Posted: 11/12/2013 7:28:50 PM EDT
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I have inherited a 1964 Colt Python 6" Barrel from my father, who inherited from my uncle. Funny but true story. My uncle bought it new, never fired it, put it in the glove box of an old broken down car and there it sat for 20+ years. My Dad found it with the bill of sale when they were cleaning up the farm to sell it.
It was speckled with rust from being where it was for so many years. (About six spots ranging in size from pinhead to one about pencil head size. The big spot is on the hammer. Dad cleaned it up so you can see them from the marring on the bluing, but pitting is not deep at all.) Dad put 10 rounds through to make sure it worked and put it in the safe back in 1990 for it never to see the sun again until Mom asked if I wanted it. Have been thinking about selling it but really have no idea how much it is worth. Does anyone have thought on how much it is worth? Thanks |
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It is a classic for sure. The 1k+ you could get for it IMHO is not worth the family history involved with this piece.
If it were me I'd contact Colt and have it refinished. They do their Colt luster bluing job and it will come back in new condition barring any pits. Next I'd find a wood presentation box that will fit the piece and save it until it is time to pass it on to another family member. |
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Quoted:
It is a classic for sure. The 1k+ you could get for it IMHO is not worth the family history involved with this piece. If it were me I'd contact Colt and have it refinished. They do their Colt luster bluing job and it will come back in new condition barring any pits. Next I'd find a wood presentation box that will fit the piece and save it until it is time to pass it on to another family member. I wouldn't say that a gun that was bought, never fired and thrown into a glovebox. Found years later, fired 10 times and thrown into a safe has a lot of sentimental value or family history. But that's just my opinion. |
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I wouldn't say that a gun that was bought, never fired and thrown into a glovebox. Found years later, fired 10 times and thrown into a safe has a lot of sentimental value or family history. But that's just my opinion. Quoted:
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It is a classic for sure. The 1k+ you could get for it IMHO is not worth the family history involved with this piece. If it were me I'd contact Colt and have it refinished. They do their Colt luster bluing job and it will come back in new condition barring any pits. Next I'd find a wood presentation box that will fit the piece and save it until it is time to pass it on to another family member. I wouldn't say that a gun that was bought, never fired and thrown into a glovebox. Found years later, fired 10 times and thrown into a safe has a lot of sentimental value or family history. But that's just my opinion. I would agree that it has little family history. I have found myself really liking the idea of owning a true classic Colt from back in the days where the name actually meant something. You have to admit that it is one pretty gun LOL. I contacted a gunsmith today who is going to give it a true top to bottom cleaning. I will then decide if I will sell it or send it to Colt for refinishing. Thanks |
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If you send it to Colt, they will give it a thorough looking over when they re-assemble it. I would invest in Colt's services, before I would trust "Bob's Gunsmithing and Tree Service" Either way, the value goes up................. This, I would really research the smith before dropping off that |
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I am fortunate that where I work we have a full armory with several gunsmiths. I took it in for them to look at and It was interesting what they told me. One said that if I wanted to sell it he would buy it right now and then send it to Colt or he would reccommend that I keep it and send it to Colt. So I am keeping it and checking back with Colt in the new year to see if they are taking new business.
Thanks for all your assistance. |
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I am fortunate that where I work we have a full armory with several gunsmiths. I took it in for them to look at and It was interesting what they told me. One said that if I wanted to sell it he would buy it right now and then send it to Colt or he would reccommend that I keep it and send it to Colt. So I am keeping it and checking back with Colt in the new year to see if they are taking new business. Thanks for all your assistance. Call now in case there's a waiting cue. |
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I would agree that it has little family history. I have found myself really liking the idea of owning a true classic Colt from back in the days where the name actually meant something. You have to admit that it is one pretty gun LOL. I contacted a gunsmith today who is going to give it a true top to bottom cleaning. I will then decide if I will sell it or send it to Colt for refinishing. Thanks Quoted:
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It is a classic for sure. The 1k+ you could get for it IMHO is not worth the family history involved with this piece. If it were me I'd contact Colt and have it refinished. They do their Colt luster bluing job and it will come back in new condition barring any pits. Next I'd find a wood presentation box that will fit the piece and save it until it is time to pass it on to another family member. I wouldn't say that a gun that was bought, never fired and thrown into a glovebox. Found years later, fired 10 times and thrown into a safe has a lot of sentimental value or family history. But that's just my opinion. I would agree that it has little family history. I have found myself really liking the idea of owning a true classic Colt from back in the days where the name actually meant something. You have to admit that it is one pretty gun LOL. I contacted a gunsmith today who is going to give it a true top to bottom cleaning. I will then decide if I will sell it or send it to Colt for refinishing. Thanks I bet that whatever family member you eventually pass this revolver to will love the story. Can you still take a picture of the broken down old car? My father in law passed away. Shortly before we lost him, we were visiting him at home. He had my mother in law go to the closet and bring me a nice Winchester Model 70 lightweight .30-06. He told me that he always wanted a nice Model 70 but could not afford one until he retired. Then he could not hunt because of his physical condition, so it just sat in the closet. He asked me to take it and take his Grandson hunting with it. I had to leave the room because I did not want him to see me crying. The first shots from the rifle were when I zeroed the scope. Later, my 16 year old son took his first deer with one perfect shot at about 150 yards. No buck fever. I swear his Grandpa's hand was on his shoulder that day. He is very happy to have his Grandpa's Model 70. |
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It is a classic for sure. The 1k+ you could get for it IMHO is not worth the family history involved with this piece. If it were me I'd contact Colt and have it refinished. They do their Colt luster bluing job and it will come back in new condition barring any pits. Next I'd find a wood presentation box that will fit the piece and save it until it is time to pass it on to another family member. I too would have it refinished. Nice deep blue. Then I would use it as intended. That Python has been abused/unused. You could be the first in your family to actually get some use out of it. Sell it? Not a chance in hell. |
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I bet that whatever family member you eventually pass this revolver to will love the story. Can you still take a picture of the broken down old car? My father in law passed away. Shortly before we lost him, we were visiting him at home. He had my mother in law go to the closet and bring me a nice Winchester Model 70 lightweight .30-06. He told me that he always wanted a nice Model 70 but could not afford one until he retired. Then he could not hunt because of his physical condition, so it just sat in the closet. He asked me to take it and take his Grandson hunting with it. I had to leave the room because I did not want him to see me crying. The first shots from the rifle were when I zeroed the scope. Later, my 16 year old son took his first deer with one perfect shot at about 150 yards. No buck fever. I swear his Grandpa's hand was on his shoulder that day. He is very happy to have his Grandpa's Model 70. Quoted:
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It is a classic for sure. The 1k+ you could get for it IMHO is not worth the family history involved with this piece. If it were me I'd contact Colt and have it refinished. They do their Colt luster bluing job and it will come back in new condition barring any pits. Next I'd find a wood presentation box that will fit the piece and save it until it is time to pass it on to another family member. I wouldn't say that a gun that was bought, never fired and thrown into a glovebox. Found years later, fired 10 times and thrown into a safe has a lot of sentimental value or family history. But that's just my opinion. I would agree that it has little family history. I have found myself really liking the idea of owning a true classic Colt from back in the days where the name actually meant something. You have to admit that it is one pretty gun LOL. I contacted a gunsmith today who is going to give it a true top to bottom cleaning. I will then decide if I will sell it or send it to Colt for refinishing. Thanks I bet that whatever family member you eventually pass this revolver to will love the story. Can you still take a picture of the broken down old car? My father in law passed away. Shortly before we lost him, we were visiting him at home. He had my mother in law go to the closet and bring me a nice Winchester Model 70 lightweight .30-06. He told me that he always wanted a nice Model 70 but could not afford one until he retired. Then he could not hunt because of his physical condition, so it just sat in the closet. He asked me to take it and take his Grandson hunting with it. I had to leave the room because I did not want him to see me crying. The first shots from the rifle were when I zeroed the scope. Later, my 16 year old son took his first deer with one perfect shot at about 150 yards. No buck fever. I swear his Grandpa's hand was on his shoulder that day. He is very happy to have his Grandpa's Model 70. What a great story! I got my first deer with a Remington 740 30-06 given to me by my Uncle. Used that rifle up until this year. I have already called Colt and they said to call back in January. My Uncle was an interesting person. Disabled WW2 vet that never had kids, never shot guns but loved to buy them and keep them. We would have family fish frys at the farm and it was us kids job to go catch the fish. He would go along as the "adult" supervision. If we went a 1/2 hour without any bites, he would say "Well it looks like we are using the wrong bait today. GET BACK!" He would toss in a 1/2 stick of TNT into the pond and we would have to gather up the fish then. LOL About once a year we would have what he would call a "Stump toss EVENT" He would cut down trees during the year and in the fall he would take us kids out and show us how to load the stumps to blow them out of the ground. We would be judged on height and distance the stump would fly and on the size of crater left. (Note: He had been a demolitons sargeant in the Army) I alway felt everyone needed an Uncle like that. LOL |
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Well there you go! He certainly sounds like he was an interesting man. Tell the same story to whoever you pass the Python onto and they will have the story of a fun to be around WWII vet along with a beautiful classic Colt Python. I wish that some of my guns could talk and tell their stories.
Glad you decided to keep it and return it to its original glory. |
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Have 2 of them (Pythons) in 98% condition, and another that was unfired ---- bought them for $1200 and $1300 respectively ---- depending on who you ask or what auction sites you frequent -- they are now worth over 2 bills easily -- in 4 years
I kick myself for not scraping together the cash for a nice stainless 4" I saw during Christmas season '06/07 for $850 On the flip side -- the Python is a weird animal in that, if you go to Gunbroker, -- there are hundreds of them, but they're still expensive ! There are more Pythons out there than some of the other seemingly more common pistols They shoot as advertised though --- makes me feel like a hero with every trigger pull |