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.
Good to know. I might wait and see if Colt decides to produce them in Royal Blue, but a Python has been on my Grail Gun list for a while...and at least THEIR new models don't have the "Hillary Hole".
$2499 was what this LGS was selling them for as well. Sorry, but even in a buying panic I'm not paying a thousand dollars over MSRP for a brand-new gun.
This IS good news! Hopefully this means that they'll more available soon. I really want a six inch, but my LGS doesn't even list them on their website anymore, so I was worried that there were none left to be had for awhile. When they did have them listed on their website, they were $1599. I would pay that much for one no problem, but not much more than that. I don't want to buy one on-line because I want to look at it first.
A real factory 3" is a rare bird and deservedly expensive.
But you have to beware of parts guns made up with the leftover barrels sold off to Numrich.
The ones made up by a distributor by sawing off 8" barrels can be identified by inspection.
According to the Gun Deals site Jason D posted, Out-Of-Stock listings outnumbered the In Stock listings by around TEN TO ONE.
Plus you gotta figure in that the In Stock listings are very much likely Out Of Stock but have not been updated yet.
Now add in the factor that, most likely, thousands of LGS's have multiple Pythons back-ordered deep into the foreseeable future. This does not bode well for bargain hunters.
Colt has a MASSIVE hit on their hands. So any Python that actually gets into a customer's hands at retail could be instantly flipped for a substantial profit.
So, with this incredible level of demand in a free market economy, what does this mean?
Answer: It means that it will take YEARS for Colt to catch up with demand and for prices to fall ---------------- if ever!
It may be like waiting for Rolex Watches to become cheaper because they have "satisfied current demand" --------- I've been waiting for my cheap 'Rollie since 1905.
So I think that what people are getting for these guns IS the value and that it may not lessen appreciably anytime soon, if ever.
Thus I think that if you want one, denying yourself the pleasure for another decade + in an attempt to save a few bucks may be a poor, if not futile, decision.
Pay the man the going rate. Or bring a comfy pillow, for your sitting on the fence, as the seasons roll by.
Now, as guys who presumably have some stuff, I suggest that aspiring new Python owners sell some things to bolster your budget up to the current price.
Jetski? Saxophone? YZ125? Trap/skeet gun? Bowflex? --------- sell some of that rarely used stuff & make your Python dream come true.
I want one of the new ones as well but wanted to wait until any issues were worked out as I dont trust Colt anymore on initial runs....or any company for that matter outside of mabye HK or Beretta.
I wasnt that interested until I saw they beefed the gun up a little because I want to shoot it. Just my luck it comes out during all the craziness going on.....Oh well. Its a future purchase if I am still around though.
As of right now I am not buying anymore guns after I pick up my 1911 (in route) which I picked up before all this gun buying panic. It could very possibly be the last gun I ever purchase. Oh well.... glad I finally took the plunge after 30+ years or so although I do have some experience/training with them.
Years ago , Sportsmans Guide was selling a whole bunch of obsolete Colt factory barrels at very good prices. I bought 2 3in Python and 2 3in Detective Special barrels for $125 and $100 ea respectively.
Sold 1 of each for double what I paid.
Sportsmans Guide used to have some good stuff.
I kind of wish I had bought a 1903 FN 9mm Browning Long barrel so I could reconvert one of the guns munged up into large .380s.
A small shop here got a couple of New Pythons early on which they sold for list.
I knew Covid and Floyd Riots were putting pressure on the firearm market but I am surprised to see such profiteering on a high priced old fashioned revolver.
Well its an iconic revolver used in film that almost everyone wants. I have wanted one since I watched Magnum Force as a kid. Then as a teenager I watched Don Johnson in Dead Bang and REALLY wanted one.
I have come close a few times. Then I had decided I wanted a Cougar (security six with a colt barrel) as I wanted the durability. Came close a few times there as well but was outbid (they are not real common).
When these first hit I was going to jump on one right away. A beefed up Python! Then the reviews started coming in so I held off. I dont like sending guns back and fourth to the factory and most of my gunsmithing skills are more oriented towards semi autos.
If colt can keep up production I will get one eventually if at all possible. The price point $1,500 is reasonable as long as the issues are worked out. I wouldnt pay $2,500 for one but I am pretty frugal compared to most people.
I don't think the people who are buying up new Pythons at inflated prices are new shooters or panic buy shooters.
Also, some shops are still listing them as MSRPs such as Americana Arms in Beeville, Texas. However, good luck finding one in stock. They sold them faster than nose candy.
A Colt shop in Albuquerque (JCT Firearms) list the new Pythons at $2000 and they're still sold like hot cakes. Can you blame the shop for not making money? I refuse to buy guns at more than MSRP but there are those who want these new Pythons (and other guns) bad enough to pay dealer markups. Who am I to stop these people from spending their hard earned money, and who am I to criticize the shops for cashing in?
It's all about supply and demand. If the demand is higher than the supply then the person with the most moolah willing to spend on a gun should be able to buy that gun over a person with less purse string. All these talks of fairness sounds like liberal, progressive Marxism BS. Cash is King. If you want it bad enough, if you want to be the first boy on the block with the new toy, and you can afford to get it...knock yourself out.
At least if you buy from your local shop you support those that really care about the firearms industry. I typically wont buy from big box stores anymore.
Gun owners need to learn a little more loyalty. Establish a relationship with a good shop and they take care of you. I only use one dealer and he hooks me up all the time. Its not just about money... its about supporting the community....getting to know people etc. The last thing the gun community needs is all these shops to start shutting down.
Colt and the shops can price up Pythons all they want. I want one but Its just a luxury. I can manage $1,500 or so. Once it gets higher not so much. Thats fine though. I would love a Korth too but thats not happening. I will survive.
At least Colt is an American company. I typically wont buy guns not made in the USA.....Not new anyways. As much as I like Norincos there is no way in hell I would buy a Newly manufactered firearms from them if they were allowed. Communists have taken enough from us.
I haven't seen the new Python at any gun stores in my area, hell, there are practically new handguns on any shelves in my area. No I'll take that back, there are no handguns UNDER $1000 still left on the shelves. I have seen a private seller asking for $2400 for the 4.25" Python on a website. I would like to have one but I'm not paying over the MSRP.
Several other guys here have said that too. That they will flat-out not pay over MSRP.
What if MSRP was five bucks? Would you shell out $5.95 for one?
Or.........
What if MSRP was $8,000 and you found a Score Deal at only $6,000 --- would you jump on that?
My point is: What MSRP is supposed to be is only a hypothetical number that has little bearing on it's worth in the marketplace.
Like the Face Value of a rare coin. Will you not pay over 25 Cents for the rarest quarter ever minted? Because, "godammit, I ain't payin' over MSRP!"
Or...." I won't buy Berkshire Hathaway stock at anything over the IPO price"
Point is it's value is what they are getting for them. I think that this gun is an instant classic. And yes, every single one could be flipped, for a profit, the day it is bought at MSRP. So MSRP does NOT reflect it's true value.
Some guys are NOT saying that they want one at a fair deal.
Nope, What they are saying is they want one at an under-value, artificially low price: MSRP.
Nothing wrong with that. I'm so cheap I buy expired ramen, on sale, using a coupon, & Rewards Points, then I do the mail-in rebate
But one should acknowledge to themselves that their insistence on MSRP is not totally based in the reality of the situation. It's being hung-up on a number that doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
And yet the number of folks who will spend $40K on a depreciating asset F-150 or Silverado is astounding. Buying new vehicles, won't save a dime for their retirement, but "Baw Gawd I ain't paying over MSRP for a fake Python"......
Financial illiteracy at its finest.
The USA.....$26 Trillion in debt.....and climbing.....
I like the Pythons the most. The Annaconda and King Cobra were pretty cool revolvers. The rest dont really do it for me. Troopers were OK but I would rather have a security six.
For me the big attention getters were the Python, Annaconda and King Cobra.
Someday maybe they will get caught up and bring something new.... call it the Black Mamba. I want the big three brought back first. Colt has a lot of market share to regain. Python is a good first step.
I would like a new one in 6 inch. One LGS lets you put your name on a list. I did and they called me but it was a 4.5 inch. Their price was $100 under Colt's MSRP by the way. I just want a 6 inch as I have a Python Elite in 6 inch made in 2003 which I bought new in 2004 from a LGS.
I also have a S&W 686 no dash in 6 inch and an early Ruger GP100 in 6inch. Being a shooty collector I do want to shoot them next to each other on the same day with the same ammo. Probably at a private range. I think my Python Elite was a little over $1k back in 2004 but soon after that it was like I wanted a security guard with me if I shot it at a public range. Must have been the TV movie stuff which I never watched.
Thats funny. Every python should come with a colt bodyguard... Ha Ha. He carries it in a special case handcuffed to the wrist like it has nuclear launch codes in it.
I had one of the last 6” Stainless Custom Shop guns and my only regret is I sold it before prices went nuts. Given the chronic timing issues Pythons have I was always waiting for it to screw itself up. A friend of mine who carried one as a cop had endless problems with his - not the best choice to bet your life on on. a bad day. My wheel guns are Smiths and Rugers.
Movies and TV shows have long been huge advertisers for goods of every size and shape imaginable. Look at how many replicas of Steve McQueen's "Bullitt" Mustang have been made or how many "Bullitt Anniversary Edition" Mustangs Ford has sold. Everybody wants the car the action hero drives, or the gun he uses, or even the sunglasses he wears. Everybody is a Walter Mitty at times and wants to be just like their favorite movie character. At least a Colt Python is better than admitting that you have a fake Jedi lightsaber or Game of Thrones dragon-slayer sword.
Well I am guessing that 3" python was either a rebarreled gun or a 2.5", ffl friend of mine sold 2 3" pythons with colt letters for 15k each saw him pay 7500 for the second one that walked in the door at the show back in January, he sold it to the same collector who ad just purchased the first one.
Sometimes TV & movies / famous folks influence the market simply because they display an item, essentially, for our consideration. Not necessarily because we want to emulate the actor/character but because we get a good look at the item & decide we dig it.
I'm not particularly into Elvis, for example. But I'd like to get a pair of sunglasses similar to a style I've seen him wear. I think they look cool, in a retro way.
And, even as a SERIOUS vintage car guy, the Bullitt style fastback Mustang is, to me, the least appealing of the 1960's Mustang Fastback shapes.
I had a 1966 2+2 Fastback that I think was a much prettier car.
So I'd rather have the Charger that the badguys were in, than the Bulliit type car.
I fell in love with the 67/68 Mustang fastbacks as a kid before I even knew who Steve McQueen was. Only to find my favorite car was already too rare and expensive for me to ever own one. If only I had grown up loving fat girls and Ford Escorts my life would've been a whole lot easier.
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