1976 Python value

[DLS]

Hey Folks,

A widowed acquaintance asked if I could help place a value on her late husbands gun. It's a 1976 Colt Python that appears unfired. I saw it once about a year ago, and it had a barely perceptible cylinder drag mark, otherwise it was pristine. It has a 6-in barrel if memory serves.

I don't have pictures, sorry.

Any ballpark thoughts on value?

Thanks.

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[Spitpatch]

Without the gun in hand, any estimate would be "football field" rather than "ball park"

Original Pythons in good shape are going for 2k-4k. Unfired condition or in the box condition adds greatly.

A visible drag mark on the cylinder or evidence of having been fired can deduct value significantly from that of a truly pristine gun.

Check trugunvalue.com for some relatively recent selling prices. Asking prices are exactly that, and do not reflect what the gun might actually bring.

Hope this helps

 

[jbett98]

Is it blued or stainless? Also, when Colt reintroduced the new generation Pythons, it brought down the collector value Colt Pythons once demanded, so there's that to consider when appraising them.
True Gun Value shows the average price sold within the last year is $1,858.31

 

[DLS]

Duh .... on my part ...

Blue steel.

 

[Medic!]

I sold this one last year.

Colt Python 6'' barrel

Colt Python 6'' barrel. No paperwork or box. I believe the gun was made in 1982. Original bluing is near 100%. $2150 OBO For sale in Oregon*. No trades please. Sale is for cash only. Preferably at my FFL near Gresham. I will not ship. I will pay up to $50 for the transfer. Please PM me with...

www.northwestfirearms.com

 

[Spitpatch]

Is it blued or stainless? Also, when Colt reintroduced the new generation Pythons, it brought down the collector value Colt Pythons once demanded, so there's that to consider when appraising them.
True Gun Value shows the average price sold within the last year is $1,858.31

I'd be willing to bet that any negative effect the new Pythons may have had on values of originals in fine condition will be short-lived, and such negative effect logically might affect "shooter-grade" original Pythons' values to a greater degree, since most buyers of a new model buy for that reason.

The nicest originals are in the hands of (and sold back-and-forth-between) people who don't shoot them much, if at alll. Prices on those don't go down much..

...and apparently there are still a few out there in the hands of nice ladies.

 

[jbett98]

I bought my minty 1980 brilliant polished stainless steel Python from the original owner.
He only fired 6 rds and I've fired 12 rds, so only 18 total.
It's too nice to shoot is what I believed and kept it as an investment, and then Colt started up making the new ones.
The problem I see is that the older collectors with ready cash are dying off and the newer firearm guys are not as astute to the inherent quality that Colt produced back in the day and don't see the value of owning an original one compared to the cheaper version.
I think about selling it, but then I take a long look at it and gently put it back into the safe.