They have seen pristine Pythons sell in excess of $12,000! The prices for the Python have gone out of control, Rock Island Auction Company reports average prices for a Python at auction went over $3,000 in 2013 and continue to rise. When introduced in 1955 the MSRP of the Python was just $125, in 2005 when the last ones were being built in the Colt Custom Shop, the price was $1,150. The Colt Custom Shop continued to produce the Python by special order until 2005, most of these guns had the title "Elite" added to the barrels roll mark. In the fall of 1999 Colt announced they could no longer produce the Python due to cost of production and lawsuits (the lawsuit part struck me as odd.). Hand fitting cost a lot more money than assembly line production. The lock-work was based on old technology from the late 1800s, which were forged and then hand fitted to make them work.Įverything on the Python was put together by hand, which is what gave the gun its allure and ironically its demise. The cylinder held six cartridges and was only chambered in. The nickel plated option was eventually replaced by satin and high polished stainless versions.īarrel lengths were 2.5, 3, 4, 6 & 8 inches, the weight varied by barrel length from 38 to 48 ounces. There was also an electroless satin nickel option called "Royal Coltguard", see below: Finish options were originally Royal Blue (the finish was named royal blue due to it being a special high polish blue, not because it resembled the color royal blue) and bright nickel (see pic above). Pythons were built on the medium-to-large sized "I" frame, which it shared with the original Trooper model. The Python has been called the "Rolls-Royce of Colt revolvers", I think that probably says it all. Colt had no intention of the gun being used in law enforcement (Colt had other models more suited for that work), yet at least three states issued them as sidearms to their state troopers. The Python was introduced in 1955 as a target revolver. He convinced the management that making a custom target revolver was a good idea, but it was not just any target revolver, it would be the best a person could buy.Īccording to legend an internal contest was held at Colt to name the gun with the winner being Python, submitted by then Vice President Phillip Schwartz.
Bill was Colt's top West Coast salesman and had noticed the trend of customizing revolvers for competitive shooting. We can thank a man by the name of Bill Henry for the Python. The most famous Colt Cobra? The one used by Jack Ruby to silence Lee Harvey Oswald would probably win that awardīy far the most popular of the Colt Snake guns, the Python has a cult following unlike that of any firearm ever made. If you are not rich and want a Colt snake, this is probably your best bet. Values have increased, but not near as much as the other snake guns, perhaps because of its aluminum frame or its status as a working mans gun.
In 1972 the D frame was revamped, usually distinguishable by the ejector rod shroud, that included some changes to the lock work.Īfter 31 years in production, the Cobra was discontinued in 1981. 38 with the 2" barrel length it weighed just 15oz, 6 ounces less than the all steel Detective Special. 38 Special.īarrel lengths were 2", 3" and 4" (even a 5" on the. 32 Colt New Police (.32 S&W Long) and most commonly the. The cylinder held six cartridges and was chambered in. The Cobra was built on the "D" frame, it was essentially a Detective Special with an aluminum alloy frame.
#BOA VS PYTHON CAST SERIES#
I don't think the folks at Colt knew that they would be making a series of guns named after snakes back in 1950, but the Cobra was the first. I tried to keep this brief and fit it into one post, so forgive me if I leave out any important details as I am by no means an expert on Colts. assembly line, only two of the snake guns were truly hand built, the Python and the Diamondback.įor those not familiar, the list of Colt snakes include (in order of their introduction): The Service guns would include the Cobra and Viper, The Target guns would be the Python, Diamondback and Anaconda, while the Boa and King Cobra would fit in between. Assembly line built or even old lockwork vs new lockwork. You could categorize the snake revolvers in to three categories: Service, Target and Hybrid, or if you prefer into two categories: 1. Some of the "serpent" revolvers were nothing more than dressed up standard models, while others were true works of mechanical art. Of course the most famous is the Colt Python, but it was not the first of the seven Colt Snakes. A lot of people have written about the Colt snake revolvers, but most only cover one model and don't get into comparisons of all the "snake guns".
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