Everybody is going to want closer pics. Wondering if you have the original grips too. Its worth quite a bit even as it sits though. Probably more than you think. You will also get a number of offers to buy it..... Be prepared.

 

Do you have the Original box and papers? Has the gun been refinished? These are just a few questions we need to know. You really need to call Colt and order a factory letter on that gun to be able to Maximize its value if you don't have Original box and papers with correct label.

 

Thanks g27racing. I do not have original grips had these pachmayr grips when I got it. Thanks for the warning not sure if I would sell it but might help me to understand the value.

 

I don't have any paperwork or box on the gun. Looks like I need to get the colt letter to verify. Thanks!

 

Also it has never been refinished

 

As mentioned above you would need a letter to verify gun is authentic. If it is a 3" Combat Python it is desirable, the other side is it is a collector gun which means it is all about condition, condition, and condition. The most valuable ones to collectors will have the box and paperwork with it, the gun will also be in 99%+ condition with no handling marks, scratches etc. Anything less starts dropping price and can do so pretty quickly.

 

Ok Thanks, so let's say I have the letter, 95%, no box, no original grips, what would be an a approximate value? I know the paperwork and box and never being touched would make it worth more, but if it's not the case here and can't go back to get original equipment from the early 80's. Just looking at approximate value with what I do have. Thanks

 

Sure you can, check out Sparta, Tn

can't go back to get original equipment from the early 80's.

 

Chaosrob..not sure what you mean. How could you get the original box and paperwork for this gun? Not sure that is possible

 

He is making a tongue in cheek joke. There is a liar in Tenn that has been selling "original" Colt (and other brand) boxes for a number of years now. Many other dishonest people have been buying the stuff and then trying (and in many cases they are successful) passing them off as original boxes.

 

In my opinion you don't need the Colt letter if you are willing to give a potential buyer the serial number and the serial number lookup comes back as a model I3630 as you have indicated. A letter certainly won't hurt and it will cost either $75 or $175 depending on how long you want to wait to receive the letter (aprox 4 months or 2 weeks). Determing a value is also not easy as most of these guns are original (grips), unfired or barely fired, original box etc. My guesstimate based what you say about the gun is a value of $4-5k. I am really interested to see how other people value the gun.

 

Thanks! I have just been interested in the approximate value and have no issue publishing the serial number, it is VA9222 and thanks for the reply.

 

In case you missed what I was saying, the guy in Tenn says reproduction boxes but will tell you they are all original New Old Stock that he buys from former/retired employees. He is full of fecal matter but thats what he will tell you.

As you stated, the serial number does verify that it is a 3" blued. More pics are better for determining condition but that was a big hurdle.

 

Ha! So would his fake box increase the value? Can't imagine he can get away with that!

 

He has been getting away with it for quite a while. Any good collector can spot his boxes pretty easily but there are a lot of peole that can't, and many good collectors were novice at one time too. Most collectors, including myself, have been taken by a fake while educating ourselves. I am not encouraging you to buy a fake box. That is fraud anyway you slice it.

 

I would say an easy $5k on value maybe more. If you're looking to sell, post it up here in the classifieds. I bet it would be gone in under a day. Good luck!

 

I agree!!

 

Dear God Please don't tell him that! LoL

 

I was referring to the comment about him buying the box from that Crook From Sparta!

 

From the one side, your gun looks to be much better than 95% by the way. Could we get a pic of the other side of the gun???
Also original factory period correct stocks wouldn't be very hard to find and wouldn't be real expensive ($200-$300). I know that probably sounds expensive, but that along with the $75 or $175 for the factory letter (how quick you want to sell), You would get it back in spades if you ever sold the gun. JMHO.

 

I only used 95% as reference, I have no idea how they grade a gun. I actually just called colt yesterday and requested the factory letter, they said it will take about 100 days!. I am now trying to find out what type of stock would have come from the factory on this gun and will probably try to purchase them if I can figure it out. I will also post better pics today of each side of the gun and all angles.
Thanks!

 

I am betting you have gotten a few PM's trying to buy this because out of all the comments only 2 or so answered the Value question lol. seems like around 5k is the number.

 

I actually have not had 1 PM. but yes, getting an estimated value has been hard to come by!

 

I don't know how you value it without better pictures? Close ups from all angles.

 

I will post some more today

 

Take your time on selling this one and A++++ on getting the Colt letter that will bring more money with that due to the rarity of the gun.I'm Thinking that gun is closer to $7000.00 if its as described and including Colt letter to verify it as a factory 3 inch.

 

Suggestions: When you take any additional photos, take off those rubber grips and air out the Python. Bad things can happen underneath those grips (rust, difference in bluing, etc). Jackson

 

ok as requested, I am adding better pics and removed the grips as well. Hopefully this will help in estimating the value! Thanks

 

And more

 

Hi - Just wondering if anyone has had a chance to view the detailed pics i have posted and could give me a ballpark estimate on the value? Thanks in advance.

 

Your pictures are nice, but they do not provide sufficient detail for evaluation purposes. Although you may be spot on with the 95% condition, there are brownish reflections in the blue accompanied by swirl patterns, some corrosion on the hammer, and a lack of detail in the proof and inspector marks on the left side of the frame. The screw holes do look sharp, but the screw heads do show a couple of light marks.

Probably the biggest detractors are the lack of original box with label, archive letter, and original stocks. An original mint package will definitely be more appealing to collectors than just pieces of a package. And the fact that the Colt site does return the correct model for the serial number is good, but an archive letter is better.

Taking the pictures is a tedious job, but try to provide some more detailed pictures of other parts of the gun you missed like the cylinder face, top, bottom, rear, and front of the gun. And focus some of your pictures on places where there are roll stamps, proof or assembler marks, seams, or screw holes. The better you provide, the better we can evaluate.

As for an estimate, I'm going to say $4K due to lack of factory originality and questionability on some aspects of what I see in the photos provided earlier. Yes, it is a nice python, but is it a complete/original python?

 

After reading this post, I looked closer at the pics, you are correct about the reflection and swirl marks, The swirl marks are light oil, and the brownish reflections are actually reflections of my red camera. I guess I need to try and get some pics in better light than sunlight! I appreciate you taking the time to evaluate my Python.

 

Spend the extra $100 to get the letter expedited if you are wanting to sell it, if keeping wait the 3+ months as that gun will do nothing bu go up in value over the next 6 months. If it is a 3" you have a beautiful and rare gun there and there would definitely be a bidding war on GB and should right now bring at least $6500 to $7500. But remember once you sell it it's gone

 

The reason no one wants to give price estimates is as Tflyboy said. One needs close up pics to properly evaluate. I will say this, my opinion. IF the gun is original finish AND 95%-97%, as it sits, I would say its a 5k gun. If its as stated before PLUS factory letter and near mint/mint factory stocks added, I would say its a 6k to maybe 7k gun on GB. JMHO.

I know where there is about a 97% Combat Python (marked Combat Python) appears all original with a letter or copy of letter from Lew Horton (not Colt) stating its a 3 inch for $7500 firm. The guy has carried it for about 6 months to all the "ones who would buy it", including dealers of Colts who sell online. He still has it and said his best offer so far was 6k. The Combats are usually a little more sought after. If he was willing to buy a letter and sell it on GB, I believe he would get that. However I don't think he is willing to sell online and he does not need the money either I doubted...

 

Thanks for the great information, I am still learning about this gun and it is good to know that not all 3" Pythons are the same and that the Combat Pythons are more sought after than the factory 3" like i have.

 

There are many variables in the estimates that you will get as far as pricing or determining a value on a gun.

If a seller is giving you a value, are they pricing it comparable to ones that are selling or comparable to ones they have that aren't selling?

As for buyers giving you a value, could they be giving you a low value so that they can buy it cheaper?

Or, are the estimates coming in from people who would put up the cash value themselves to back the value they give?

And what is your willingness to sell?

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We have all seen listings where someone says they are $xxxxx on GunBroker, but those may be listings and not actual sales. Or that a collector said ... , but a nameless or brandless collector statement is just fluff. You and any prospective buyer will have to determine a value.

Here is an example where the seller may value his gun slightly higher than others might ...
ARMSLIST - For Sale: Colt Python blue 6" 1967