No New Pythons, You Say?

[Joe_Pike]

Well, GunsAmerica had a little blurb that hints differently.

"The folks at Colt were blown away (and admittedly surprised) about how much buzz and excitement came from the announcement of the 1903 at last years SHOT Show. We were told that the excitement was so great that the Colt Custom Shop has been told to start building Pythons. That is right, Colt is building Pythons. Apparently there are walls full of original parts, and all of the original tooling is still warehoused. But it is more complicated than just dusting off the old equipment. This is antiquated stuff compared to today’s CNC machines. Also, Pythons were all hand fitted and tuned in a labor-intensive process. Our source said the Custom Shop is working on the Python build now. As of this writing, there is nothing official about the announcement, and no target delivery dates or any information on how many they’ll make. After looking at the 1903, we feel confident in saying they are taking the time to learn how to build them right."

https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/cl...olt-cutaways-and-a-new-python-shot-show-2016/

 

[Venom1956]

It wont matter it'll either

A. Cost so much no one will buy them, Driving the cost of older LNIB Pythons up even further.

B. Be a inferior to the originals in everyway, Driving the cost of older Pythons up even further.

 

[Joe_Pike]

It wont matter it'll either

A. Cost so much no one will buy them, Driving the cost of older LNIB Pythons up even further.

Oh, I don't know. People buy Korth revolvers.

B. Be a inferior to the originals in everyway, Driving the cost of older Pythons up even further.

Hard to say without seeing one. I'm not quite sure I buy into the belief that there is no way anyone today could possibly learn how to build a Python.

It doesn't matter to me one way or the other as I am not their target market.

 

[Bob Wright]

Nor am I in their target market. Had my experience with the Python many years ago, and when S&W intorduced their Model 586 L-framed .357 Magnum a few years ago, I went with these and never looked back at the Python.

Don't mean to step on toes here, but I buy guns for shooting, not to look at.

Bob Wright

 

[Jim Watson]

That'll be the day.

A SHOT report said that Signore Pietta himself said the hypothetical P1955 would not be forthcoming.

 

[Don P]

Oh, I don't know. People buy Korth revolvers

Yes they do. Now how many Korth revolvers are sold each year?
Python's going back into production is a pipe dream. All the skilled hands that fit the beloved Pythons together are long gone with NO apprentices to take over for them. That era is long gone and just memories and for reading in the history books about firearms.

 

[laytonj1]

You know, it's not like Pythons are made by elves using magic fairy dust. Their actions required more intensive fitting because of design (a very old design). Nor are they rare requiring many days to assembly as Colt cranked out about half a million of them.
As someone above already mentioned, I found my S&W 586 and 686 to shoot just as accurately as any of the 4 Pythons I've owned.

There is no reason, other than money, that Colt could not start producing them again. They still work on them. The only issue would be cost and a market for them.
Dan Wesson brought back the model 715 and it has a street price of ~$1100.
Great gun but not exactly selling them by the boatloads.

The demand for Pythons is because they are not longer made. Look at the Anaconda and King Cobra. Those were lower cost high production guns and they have sky high prices on them too. It comes down to folks wanting what is no longer made.

If Colt brought the Python back I don't believe there would be a big demand as few will pay that much for what would be a current production gun.

Jim

 

[Kosh75287]

Now how many Korth revolvers are sold each year?

Probably around the same number as that of the highly modified/tricked out slab-barrelled PPC optimized, .38 Spl. WC-only custom revolvers sold each year, for THAT competition.

My intensive if short-lived experiences with the Python left me disappointed. It probably was among the finest revolvers, for slow-fire purposes, I'd ever shot. A toss-up between it and a 6 1/2" S&W M27. But I could never get the Python to shoot well, rapidly. I thought it was just me, but I saw others have the same problem with the same Python, and then heard them remark they'd had the same experience with other Pythons.

If they started making them tomorrow, I doubt I could afford one. If I could afford one, I doubt that I would BUY one. It's a shame, really, because I think they're wonderfully made, beautiful firearms. I just can't justify owning one.

 

[Joe_Pike]

You know, it's not like Pythons are made by elves using magic fairy dust.

Exactly. I always get a chuckle when I read that there is no one on earth that could possibly build a Python any more. We can send people into space, we can build a funny car that will run a 1/4 mile in 3.5 seconds, etc., but no one can learn to build and tune a revolver?

 

[reddog81]

I find it odd that hey would be surprised by the reception of the 1903. Do they even follow the used market at all?

And what does the 1903 have to do with a Python? Python production started a decade after 1903 production ended. You can find a decent 1903 for well under a grand. A half-way decent Python is close to $2,000. A small auto-loader vs a large revolver. It seems like an apples vs oranges comparison. 1903's are not even being produced by Colt.

I find it odd that there are walls full of old parts worth $10,000's of thousands of dollars just laying around. I thought Colt auctioned off a bunch of stuff years ago. Maybe all the old parts were hanging out with the old boxes that TN box guy has found...

 

[Wheelie_Fan]

I had a buddy who was hired by Colt (Pre Ch.11 filing) and was supposed to be part of a team to resurrect some of the revolvers... He and the team had tracked down prints, specs, tooling and the like... significant amounts of it, in fact.

Then he got sidetracked onto different projects, for a number of reasons, prior to their bankruptcy... and was subsequently let go after the filing.

I'm glad to hear DA revolvers are still, maybe, sorta, on their radar. If i recall conversations with my buddy, the Python was NOT on the list of the initial revolvers planned to make it to market, but perhaps that has changed. (i want to say the King Cobra and Anaconda were the ones being looked at)

I'll be interested to see what DPris may have to say on this as he seems to be plugged into some of the goings on over at Colt and has called shenanigans on reports of this type in the past. Now that Colt is out of Ch. 11 and with (hopefully) sufficient financing in place, maybe they're giving it a go...

Either way... good luck to Colt, I think they've got a long road ahead of them to turn things around, but truly hope for their long term success.

PS - looking at the Colt website, they don't list the 1903 - it appears that US Armament Corp has licensed the design from Colt...

 

[Tom Servo]

The big question is, "will they make parts widely available again?"

Right now, finding replacement parts is all but impossible.

 

[dgludwig]

QUOTE "...Either way... good luck to Colt, I think they've got a long road ahead of them to turn things around, but truly hope for their long term success..."

My best wishes too. My advice to Colt looking for success in a shorter term would be to reintroduce the Cobra/Agent snub nose revolver variants. In this age of concealed carry, I'm pretty sure a J-frame sized revolver, weighing 16 ounces and carrying six shots, would attract more than a few buyers.

 

[buck460XVR]

The big question is, "will they make parts widely available again?"

Right now, finding replacement parts is all but impossible.

This is what my local gunsmith tells me, which is why I was surprised to hear there were "walls and walls" full of spare parts, just laying around at Colt. Seems the demand for the old parts would supersede holding on to them "just in case". Besides, if Colt brings back the Python it will be with CNC and MIM. They already use them in the production of their 1911s. Why would they not use the same modern processes for a new revolver in attempt to make them affordable. That in itself would make those "walls" of old parts obsolete for new production.

 

[DPris]

Pure BS.
Denis

 

[Tuxedo007]

No New Pythons

While I still own my Pythons, none of them is a "safe queen". They still are shot & taken care of, just like the Smiths I have.

However, the design of the action in the old "I" frame Colt was labor intensive to tune & get it right. IF Colt builds the Python again, the product will be very expensive if built in Hartford!

I will wait & see the result...however, wouldn't be surprised to see MIM parts in the action as well as other "modernizations" which would cause someone like the late Fred Sadowski of "300 Gun Shop"(I think that is the correct name of his shop) to ponder whether or not the "modern Python" is the equal of the original. Also if the potential exists to tune the action as he did in the original.

Fred built me a Python & a Model 19 S&W; both with his full house action jobs, bull barrels, Bo-Mar sights on the S&W, etc. Both were wonderful revolvers & held tight groups all the way out to the 50 yd line!

However, there was no way the S&W action was even close to the action he could put into the Colts! Just the difference in the original designs of the 2 revolvers.

 

[James K]

Hi, Tuxedo007,

"Just the difference in the original designs of the 2 revolvers."

Yes, but not the way you mean. The S&W action is far superior mechanically to the Colt action; the hand work and tuning given the Python (and your Cobra) alleviated the problems but never really corrected them. The new action was better, but was too little and too late.

As to stories about walls of new old stock parts and rooms full of original machines and tooling, I agree with Denis.

Jim

 

[DPris]

That info is so wrong on so many counts it's laughable.
Not to mention a cruel joke on anybody still holding out hope for a Python re-birth.

One facet is that IF it were ONLY a Custom Shop gun (ignoring all the other problems with the idea), it could not possibly be affordable to enough buyers to pay Colt back for the investment.

And Colt does not have "walls full of parts" just sitting around for the gun.
Denis

 

[SaxonPig]

Nobody knows until it happens. I suspect they can make a new Python of good quality for $1,400 or so and I think at that level they sell. Not like a 1911, but I think they can sell enough to make it profitable. They sell every $1400 SAA they care to make. But like I said, we don't know until they try it.

 

[jglsprings]

Nor am I in their target market. Had my experience with the Python many years ago, and when S&W intorduced their Model 586 L-framed .357 Magnum a few years ago, I went with these and never looked back at the Python.

Don't mean to step on toes here, but I buy guns for shooting, not to look at.

Bob Wright

Pretty tough talk for a guy with such a beautiful collection of single actions...

Just kidding there Bob, I agree with you...