Something Is Very Wrong When A Wheel Gun Costs As Much As A Car

[Stlbob]

 I really like the Walking Dead and Rick carries a 6in Colt Python.I have always been a fan of the round.Cant beat a 125grain HP out of a .357mag..after all the whizz Bang guns and the uber effective rounds that are out you still cant beat a good ol' fashion .357 Mag.

 

 Im old too and have a soft spot for wheel guns and the quality of a good one.Sooooo i jump on GB to see what the Pythons are running and have come to the conclusion that most that own the Pythons are either on some very very strong meds or they have gold hidden in the firearm some where i couldnt see.

 

 Most are running 2k or better and many were 3500 plus..!! SO thats a gun to look at not carry or heck even shoot..so much for that little idea.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Got to pay for the best.

[bigbill]

I just picked up a Smith & Wesson model 28 Highway Patrolman in 357magnum with a 6" barrel with a 99+ bluing in excellent condition. It's also shot very little. It has the dull blue finish. It cost me $695.

The s&w model 27 is the twin to the model 28 but the bluing on the model 27 is out standing with its polished bluing. Both are great revolvers in 357magnum.

I find the larger S&W N frame revolvers to have an excellent power to weight ratio. There very well balanced. All this means an excellent handling revolver recoil wise too.

I learned the higher prices don't always mean it's the best. Plus good looks isn't everything. Plus being over priced too.

My new python in the 70's was out of time. I traded it in. At the same time I had two new non functioning colt 1911's too.

My point is if your buying a used python check it out very closely.

Btw, I found the 140gr JHP Speer bullet with 2400 gun powder to be the most accurate in my python 357 mag with the 6" barrel. (My reloads) I could make pin point shots at small rocks on the berm at 100 yards at will.

[Stlbob]

See that was my point exactly.Smith&Wesson make a dang fine gun.I had a 3" Smith and it was tight and the timing was great.It cost me new 675.00

Ruger makes a GOOD .357..i get quality but thats just nuts..

[clayton86]

My father in law has the big daddy version sitting in his safe. He has a .357 MAX not the mag but the max that they discontinued. He has two of them one is in a contender platform he uses for deer the other is a revolver that is a safe queen. Just last weekend he was discussing with me the importance to get my permit because no one else in the family can have his pistols I'm the only one who even has a chance of obtaining a permit to boot.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Python and the Anaconda are in pretty high demand.

 

Colt is still a company, no idea why they don't re-introduce them considering the popularity.

[bigbill]

I hope colt pays more attention to quality in the future.

[Crestliner2008]

I use to work for Colt in Hartford back in the 70's. I ran the small parts mfg. section back then. We use to talk quite a bit about the Python and comparable revolvers, like the S&W. The Python had way too many parts in it, compared to the Smiths. And they were less reliable because of that. Timing issues were big back then. Very troublesome. The Python is definitely a piece of historical Americana and I'm sure they fetch a good price.

 

While I was there, I picked up a fine Colt Single Action Army revolver, in .45 LC, which I still have today. Case hardened frame with blue bbl & cylinder and wood grips. Don't shoot it much though, because of it's value. My shooting these days is done with a Ruger SP-101. Mainly because you can't shoot 'em out with regular range work. They are a tank of a revolver. Very reliable and accurate. Here they both are:

 

[bigbill]

We then run into the value being too high to shoot it or ccw carry it.

I try to purchase handguns within reason price wise.

[spartyon8]

I grew up in a S&W house. The old man wouldn't buy anything but. I ended up grabbing a Dan Wesson and he started to change his mind. I love my DW but used prices on them are also going through the roof. We have another family member who is trying to grab all of Colt's "snake" guns. He is 2 shy but they are running anywhere from 2-7 grand each. That is INSANE!

[Crappiebasser]

I was looking at them on GB a while back and found the same thing. My dad has a 6" blued that he bought in the mid 80s. It still has the $375 price tag on the box and has never been fired.

[bigbill]

The s&w models m27 & m28 in 357 magnum are hot right now it's the craze. These older N frames are sought after. The s&w pre model k22 and k38's before they used model numbers are hot right now too. The k22 in 22lr & the k38 in 38 special. The early n frame 38/44 heavy duty 4" and 38/44 outdoorsman 6" barrel are commanding big bucks too. Not to mention the registered magnum.

Some of these frame sizes they still manufacture today are 100 year old designs with some improvements done to them. The models with no dash seem to be valued more. The no dash is the first model offered. The models after that have a dash then a number for each engineering upgrade or change. Example a model 27-2 means engineering changes have been done. The s&w book lists these numbered changes and what's been done during each change.

All the s&w revolvers are going up price wise.

I don't care for the over priced Colts. For a shooter that Mack truck strong the rugers are unmatched.