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Friday, January 23, 2015

Why is the Colt Python So Popular?


Click Here To View Colt Pythons For Sale In Our December 2016 Auction

Around Rock Island Auction Company, collector firearms are a way of life.  Whether it's guns from the Old West, Class III machine guns, or the firearms used in any number of wars and conflicts, they tend to enjoy a perpetual popularity.  Their place in history is significant if not downright important, and people will always be fascinated by that.  It's rare then that a genre of firearms or a particular model would enjoy a sudden upswing in popularity.  New historic events, by their very nature, don't happen frequently.  So when a firearm or class of firearms experiences a rapid rise in popularity, collectors take notice.

This Colt Python is blue with a 4" barrel and was manufactured in 1968.  It is Lot #1
in our February 2015 Regional Firearms Auction.

Of course, saying that the Colt Python is experiencing a "rapid upswing" is a bit of an understatement.  It's been more of a rocket ship for these trusty wheelguns.  We covered some of their growth back in October 2013 in an article entitled, "Stocks, Bonds, or Barrels?"  In that story was the table below, which showed the steady increase of the gun in recent years.

Those figures were obtained from sale averages achieved by Rock Island Auction Company and they are a direct representation of what the market will support (because it did).  Finding the upward trend is not difficult.  What's more astonishing is what happened in 2014.  Our December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction contained a good selection of Colt snake guns and our auction hall absolutely came alive when it was time for them to cross the auction block.  We wrote about it in a post-auction article which described the events as,

"The end of Saturday was quite a surprise to everyone in attendance. As Colt “Snake Guns” began to cross the block, the auction hall began to buzz. Every phone line was filled and online bidders began to make their presence felt as numerous collectors scrambled to own one of the popular revolvers. Bids couldn’t be taken quickly enough as the values soared and jaws dropped while the numbers reached previously unheard of heights. A feeding frenzy had begun. An R. L. Wilson special order Colt Python in lot 1789, with a high estimate of $4,500, would see a sale price of $11,500. Another Python, this time a scarce, inscribed, three-inch barrel Combat Python with its original box in lot 1792, would go even higher and sell for $12,650. These numbers were not rare! Numerous Pythons, Anacondas, Cobras, and Diamondbacks would exceed the $5,000 mark and many surpassed the $10,000 mark. It could indicate an extremely interesting trend for those who seek or collect these revolvers."


If we included 2014 on the table shown above, it would have an average sale price of $3,805.88, and that even includes an adjustment for a cased set of "Snake Eyes" Pythons to be counted as two separate guns.  So what gives?  Why has the Python, a revolver that's been around since 1955, all of a sudden seeing some pretty explosive growth in the last three years?  Let's take a look shall we?


Quality

The issue of high quality has not been an issue for the Colt Python.  If anything, there is the rumor that later quality Pythons fell away a bit from their initial high quality.  That said, there certainly wasn't any revamping of the Python that would've increased its quality and therefore popularity among collectors.  In fact, when it was introduced in 1955 it was done as a premium revolver, designed to compete with the finest double actions available.  It succeeded. A number of its design aspects such as its balance, weight, smooth trigger, and small tolerances gave the gun a refined feel, high accuracy, and reliability that few have matched.  Colt Historian R.L. Wilson has a well-cited quote, calling the Python the "Rolls-Royce of Colt revolvers" and the well-known British author and firearms expert Ian V. Hogg called it the "best revolver in the world."  High praise from reliable sources indeed, but the superior quality is hardly a recent development and cannot account for the surge in prices and popularity.


This Python, manufactured in 1956, sold in our December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction for $11,500.


Looks

To put it simply, the Colt Python just looks like a big, powerful, classic revolver.  It's fat, simple grip, beefy snout, and swing out out cylinder make it baddest man in the room that never has to tell anyone for them to know.  There's no over-sized, unmanageable caliber.  No ostentatious advertising campaigns.  Just a simple, well-made revolver that's not a design fad.  Well, OK.  Maybe there used to be some pretty gaudy ads, but it's safe to say that those were before their meteoric rise.

Yikes.  You probably shouldn't try to take this Burmese python's Python.

Practicality

It's difficult to argue against the practicality of a well-made gun.  After all, if a firearm isn't well made and in turn doesn't perform reliably, how truly practical can it be?  Not only is the Colt Python built to do what it does very well, but it has been proven to be a practical tool in the hands of many police officers.  The Python was a fine option for law enforcement officers before the shift to semi-automatics began to grip the land.  In any case, the time the Python spent in service gave it a "field test" that many firearms do not receive.  If it had performed poorly in the field, that would not escape its history.

Also attesting to the practicality of the gun is its choice of caliber.  In its standard configuration of .357 Magnum, the gun packs plenty of power for nearly any law enforcement group, some fun range time, or even defending one's castle.  The caliber has been around since 1934, is a standard cartridge for most stores to carry, has excellent power, and shows no sign of going anywhere.

Politics

Granted, a portion of the Python's rise in price and popularity is the same rise enjoyed by nearly every other type of firearm.  Talk of legislation against firearms drove sales like none other.  People want to make sure they have the guns they want in their possession should the worst occur.  Part of the Python's price may have risen due to this, but if this were the sole cause we would similar rises across the majority of firearms and not this particular model.  It was easy to see a rise in price of "black rifles" and AR platform semi-automatic rifles because those were in the most danger of having legislation passed against them.  Modern sport rifles were unquestionably targeted the hardest (despite handguns being the weapon of choice for criminals, but that's another story).  Meanwhile this solid wheelgun received almost NO attention from the media or anti-gun groups because it's not a semi-automatic, its price doesn't make it attractive to criminals and it is therefore unlikely to be used in crimes (high profile or otherwise), and it only carries six rounds, a temporarily acceptable number for anti-gunners.  The Colt Python would not have been on anyone's radar for anything other than being a handgun, so while it may have enjoyed a small bump from potential legislation, it's nothing that would push it anywhere close to its current prices.  Besides, modern sport rifles have already seen their bubble burst.  If Pythons were riding that same bubble, they would have fallen right along side them.

Media Appearances

Maybe here is where we start to get to the meat of things.  First of all, let me say that I'm well aware that the use of Colt Pythons in TV and movies extends back decades.  While popular trivia may let us know that the Colt Python was the sidearm of choice for Hutch on 1970s TV show "Starsky & Hutch," it is not well known that its use can be traced back as far as 1969 according to the Internet Movie Firearms Database. The gun's classic, tough looks allow to be an "every pistol" in a number of TV shows and movies - always looking the part for some lawman in the 60s, 70s, and even 80s.  That said, why wasn't the Python more popular than this before now if it was featured so frequently?

The Colt Python as seen on AMC's "The Walking Dead"

        1.  Movies  Several factors could be at play, any of which would require more research to confirm or refute.  The first is that more people go to the movies today than ever before.  Modern box office numbers are untouchable even when counting for inflation.  More people watching means more people see these guns being used and possibly falling in love with this big, sturdy-looking revolver.  This is likely the weakest of the hypotheses.

        2.  Streaming TV could also be a factor.  For example, the Colt Python is featured prominently in the current television series "The Walking Dead."  Wielded by lead character Sheriff Rick Grimes, the gun is being seen by record numbers of people who tune in to see this wildly popular show.  The show initially airs on AMC, a premium cable network.  However, previous seasons of the show are also available on streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Instant video for a comparatively modest price, as low as $7.99 for a single month.  Enjoying the current popularity wave of zombie culture, the success of Walking Dead, and widespread availability of both means the Python is being seen almost weekly by record numbers of people.  You can't buy that kind of advertising.

Here is how the Python appears in the video game
Call of Duty: Black Ops
        3.  Video games. I know, I know... video games get blamed for everything from bad grades, to obesity, to any number of crimes, both the benign and the violent.  However, the popularity of video games is not something to be overlooked.  Most notable of video games sparking an interest in firearms is the Call of Duty series.  Stretching back all the way to 2003, the COD series of games has featured real life weapons in nearly every single title.  Since its inception COD has over $10 BILLION in sales, each one teaching a player the appearance and gross characteristics of say, an M1 Garand, an MP5, a G36C, a BAR, a P90, a G11, a Type 99, and even what different shoulder launchers look like.  Many are quick to poo-poo the knowledge of COD players, which if based solely on gameplay would be admittedly thin, but would be hard pressed to find a more effective  tool for teaching rudimentary knowledge (appearance, action type, caliber) and spurring enthusiasm.

The Colt Python has been featured in video games where it is mostly listed as a ".357 Magnum" or "revolver," but the appearance in unmistakable.  The video game Call of Duty: Black Ops, the seventh of the series, featured the Python by name (without mentioning Colt).  It sold a total 5.6 million units in the U.S & U.K. in the first 24 hours.  That's $360 million in sales in 1 day, and $650 million in 5 days worldwide!  Even the acclaimed American Sniper movie released last week "only" landed a record $105 million opening-week box office.  Granted, video games are more expensive than movie tickets, but the numbers are still staggering.  Plus, while someone might only see a movie once in the theater, players are literally dumping days of time into these video games, playing them over and over again.  That's a lot of eyeballs learning that the Python, typically programmed in games to be more powerful than its semi-automatic counterparts, is for lack of better term, one mean mother.

This Python, manufactured in 1968, will also be appearing in our February 2015 Regional Firearms Auction.
It is Lot 73.

So with its popular appearances, and more media than ever being available to more people than ever, does that all translate into more sales?  Do those sales help diminish the supply and raise the price?  After all, how many kids playing these video games can legally buy a Python, let alone afford one?  That is true, and a large portion of those playing the video games will be under the legal age to purchase a handgun,  However, there are still millions playing that can buy a handgun.  Many of the children who grew up playing video games are now adults or young adults that play video games and those adults have adult sized  pocketbooks.

However, what all these mediums and popularity accomplish is to introduce a powerful, glamorized, and beautiful gun to an extremely large group of novices.  Even a small number of purchases by this newly enthusiastic group would have a large effect on the hundreds of thousands of Colt Pythons available.  This in turn, has a snowball effect.  Collectors see the supply of Pythons getting slimmer.  It's harder to find a Python for anyone that wants one.  Better snap one up before they're gone, right?  Now collectors are buying Pythons too, further depleting the available supply and also contributing to increased prices.  Casual gun buyers also find out how desirable they are and look for good deals on Pythons, further driving demand and price and it just keeps going.  Pretty soon, folks that can't get Pythons turn to Anacondas, Cobras, Vipers, Diamondbacks, and other Colt "snake guns."  Can't get a snake gun or afford one?  There are some attractive, fat-gripped Smith & Wesson revolvers that just might do the trick!  The popularity and demand for the Python is truly astounding, not only does it affect its own price and availability, but also guns similar to it.


What Does It All Mean?

But who cares right?  Why should we care about the price of a single model of revolver enjoying a bit of a renaissance?  Well, for folks who want one, it can be somewhat important, but for collectors and folks using firearms as their retirement fund, the ramifications can be even more important.  Even if you have no desire to own one, you may stumble across one at an excellent price and stand the opportunity to make some profit, but you have to know the opportunity exists in the first place.  That would potentially be a pretty quick turnaround for some profit, but the other two groups mentioned have some larger questions in mind.  For example:


  • Is this another bubble like we just saw happen to the AR platform rifles?  If so, casual purchasers as well as collectors and investors could probably stand to wait for the price to come down if they still want one.    
  • Is this the ground floor?  How many years can Pythons experience consistent growth?  If your experience tells you they're not slowing down anytime soon, this would be a great time to invest in multiple Pythons.  
  • Will they plateau?  Instead of falling as in a bubble or rising over decades like Colt percussion revolvers or antique Winchester lever actions, could the guns simply be adjusting to a new market value where they will eventually stabilize?


There are all sorts of possibilities of what could happen to Pythons, snake guns, and the revolver market in general.  No one can say for certain what the end result will be, but two things are certain.  It's going to be a heck of a ride to find out, and I still want one in my collection.


-Written by Joel Kolander



This Python Hunter sold in our December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction
for an impressive $4,600.


35 comments:

  1. great article...I had my chance to buy one when I got on the CPD in '76. I always wanted one but found I shot better with the S&W Mod 64. the CPD did not allow .357 rounds so I thought sticking with a .38 Special was the way to go. still on the lookout for one though and may find a "deal" yet.

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  2. Love all the Colt snake guns...especially with the bright nickle finish!
    I think the next group might be some of the Smith and Wesson's....also very nice and seem to be going up in price.

    Thanks RIA

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  3. I own several Pythons (including one from the 70's that has never even had the cylinder spun), and no one needs to tell me how these are the absolute BEST revolvers ever made! They are beautiful, solid, and all around outstanding weapons, and there is little doubt in my mind that they will continue to be valuable additions to ANY gun collection. Oh, and no, mine are not for sale at ANY price! :-)

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  4. The Python is a classic - design - form - function - execution I own a 1977 4" with less than 50 rds the Royal Blue is so deep you can dive in and swim in it The fit, balance, and action are uncanny
    All I can say is if you have held a Python - you want a Python
    Thanks RIA Great article about a Great Gun Keep up the good work

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  5. In 1994 I owned a set of 3 nickel pythons new in the box.6"....4" ..and 3".....Two nickel 6" pythons with Colt custom shop red rosewood smooth grips and 2 ....4" pythons 1st year production,both new with eliason sights.....When I decided to unload the 7 guns, they brought an average of $250. each..The story of my life. Did I forget the Style C factory engraved 6" blue python I also squandered?

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  6. There is a seller on GunsAmerica who specializes in unfired Colts. I have purchased several of his pythons and they are wonderful. When I can afford more I'll finish my collection. He has quite a variety of pythons and is a honest guy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's his screen name please?

      Delete
    2. Sellers screen name is Capt Steve. When I bought mine he said he only had a limited amount of his guns on the site. Evidently he has quite a few others.

      Delete
  7. The price of ALL OLD FASIONED QUALITY FORGED STEEL GUNS have gone wild because most of what is being made today is made of junk plastic, junk MIM cast parts or junk stamped sheet metal parts. When you can easily pay 1,000 for a modern junk plastic pistol it is not surprising that a gun like a Python can run well over 2,000 dollars and even paying that is a bargain. Take a look at any of the older Colts or Walthers or pre-cast iron Brownings and see what they are bringing. Today there is not much left that the average working man can afford and even the price of major brand junk plastic guns are rising beyond what the working man can pay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree; it's simply supply & demand. In your and my opinions, the supply of top-quality double-action revolvers has gone down since Colt quit making them. I can't speak for you or anyone else, but my demand for top-quality revolvers (not revolvers in general, but top-quality revolvers) has remained steady. Shrinking supply + unshrinking demand = higher prices.

      Delete
  8. Still have my 6 inch blue snake shows a little holster wear.
    bought it new in 71 for work on Mple Pk PD like it better than PPK

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  9. I got my Python back in 1974 after admiring them for years. I think I paid about $250 for it at a gun shop nestled in the heart of shotgun country, where to move it, they had to put it "on sale" back then. I was so excited. I finally got one. I've never shot it, and I never will. It is just too gorgeous of a gun. These are collectibles: To me, like fine art may be to others. It's just a joy to hold and look at. Thank you so much for this terrific article on what I call the best handguns ever made.

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  10. Please please please beware of a seller that is on eBay and Gun broker selling nothing but reproduction colt boxes and paperwork. Everything is absolutely junk and nothing more than a Color copy of the original. I know as I bought one and quickly returned it. Just think about it for a second, where would all these 1960s and 70s and 80s boxes have been stored for all these years? Compare an original to his and you will immediately see the difference. Absolutely nothing he sells is genuine or original.

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    Replies
    1. Amen to that. He also sells guns with the fake boxes and fake labels. I bought a couple and boy what a rip off. Guns looked to be doctored up. His name is Colt box man, Vikrant and Blovit. Stay away unless you going in knowing what you are doing.

      Delete
  11. Pythons have become the lure for Nigerian fraudsters on GunList. I was unable to visit the Seller two years ago and agreed to pay him by US Postal Money Order via Trackable Priority Mail. As you can imagine, no gun was ever shipped to my FFL. Basically the same 6" nickel Python is shown in photographs on sale for $1200 in dozens of other cities in the nation. Although I paid with a numbered PO Money Order, which was delivered with a tracking number to a standalone locking mailbox in front of a single-family home in Atlanta,owned by a retired Air Force careerist with no priors, no arrests, a basically clean record, the Postal Inspector and an Atlanta detective took the report and never spoke to me again. I think the crooks stole the identity of the man that lives in that house!

    According to Secret Service agents, many hundreds of crooks and helpers, each having dozens of names and cover stories, all run these variations of the Nigerian 419 Advance Fee scam actually work for kingpins in Nigeria who provide them the scripts, the M.O, the infrastructure, and the means to launder the money.

    You really cannot deal with anyone without seeing them in person, and verifying their claims. Be careful out there, my fellow Americans.

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  12. Good point, I never really thought of a Nigerian scam when it comes to buying guns. I have never had a problem using Gunbroker or Gunsamerica. I know others have. I have picked up a few nice buys from RIAC over the years, they are easy to deal with too. I have never trusted some of the other sites out there.

    Thanks Fox

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    Replies
    1. My friend is going to Boston for school. She's been looking on Craigs List for apartments and just barely missed being scammed by another Nigerian revenue stream. The guy wanted one month rent, one month security deposit, and last month rent in advance. She was ready to do it, but the guy didn't have a PayPal account and wouldn't open one up even though it only takes a few minutes nowadays. He wanted it via Western Union. Well that is your money transferrer of choice if you are a crook. Everybody knows that. WU charges like 20% to tranfer money and no US bank wants to touch them. He said by text message that he couldn't make or receive calls with his telephone, that he was a missionary, and he used a phase, which is not standard American usage and was also used by my Nigerian Python scammer. When I heard all this, I told her run away from that fast. She just missed losing her last $1575 to these bastards.

      Delete
  13. Never, Ever send an individual money. Always speak to the seller on the phone. Ask him who is his local gun shop to ship item. Google" FFL" and shops "zip code". Call the gun shop and speak to whoever handles transactions. Explain what is going on. Send a cashiers check made out to seller and the needed FFL for shipping and transfer to gun shop. Gun shop will give seller money, seller gives shop the gun. Always have a 3rd party licensed FFL dealer handle the transfer and shipping. That's the ONLY way you are protected. Works every time. I buy 100's of guns a year over the internet. I am a FFL.. If seller argues with that, WALK AWAY......................
    The scammers start out with "where are you located?" They do not email back on the site you used. They will not call you and have every excuse for not being able to.. If it's too good to be true ??
    BTW, RIA lately has been over rating their auction items. Call and ask them plenty of questions before bidding. Just got burned for $5,500.00 item from them. They no longer reply to my emails.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps I can be of assistance. Would you like to email me directly?

      And yes, you should always ask as many questions (phone or email) as you like before an auction, we're happy to answer them.

      Delete
    2. I have tried to contact you. No luck.

      Delete
    3. How odd, as I had forwarded your information on the moment I received it. I will personally follow-up on this today. My apologies for the delay.

      Delete
    4. How about a direct email address or a phone # and a 1st name or attention to whom.??

      Delete
    5. I have a Colt Python 8" in Bright Nickel all original, box in good condition has hang tag, paperwork still under factory tape. Has maybe 50 rounds through it. I am wondering what it's worth? Ser is VA60XX. Thanks. It is for sale.

      Delete
  14. In the mid 70s, my dad taught me to shoot.. He had a bunch of pistols, but when I first finAlly held one of his pythons, and started knocking the center out of targets, I told my dad that the Python was my favorite. He handed me a couple boxes of .38 ammo...I was only 12 (so I only got to shoot 5 magnum loads and hold on for dear life). But with the .38 ammo, yes it had a kick, but the Python absorbed most of it and it came straight up...not all squirly like some of the others. I shot his 3 pythons for the next 15 years,but then got away from shooting. Now my dad is 82 and I'm 52 and I told him we should go shooting soon and we started making plans and I mentioned that it would be good to see the pythons again. He laughed and said that those three pythons have become too valuable to shoot anymore. When I started looking at prices , then I knew what he was talking about. So the question is this ....one day, sadly those guns will be mine when my dad goes to the shooting range in the sky I am not going to sell my dad's guns so they either sit on the mantle at my house or I take them out and shoot them in memory of my dad. The question is, would it just be foolish to shoot them or even bring them to the range for fear somebody will try to take them from me? It just seems silly to take a gun that my dad once let his 12-year-old shoot and just retire it on the mantle because it is too valuable to shoot anymore , when there is no way I would sell it and if I keep it and don't shoot it all that will mean is my kids will inherit it from me one day and then they will sell it. Frankly, I would rather just keep shooting them and as I get older perhaps one day I run into a young guy who is just so excited to even get to see and shoot one and I can just hand him the case and say "take good care of it...it was my dad's and he wouldn't want it sold at at auction....so if you promise me you will keep it and shoot it...you get to take it home" and yes I know all of you are volunteering, but you all who will be too old by then. maybe one of your kids. And wouldn't that just be the coolest story for that lucky young kid to tell his kids one day?" Am I crazy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That would be an great story! My grandfather was always a fan of Ruger handguns, so unfortunately I've never gotten to fire a Python but I am highly interested in them. I've been looking for one in stores but all the ones I find have noticeable wear and are priced way above what I am willing to pay. I think firearms that are passed down from father to son have the best feel to them simply out of sentimental value though.

      Delete
  15. In the mid 70s, my dad taught me to shoot.. He had a bunch of pistols, but when I first finAlly held one of his pythons, and started knocking the center out of targets, I told my dad that the Python was my favorite. He handed me a couple boxes of .38 ammo...I was only 12 (so I only got to shoot 5 magnum loads and hold on for dear life). But with the .38 ammo, yes it had a kick, but the Python absorbed most of it and it came straight up...not all squirly like some of the others. I shot his 3 pythons for the next 15 years,but then got away from shooting. Now my dad is 82 and I'm 52 and I told him we should go shooting soon and we started making plans and I mentioned that it would be good to see the pythons again. He laughed and said that those three pythons have become too valuable to shoot anymore. When I started looking at prices , then I knew what he was talking about. So the question is this ....one day, sadly those guns will be mine when my dad goes to the shooting range in the sky I am not going to sell my dad's guns so they either sit on the mantle at my house or I take them out and shoot them in memory of my dad. The question is, would it just be foolish to shoot them or even bring them to the range for fear somebody will try to take them from me? It just seems silly to take a gun that my dad once let his 12-year-old shoot and just retire it on the mantle because it is too valuable to shoot anymore , when there is no way I would sell it and if I keep it and don't shoot it all that will mean is my kids will inherit it from me one day and then they will sell it. Frankly, I would rather just keep shooting them and as I get older perhaps one day I run into a young guy who is just so excited to even get to see and shoot one and I can just hand him the case and say "take good care of it...it was my dad's and he wouldn't want it sold at at auction....so if you promise me you will keep it and shoot it...you get to take it home" and yes I know all of you are volunteering, but you all who will be too old by then. maybe one of your kids. And wouldn't that just be the coolest story for that lucky young kid to tell his kids one day?" Am I crazy?

    ReplyDelete
  16. As the son of a gun dealer in the 1970's, my dad let me buy a python with my own money in 1975..I was 13. He held it until I was 21. I'm 52 now. My dad always told me that like a classic car, you need to drive to keep it in working order; just letting it sit will let things rot and seize up. Same with a gun. You should use it once in a while. Using the gun occasionally will not really decrease it's value. Use it; enjoy it and have fun. It will be around much longer than you will be...the value isn't always what you can sell it for, but how much enjoyment you can have with it while you're here! Just my two cents...

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  17. For me, colt python will always be an ideal revolver. The looks of colt python is admired by latest gun brands too which is designing their revolver with the same look and feel of colt python.

    Best Regards,
    Jacky

    ReplyDelete
  18. I could really use some help. I am a complete gun novice who inherited some older guns. One is a 1968 Python. 6" barrel and blue finish. It appears to be in very good condition, however, I do not know how often it was fired. I would like to seek it and have no idea how much it is worth. Have tried looking at comparables on the internet, but there are not that many out there and prices seem to vary significantly. Any help would be appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure thing. Just send a few photos with your valuation request to guns@rockislandauction.com. We'd be happy to provide a value for you.

      Delete
  19. I see there are nice colt pythons in the December 2016 auction: https://www.rockislandauction.com/catalog/69/?keywords=python

    Also anaconda's and others too!

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  20. Why would you have one of these fine pistols and never fire it. It's like having a Corvette and never once having dropped the clutch and burned some rubber.

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  21. Just won a Colt Python @ RIA on May 6, 2017 auction. Still waiting to get it in my hands though, today is June 1st, in five days it will be a whole month. Hopefully it will be everything I've dreamed of, telephone bidder can't hold and inspect. They come highly recommended and I'm anxiously waiting. Wes

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  22. Just received my "new" 1967 Colt Python that I mentioned in blog right above this one. I must say that Rock Island Auction Co. came thru BIG time. It is beautiful and will become a treasured, never for sale, addition to my other three Pythons. The time frame for receiving it was a little over a month but well worth the wait. I shall return to RIAC for my next purchase. 10 thumbs up!!!!!!! Wes

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  23. Bought my python, 6" blue, in 1970. listed for $219.00, did not ask for a discount, but the store owner said ok at 190.00. Target in the box showed first round at dead on the bull, with the other two, cutting the first. My first shot amazed me. I have been happy ever since.

    ReplyDelete