[Uplander]

Mysnakegun, I'm sort of the opposite: I don't like stainless steel. I have stainless guns, including a 2020 Python, but to me average bluing beats excellent stainless.

Of course I like how easy stainless is to clean, and how some custom work doesn't require post-work rebluing, but in general I find stainless bland.

All subjective of course. It's like any form of art. What works for one doesn't for another.

 

[Mysnakegun]

Point taken...but I just couldn't justify dropping another 1500-1700K on basically the same gun. I find SST flashy

 

[papulski]

Being the blued Pythons are carbon steel i guess you could have them refinished in nickel. Now that would be flashy!

 

[dsk]

Being the blued Pythons are carbon steel i guess you could have them refinished in nickel. Now that would be flashy!

If you absolutely must have the Royal Blue finish simply send yours in to Colt and pay for the bling treatment.

The YouTube video by Hickok45 shows that in bright daylight there isn't much difference in the finish between a new Python and an original 1980s specimen. I would assume the earlier Pythons (pre 1970s) were polished much better and thus look brighter.

 

[Olle]

It's more 'black' than 'blue'. After owning an 8" 1980 'Royal Blue' Hunter Edition I make the comparison. For those newcomers to the Python line-up, they wouldn't truly know the difference.

Correct. The bluing chemicals were changed at some point in the '70s (IIRC), so there is a visible color difference between old and new bluing. The old bluing has a nice, blue tinge to it and also has a slightly translucent look to it. Modern bluing is pitch black and totally opaque, and to me it looks more "dead" than old bluing. It looks pretty much like black paint to those who are used to the old bluing.

But like you said: Most newcomers (and some old timers as well) won't notice the difference, and it's is not very apparent unless you compare side by side.

 

[mikegc]

Y'all know which one's the "new kid in town:"

Haven't gotten it to the range, yet, but, if it shoot like the stainless ones in inventory, I'm sure I'll be pleased.

Mike

 

[NotSoPolicePositive]

Has anyone started to see the blued Pythons in retail yet? I am only seeing it in a few places, ie a trickle of them on GunBroker, but way over sticker prices.

 

[TBone]

Has anyone started to see the blued Pythons in retail yet? I am only seeing it in a few places, ie a trickle of them on GunBroker, but way over sticker prices.

There was another thread active I think yesterday where someone posted a few at MSRP. They tend to not last long. I snagged both a 4.25" and a 6" at list about a month or so ago. Just have to watch and be coiled up and ready to strike.

Using the UPC number to search on Gun Deals is a good way to spot them, that's how I got my 4.25". The 6" was grabbed at Sportsman's Warehouse after someone posted they showed back in stock on an early morning (happened several times since their initial listing).

UPCs, 4.25" is 098289003461
6" is 098289003478

 

[Wyo]

Sportsmans Warehouse has 4.25” and 6” blued guns in stock right now. The 4” guns are actually listed $20 under MSRP. I ordered one last night.

 

[dsk]

There are 6" blued Pythons for $1559.99 on Gunbroker right now. I knew that was going to happen right after I bought one at MSRP.

 

[mikegc]

There are 6" blued Pythons for $1559.99 on Gunbroker right now. I knew that was going to happen right after I bought one at MSRP.

Wish I'd have known this Saturday morning when I ran up on this one for MSRP:

Live & learn.

Mike

 

[Elgatodeacero]

The blued Pythons look so good, I think they will ultimately outsell the stainless steel……..

 

[NotSoPolicePositive]

The blued Pythons look so good, I think they will ultimately outsell the stainless steel……..

I thought it was strange they released the stainless first - they seemed to sell far fewer than the blued ones 50 years ago, did they assume tastes had changed? I was totally uninterested in the neo-Pythons until the Shot Show announcement of a blued model.

 

[dsk]

I think if they'd released the blued models first there would've been too many critical comparisons to the Royal Blue originals. Now that people are more understanding of the fact that Royal Blue is no longer possible except as a Custom Shop option they're more receptive to a standard blue finish.

Either that or they just wanted to cash in on the Walking Dead mania first.

 

[NotSoPolicePositive]

Either that or they just wanted to cash in on the Walking Dead mania first.

I heard this, but never saw any episode of this show. The inspiration for me was the Clint Eastwood movie 'Magnum Force' which is a 2 hour commercial for the Colt Python.

 

[dsk]

I heard this, but never saw any episode of this show. The inspiration for me was the Clint Eastwood movie 'Magnum Force' which is a 2 hour commercial for the Colt Python.

The main character carried a 6" stainless Python throughout the series. Kind of a strange choice to go up against hordes of zombies with, but oh well. I remember looking at a like-new Python in a LGS just a month or two before the series first aired, and I balked at the $1600 price they were asking. Within a year they were all selling for 4 to 5 grand.

 

[dsk]

Well I finally got mine out of gun jail today after she'd served her two weeks.

I'd give the finish a 9.5 out of 10. There are some very slight ripples in the surface that I didn't detect at the gun shop but which I can see under strong outdoor light. Still very good for a modern production gun, but not 1960s Python good. The dark streaks are factory oil which I still haven't fully cleaned off.

 

[Python2020]

The 3 vents on a 4.25 reminds me of Rossi or a Taurus revolver

This is probably the Taurus you were thinking about. Every time I see the 3 ribs 4.25" blue Python I am reminded of it.

 

[mikegc]

Well I finally got mine out of gun jail today after she'd served her two weeks.

I'd give the finish a 9.5 out of 10. There are some very slight ripples in the surface that I didn't detect at the gun shop but which I can see under strong outdoor light. Still very good for a modern production gun, but not 1960s Python good. The dark streaks are factory oil which I still haven't fully cleaned off.
View attachment 897291
View attachment 897292

I put a set of Deer Hollow first generation grips on mine:

I added Bill Wilson's sights to it with a gold dot front to help my old eyes.

Mike

 

[dsk]

Before and after. Out of the box:

With the Elliason rear sight and Deer Hollow grips installed:

BTW the Elliason was a huge pain in the ass to install. I installed the roll pin first, but then the toothed adjustment screw fought with the detent and refused to go in straight whenever I tried to line it up with the threaded hole in the frame. Then after trying it by installing the screw first the hole for the roll pin refused to line up! When I installed the Wilson sight on my stainless Python it went in without argument. The sight notch is deeper on the Wilson as well, so if I ever buy another new Python I'll probably stick with that.