[fosjam]

Wondering where to send a Colt Python manufactured in 1967 for restoration? I've tried unsuccessfully to get a hold of anyone from the actual Colt company but to no avail. The python I have has 50+ years of finish wear due to being kept in between the seat and the console of a pickup truck. There is one spot of pitting along the ejector rod housing and some shallow dents on one side of the cylinder. Obviously edges are a bit rounded and scroll work is a bit faded. Wondering if it is worth restoring. It locks up tight and functions perfectly. This is my 3rd Python and it has a smoother action and nicer trigger than the others.

 

[Mysnakegun]

pics?

 

[fosjam]

 

[fosjam]

pics?

Done. Should be in my 2nd post

 

[Mysnakegun]

Indeed that old girl could use a face lift for sure. Stay tuned help is on the way. Btw...thanks for the pictures.

 

[po18guy]

Two lines of thought: as is, it is original and no worries about holster wear. When it speaks, targets listen. Secondly, a resto can cost big dollars as much handwork is necessary. $500 for basic refinish and $1,000 and way up for a complete resto.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Colt will be of no help...they no longer work on "legacy" revolvers. I doubt if they have anyone who knows how to work on them anymore plus they would outsource the refinish anyway.

As far as a refinishing and restoration goes...it's your money. I would simply have a qualified gunsmith familiar with the classic Colt action go over it and let it go at that...maybe a refinish of hard chrome or Cerakote might do without excessive expense. To give it a proper restoration you'll be taking a $1500 gun...spend $3000-$3500 on the restoration and end up with a $2500 gun since it's refinished.

If the gun has no heirloom memories or value I would do with the mechanical rehab and then maybe think about hard chrome or Cerakote.

 

[oberon]

That thing is best left alone. It has all the character of a genuine working revolver, with all the. dings, scuffs, pits, and general finish wear, hair, warts, & all.
A beat up blue 4" is on my bucket list.
If you choose to restore it (at considerable expense, likely in excess of the value of the thing as is), you will have an expensive restored beat up revolver.
Do whatever you please. It is a better gun when you leave it the way it is. Tune it up and blast the livin' bleep out of it.

 

[smutt]

Have it refinished in hard chrome, that way you can shove it back in the truck seat and when it gets pulled out 50 years from now it will look like new still.

 

[azshot]

That gun is a tough old shooter, I'd leave it as is, and get a great holster for the gun, carry and shoot it a lot. Worn original looks better than any kind of refinish, always.

 

[FL Moore]

Leave it alone and have fun shooting it alot !!

 

[po18guy]

Have it refinished in hard chrome, that way you can shove it back in the truck seat and when it gets pulled out 50 years from now it will look like new still.

Hmmm. Or Armolloy - they are still in business.

Protect your firearm with Armoloy® TDC - Armoloy of Fort Worth, Texas

Armoloy of Fort Worth, Texas has been providing quality firearm coatings for over 30 years. The coating has proven time and time again to be an optimal coating for firearms and has been praised as “one of the best rust-resistant metal finishes for handguns, shotguns, and rifles.”

armoloyfw.com

 

[Tacenda Darvince]

pics?

 

[fosjam]

pics?

Pics are in the 3rd post in this thread

 

[fosjam]

Hmmm. Or Armolloy - they are still in business.

Protect your firearm with Armoloy® TDC - Armoloy of Fort Worth, Texas

Armoloy of Fort Worth, Texas has been providing quality firearm coatings for over 30 years. The coating has proven time and time again to be an optimal coating for firearms and has been praised as “one of the best rust-resistant metal finishes for handguns, shotguns, and rifles.”

armoloyfw.com

I've never heard of Armolloy. I'll check them out!

 

[fosjam]

That gun is a tough old shooter, I'd leave it as is, and get a great holster for the gun, carry and shoot it a lot. Worn original looks better than any kind of refinish, always.

I think that will be what I end up doing, sounds like its going to be cost prohibitive to do a refurbish

 

[fosjam]

That thing is best left alone. It has all the character of a genuine working revolver, with all the. dings, scuffs, pits, and general finish wear, hair, warts, & all.
A beat up blue 4" is on my bucket list.
If you choose to restore it (at considerable expense, likely in excess of the value of the thing as is), you will have an expensive restored beat up revolver.
Do whatever you please. It is a better gun when you leave it the way it is. Tune it up and blast the livin' bleep out of it.

This is kind of what I'm realizing. I've never had a gun restored. Years ago I contacted Turnbull to look into restoring an old Winchester 94 and it was very cost prohibitive. Sounds like it'll be a similar story here with a Colt Python

 

[fosjam]

Can anyone recommend a good gunsmith to at least give it a "once over" and check out the mechanicals for me?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Frank Glenn in Phoenix...he's a member here. He's one of the very few master gunsmiths left trained on the classic Colt clockwork.

 

[fosjam]

Frank Glenn in Phoenix...he's a member here. He's one of the very few master gunsmiths left trained on the classic Colt clockwork.

I'll look him up. Thanks for the reply