My local gun shop just got in two of the new Pythons in both barrel lengths. They also had an old used 3" Python from the 1960s. Unfortunately they were all hideously overpriced so there was no sale. However I did finally get a chance to put my mitts on the new Pythons, and I have to say they're really nice. I still wish the hammer was checkered and the back strap was serrated, but overall they appeared to be better guns than the old one. Smoother action, better trigger feel and better sights. The polishing of the stainless steel was pretty good, and with a little Flitz they could easily be turned into signal mirrors. Once the discretionary funds recover and I manage to find one of these close to MSRP I may have to grab it. Since I couldn't decide whether I liked the 6" or the 4.25" model more I guess it's a good thing I've got a long time to think about it.
Thanks for giving your observations. Yeah, my opinion on the matter from the get go has been... While the original Python is a masterwork of its time, there is much room for improvement. And I think Colt did a really great job with the new one. I like the simplification of the action, quality of manufacture is there, and it really is a first rate DA revolver. Now personally, I'm an old revolver kind of guy, but If I were in the market for the "best" US made .357, I think Colt is right back at the top once again.
We all know that cars and trucks rapidly depreciate in value, but it's a fact of life that vehicles are essentially consumables. They last an average of 15 years before they're worn out and have to be replaced. It just sucks that they cost so much to begin with. Guns are unique in that they are typically built to last generations, and unlike most consumer goods they will easily outlive their owners. Not many 50+ year-old cars are left on the road, and few people still use 50 year-old TV sets, lamps, electric drills or shovels. Even furniture rarely lasts that long anymore! But a 50 year-old firearm is easily just as useful to its current owner as it was to whoever first bought it a half century ago. For that reason guns hold their value.
I was lucky to get one at retail. I am very happy with it . Super shooter and smooth action. I had one in the 1970's. And this one is better made and stronger to. It will not go out of time like the weaker old ones with full power 357 loads. Because of Covid many buyers in line passed. Only 35 came in. They are really nice Python's. 12 months same as cash. Thankyou Stimulus check.
Lppd4------------ I think Fords F150's start at under $30K. Locally, the dealer has them at $28,000. If you are paying "considerably over $40,000"
Either:
1. You are getting hosed, badly.
2. You are getting an insane amout of overpriced options. or....
3. Wherever you live has an insane demand. If so, tell me where.
Because I'll buy a semi-trailer worth of these trucks locally and bring them to where you are! That's EZ money!
I'm sure there's local market fluctuations on these Pythons, but there would be way more $$$ to be had on Ford Trucks if your numbers are real.
Lppd4------------ I think Fords F150's start at under $30K. Locally, the dealer has them at $28,000. If you are paying "considerably over $40,000"
Either:
1. You are getting hosed, badly.
2. You are getting an insane amout of overpriced options. or....
3. Wherever you live has an insane demand. If so, tell me where.
Because I'll buy a semi-trailer worth of these trucks locally and bring them to where you are! That's EZ money!
I'm sure there's local market fluctuations on these Pythons, but there would be way more $$$ to be had on Ford Trucks if your numbers are real.
Here in the PNW anything 4-wheel drive or AWD sells for above MSRP. Too many hikers, skiers, farmers, ********, tree-huggers and idiots who can't drive in the snow with anything else.
When my ex-wife bought her Subaru she went to several dealers, and not a single one would budge on the price. I'd never seen that sort of thing before at a car dealer, where they will normally cut you a deal if you ask. But Subaru sells every single AWD car they can deliver to the Seattle area, and if you don't want it at their price the next person will. The prices on used ones are even more insane. By contrast Subaru can't sell their cars in Texas or Florida hardly at all. Regional preferences...
I'd like to have one of these. I am in the camp that will not pay 1k over MSRP for one though. Nope.
I would, however, sell you one or two at that price. And laugh the whole way to the bank. I'd just sit on your money until the supply catches up with demand and have mine for free.
New Pythons haven't reached here yet.
I'm looking forward to put my mitts on one though.
For the time being I hold to the couple of old Pythons I still have in my small collection, or what is left of it, and for the range last week I've bought a brand new S&W PC 627 :rock:
If I were one of the big distributors that has the pull to get special orders through, I would get some Pythons polished up like the Ultimate Stainless guns. Then I would have half of those DLCed black and sell two tone pairs.
After voting in the FL Primaries yesterday, I followed my tradition of hitting up a couple of gun shops.
Most of the shelves and wall racks were bare. There were a few ridiculously overpriced older shotguns and lever guns, but much to my surprise, there were a couple of older Pythons under glass.
Couldn’t see the price on the Royal Blue snake, but the stainless was marked $9k.
After voting in the FL Primaries yesterday, I followed my tradition of hitting up a couple of gun shops.
Most of the shelves and wall racks were bare. There were a few ridiculously overpriced older shotguns and lever guns, but much to my surprise, there were a couple of older Pythons under glass.
Couldn’t see the price on the Royal Blue snake, but the stainless was marked $9k.
Why not? They might miss something.
Local range/store is known for overpricing second hand guns. They had one way under market value recently, though. I passed on it because I already had one. By the time I realized I could flip it for a gain, it was gone.
I was finally able to lay hands on a New Python. It was a 4.25" version (the one i wanted) and was marked at 1499.99 I was on the phone with a friend and told him my bank account may be in trouble. I asked to look at it and observed the fit and finish to be very nice. The cylinder locked up like a bank vault and it was very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. However the rear sight looked kind of flimsy to me, that was not a deal breaker though. When I checked the trigger pull the DA pull was was good but not great and the SA was probably 5 lbs or so. I was not impressed in a favorable way. Then the employees told me the price tag was marked wrong and the price tag should read $1999.99. I politely declined and was glad I didn't order a gun sight unseen. My vintage Python has a DA pull of about the same weight and smoothness as the new one, but the SA pull on my gun is in the 2 lb range. Like the proverbial glass rod breaking. I don't see me putting out $1500 for a new Python when I can buy 2 pre-lock S&W's for about the same price
Marked wrong my ass. They're fishing for a sucker. They got it in your hands for $1499 and once you appeared interested they sprung the cold hard truth on you. I used to see this trick all the time at gun shows from sleazy table vendors. Kind of like the new King Cobra I once asked to see, and when the cylinder suddenly turned and indexed while in my hands the dirtbag yelled at me and tried to get me to buy it since I allegedly tried to dry fire it and marked the cylinder, making it used. Forget the fact that he probably left the cylinder like that so it would turn the moment you played with it.
BTW the shop I mentioned in my first post who had two new Pythons, a 4.25" and 6" each priced at $2999 has already sold the 4.25" one. I guess I'm going to have to wait awhile until the stupidity dies down. The reason why these thugs are able to list these guns at twice the MSRP is because they're actually selling. This is nothing but a repeat of the Smith Model 29 situation from 50 years ago. At first S&W couldn't sell the damn things and had even suspended production by the 1970s. Then all of a sudden Dirty Harry came out, and soon the few gun shops who could even get one were selling them for three times the MSRP. Now we have idiots who want to put on a cowboy hat and too-short holster and pretend to shoot zombies with their new Python. That and there are other people who are sure Colt is going to go belly-up next week, and they want to buy a Python before they're discontinued again.
BTW the shop I mentioned in my first post who had two new Pythons, a 4.25" and 6" each priced at $2999 has already sold the 4.25" one. I guess I'm going to have to wait awhile until the stupidity dies down. The reason why these thugs are able to list these guns at twice the MSRP is because they're actually selling. This is nothing but a repeat of the Smith Model 29 situation from 50 years ago. At first S&W couldn't sell the damn things and had even suspended production by the 1970s. Then all of a sudden Dirty Harry came out, and soon the few gun shops who could even get one were selling them for three times the MSRP. Now we have idiots who want to put on a cowboy hat and too-short holster and pretend to shoot zombies with their new Python. That and there are other people who are sure Colt is going to go belly-up next week, and they want to buy a Python before they're discontinued again.
I know about the Model 29 becoming hot after Dirty Harry came out but not about people literally spending 3X the MSRP. That's nuts. Its hard to believe the behavior of some people.
A couple weeks ago I found a new 2020 at a LGS in 6 inch for $1.5K. They had at least three as another fellow was buying one when I did and there was one in the display case. Again, all 6 inch. It is below with my 2003 Python Elite under it.
And another view.......
I have put a couple hundred rounds through it of factory and reloaded 357 and it has been great. Problem is I shot at a friends ranch and we were boinking steel and not shooting at targets but it was doing great out to 50 yards which was the max he had steel targets.
In the future I hope to make it to a range and shoot paper out to at least 50 yards. Not sure if the public ranges are open yet around here and the indoor ranges only go to 25 yards. I still want to shoot the Pythons next to each other and also next to my 686 from 84 and my Ruger GP100 from about the same period.
I picked up a 2020 version 6" Python last week for $1,700.00. Hard to find in CA as they're not yet "roster approved" like the 4" but am sure that will change. A bit of "good news, bad news" from my POV.
Good news is the finish is much closer to nickel than any photo I've seen will show. The exterior fit and finish is excellent. I had an extra set of the very nice "Deer Hollow" repro grips and attached them rather than keeping the new ones.
The action is as smooth as the original, although a tad more effort is required to thumb cock the action. No stacking in DA mode.
The down side for me was a poor SA trigger pull - the hammer actually cams back a bit when the trigger is pulled. Also, the cylinder began its turn before the cylinder bolt was fully pulled down from the cylinder bolt cut. Gave that slight feeling of stop during function. Dressed down the hand just a bit, polished the SA sear notch with 1500 grit Wet 'N Dry emery paper and the gun works fine. It should have worked fine from the factory, but I'm just glad to have the gun.
I have a 6" 686 and GP 100 also, an 8" nickel Python "Target 38 Special" model and a Dan Wesson Model 15 with 8" bbl. If the 2020 Python comes in 1st place I'd be surprised. I'm sure it will shoot better than I can though.
I picked up a 2020 version 6" Python last week for $1,700.00. Hard to find in CA as they're not yet "roster approved" like the 4" but am sure that will change. A bit of "good news, bad news" from my POV......
S&Ws aren't Pythons. You can get a Taurus for $350...but it's not a S&W.
Just depends on what you want.
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