money for stuff, this soon changed and so will the price of the Pythons it always does.

Just my thoughts.

Graydog
 
I don't mean they are stupid for buying the Python I mean they are stupid for paying $4000.00 for it.

They are fine guns but for some reason or other all of a sudden they are worth 4 times as much. Me I don't think so.

When Ebay first started people would pay almost any amount of money for stuff, this soon changed and so will the price of the Pythons it always does.

Just my thoughts.

Graydog

So they aren't stupid for buying it, just stupid for buying it at a price you think is too high. So, stupid. If they were still making the Python, that would be a different story. Limited supply of what currently exists, and a ready market for them, particularly south of the border, would suggest otherwise. Those of us who have them aren't going to give them away and take a big loss on them. I know I can export them to the USA and make money all day long on my collection, I already have a relationship with two of the primary reputable Colt dealers in the US. So no, they are not going to come back down to a price you think is 'reasonable' for the quality. They are a sound investment.
 
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Befor walking dead came out these guns were selling on EE 1000-1500 TOPS!! That says a lot.

this says it all really. Is the Python an excellent example of what colt used to be able to do? yes. Is it worth 4000....not a chance. I've shot a couple and have not seen any significant improvement over my M27's. One of the four pythons i have shot had an truly outstanding double action, but the other three where on par with my older smiths...and the Smiths where more accurate, though admittedly not by a large margin, and i was used to them. I'd happily pay 1500 for a python, or a few bills more for a really clean one, but anything over that is just paying into the bubble. The prices will drop as the walking dead series drifts into the past, and you will have a lot of frustrated owners who can't sell for half of what they paid.
 
I'm with Ghostie - Must be hard to shoot - from what I've seen, you have to line up the back sight to your wrist... very strange, yet perfect hits everytime!

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I own a Pardini so I am not averse to paying for a good gun. I have shot a friends Python a number of times and it is a very nice revolver. Nice trigger, very accurate, nice build quality and finish. Is one worth 4 grand. Personally I don't believe so but this friend of mine has at least three of them so he thinks so. He also has a number of Pardini's and says he prefers shooting the Pythons' these days. To me they are nice but not 3 grand nicer than an S & W or Ruger. 1 grand maybe ,they are certainly nicer. The biggest factors in cost is there really isn't anything comparable out there and they don't make them any more.
 
..... The prices will drop as the walking dead series drifts into the past, and you will have a lot of frustrated owners who can't sell for half of what they paid.

The Walking Dead is already a thing of the past, and frankly it's effect on the market for Pythons is over rated anyway imo. The market was already going up in the US before the series, and has just gotten stronger. I look at it as a similar situation to the trend with muscle cars. 20 years ago, you could pick up a decent Mopar, Chevy or Ford for a decent price still, now they are 5-30x the price depending on what it is. Do you think the price of those muscle cars is going to come back down to a 'reasonable' price, since they used to be so affordable? Not hardly. As far as frustrated owners who won't get half what they paid....most owners I know are collectors. We aren't so much about selling, as having in our collection. Because we can afford it, and we like them. If some person with one Python needs to dump it for cash, and sells it cheaply, do you think I'm going to panic and flog all mine off for peanuts, before the market crashes? What a joke. Just like art, coins, stamps, and muscle cars. What you as a non owner think they are worth, or going to be worth, is irrelevant, as those who have them and those who want them are the ones who set the price. Those who sit back and call the owners of them 'stupid' for paying the price, really are just showing their lack of respect for other gun owners. Like we need more of that in our community.
 
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Well..a lot of good info and points to consider!! Thanks nutz. If I do get into a 357 it will get used so not looking for a safe queen if I already had a 357 I'd let the python shine in the safe...4g+ is a lot of coin for a revolver even for a dumb ass like me..
 
The Walking Dead is already a thing of the past, and frankly it's effect on the market for Pythons is over rated anyway imo. The market was already going up in the US before the series, and has just gotten stronger. I look at it as a similar situation to the trend with muscle cars. 20 years ago, you could pick up a decent Mopar, Chevy or Ford for a decent price still, now they are 5-30x the price depending on what it is. Do you think the price of those muscle cars is going to come back down to a 'reasonable' price, since they used to be so affordable? Not hardly. As far as frustrated owners who won't get half what they paid....most owners I know are collectors. We aren't so much about selling, as having in our collection. Because we can afford it, and we like them. If some person with one Python needs to dump it for cash, and sells it cheaply, do you think I'm going to panic and flog all mine off for peanuts, before the market crashes? What a joke. Just like art, coins, stamps, and muscle cars. What you as a non owner think they are worth, or going to be worth, is irrelevant, as those who have them and those who want them are the ones who set the price. Those who sit back and call the owners of them 'stupid' for paying the price, really are just showing their lack of respect for other gun owners. Like we need more of that in our community.

You have a lot of good points in your posts but one thing you are sadly wrong is that the seller does not set the price. The buyer sets the price, the seller only sets the asking price.

Every thing always comes down and goes up. That is just the way the markets go.

Also no I do not think you should sell your Pythons for nothing. All I was saying if people had not gotten foolish about this you would still be able to buy one for $1000.00 to $1500.00.

Would that be a bad thing? You could have three or four for the same money you now have to pay for one.
 
I think there was definitely a bit of a Python 'bubble' here over the past couple years driven by a few eager buyers, thinking the Canadian market would/should mirror the US market. It doesn't, and there appears to be a correction happening already. But the bottom will not fall out of the market because the Python is a beautiful gun, not made anymore and lots of guy want them = high prices. I personally wouldn't pay $4K for a Python, but I would for other guns that some might think was crazy. If you like it, fill your boots.

The only thing I would add is that King Cobras and Anacondas are not Pythons. Sure, neither are made anymore and the Anaconda is 44 mag which is pretty cool, but they are no where close to being as nice as Pythons imo so I cringe a little when I see them fetching close to Python prices. But who I'm I to judge the free market.
 
Totally right G. As posted in this thread: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1430051-Vintage-Smith-amp-Wesson-N-frames-357-s?p=12814365&viewfull=1#post12814365

I've owned over a dozen Pythons and they were all priced in the $600-$1000 range 10-12 years ago. The most I paied was $1500 for an 1985 first year of production Ultimate Bright Stainless finish that was new in box, owned 4 BSS Python and all priced in the $1000-$1200 range in excellent to like new condition. Prices for these on US auction sites were in the $3.5k back then. Today they are in the $3.5-$4.5k. Pretty much stable if you ask me, they didn't double or triple in value. Since up here prices were always 30-50% less than those US auctions can someone explain why the prices are now on par with the US market in the last 3 years or so, I really don't get it?
 
For all the nay sayers about Python selling prices reminds me of the nay sayers on housing prices. .Supply and demand will set the asking price and what they sell for sets the selling price. . For those who bought their houses before prices went up, good for us, and those who didn't can say all they want about how houses are over priced and folks are stupid for paying the price and on and on. . Same with the Colt Python. For us who bought our Pythons early, good for us and for those who didn't; well either dig deeper or buy something else. . But it's not cool to pull a Ted Cruz and not endorse the Python market for what it has become and has been for some time now. . :)





 
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Had a Ultimate Stainless Python... Yes, it was nice... but not "that" nice.
My father had a late 60's blue Python, I should have bought it from it, if for nothing else than the fantastic blueing job they did!

The "smoothest" revolver I had the chance to play with were a Manurhin target, and a pair of older Colt Officers Match.
 
Had a Ultimate Stainless Python... Yes, it was nice... but not "that" nice.
My father had a late 60's blue Python, I should have bought it from it, if for nothing else than the fantastic blueing job they did!

The "smoothest" revolver I had the chance to play with were a Manurhin target, and a pair of older Colt Officers Match.

I'm with you on the Manurhins, they are definitly the best revolvers, that's why I'm activly looking for an early one in 5 1/4" with the 9mm cyl. Alas I sold both .38 & .22 officers match that were manuf in the late 40's and kind of regret it.
 
There are a number of individuals who regularly share their collections and their knowledge on the “Show your Pythons” tread. I always enjoy what they show and respect what they say in their field of expertise. They obviously have a passion for the topic and maintain a current grasp of what is happening in that very specific colt collecting market. Who better than they to know the current market value of the best of the best ?
For me, the word I would have used to describe the new owner of such a classic firearm is “lucky”.
 
You have a lot of good points in your posts but one thing you are sadly wrong is that the seller does not set the price. The buyer sets the price, the seller only sets the asking price.

Every thing always comes down and goes up. That is just the way the markets go.

Also no I do not think you should sell your Pythons for nothing. All I was saying if people had not gotten foolish about this you would still be able to buy one for $1000.00 to $1500.00.

Would that be a bad thing? You could have three or four for the same money you now have to pay for one.

You throw that word 'foolish' and 'stupid' around a bit. As you noted, the demand is the determining factor on price, not what you personally think they are worth. If 10 people want a Python, and only one is for sale, the guy who wants it the most and is able to afford it will pay the price. Market value determined. End of story. To say that buyer is foolish because YOU don't value it the same is foolish. I personally wouldn't pay over a million dollars for a Bugatti, because it's not my thing, but someone who wants one, and can afford it, isn't stupid or foolish. It's just somebody with a desire and the means to fulfill it. The market price may go up and down a bit, but if you think the market for Pythons is going to drop out, and there will suddenly be lots of them for sale at $1000-1500, all I can say is don't hold your breath.
 
I would say that... from John Wayne, to Dirty Harry, to Die Hard, to The Walking Dead... it matters. It has always mattered. Silly stuff like that is why most people buy guns in the first place (because _________ police force, special ops unit, certain nation's military, etc. uses it).

I would also agree that... anyone waiting for prices to drop... don't hold your breath. People used to complain about HK P7's being $1,500... now you can't really obtain one for love or money at any price. Non-RC K98's, same. Pythons are almost there. If people pay $4,000 and can't sell it for that... guess what... they keep it. Gone from the market permanently... well until the estate gets it.

I know nobody cares about the comics but, funny thing with with Rick and the Python... it hasn't played any role in the comics for like 10 years. It is a total TV show thing. TV made it an icon of the series, not the Rick character. After he lost his hand he mainly uses something that vaguely resembles a 228, or maybe a Commander, and since the end of the "Saviors War", he is a Warrior King/President that fights with his mind on a strategy level... he is all crippled up anyway, and the last time he had to fight for his life he used his cane and his utter ruthlessness, which has always been his real weapon.
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There are a number of individuals who regularly share their collections and their knowledge on the “Show your Pythons” tread. I always enjoy what they show and respect what they say in their field of expertise. They obviously have a passion for the topic and maintain a current grasp of what is happening in that very specific colt collecting market. Who better than they to know the current market value of the best of the best ?

In the Canadian market, there is also a nugget effect. Only takes a couple active and aggressive buyers at one time to temporarily change the 'apparent' market value of some high end guns. Sometimes they lead to frenzies and corrections, sometimes sustained changes.

Also I agree most of the collectors are totally respectable and bang on in their grasp of the market. However, some are delusional (particularly on the prohib side, or again because they think Canadian and US markets are the same). But that can boil down to self-interest.
 
Willing to pay $4000 plus does not guarantee you will get one.
I dont know if the Python is the smoothest revolver but when u compare it with a s&w 686 you dont need to shoot to tell the difference. Just pulling the hammer you will understand.
 
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