Hi Guys, Just joined the form and bought my first Python, 4" bbl blued. I checked with Colt on serial #E91106 and they said it was made in 1975. I've heard that "E" prefix serial numbers are good to have. Can someone explain why? It's a shooter in 90 to 95% condition depending on who you talk to. The grips are more like 80% and don't look like they match but look right for the gun. I would send pics but my computer skills aren't very good. The gun doesn't look like it's been used hard. I'm thinking about sending it to Frank Glenn for chdckup and trigger job. The gun is tight and tining seems to be good. I paid $900., how did I do? Could someone tell me what type of grips fit this year Python? Thanks for any help given.
Help with questions on new "used" Python
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I will not comment on the E series part as I am not knowledgable enough to give you what you re looking for. I judge my purchases on their own merits, not a particular serial range. I do not care what the serial range is on a Python if it is nice i is nice.
Grips sometimes do not have the same color or grain but if they fit together correctly they may be the ones it left the factory with
If you send it to Frank you will not be dissapointed. He has done two for me so far ad they are great. He is fast and good, two traits that do not seem to go together very often.
At 900 and in 90-95% you stole it in this market. Do not be afraid to shoot it often and enjoy it
Grips sometimes do not have the same color or grain but if they fit together correctly they may be the ones it left the factory with
If you send it to Frank you will not be dissapointed. He has done two for me so far ad they are great. He is fast and good, two traits that do not seem to go together very often.
At 900 and in 90-95% you stole it in this market. Do not be afraid to shoot it often and enjoy it
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502 Posts
Nothing special about "E" prefix guns; typically people prefer older Pythons (50's/60's) to later Pythons (70's-90's) but each gun must be judged on it's own merits. At $900 you did well.
I've never heard anyone say that E prefix Pythons were desirable. I have heard them say that any letter prefix Pythons were Not that desirable, and that ONLY the Pythons WITHOUT any letter prefix or suffix were the really desirable Pythons. So the real early pythons (50's and early60's? ) are the ones that are most desirable according to some. The gun broker sold prices tend to reflect this also(in general).,except for the "Elite" Pythons and noone seems to know why they bring such money either other than I guess there werent that many elites made compared to the overall production of Pythons.
Like others, I dont much care about about he prefix suffix thin myself. If the gun looks good and shoots good that's all that matters except I admit I do have a fondness for the 1950's and Early 1960's Pythons with the full checkered stocks/grips.
Like the others said, I also think $900 is a very good price for a Python in the condition you describe.
Like others, I dont much care about about he prefix suffix thin myself. If the gun looks good and shoots good that's all that matters except I admit I do have a fondness for the 1950's and Early 1960's Pythons with the full checkered stocks/grips.
Like the others said, I also think $900 is a very good price for a Python in the condition you describe.
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The Pythons made from 1969 to 1975 had an "E" as a prefix to the serial number. This is due to the Gun Control Act of 1968 that mandated that all firearms had to have a serial number, and the number had to be a unique number not used on any other gun.
Prior to this Colt started all models at a serial number 1.
All the "E" prefix being desirable means is that it was made earlier then later guns, and therefore the feeling is that general quality was higher.
While this may be true, you have to judge a gun on it's own merits and not just on the year it was made.
It's a little uncertain when Colt made changes in the type of grips used, since often catalogs showed older grips even though a change had been made, and often Colt used old stock until supplies were used up.
A 1975 Python would "probably" have shipped with the Third Type Colt Target grip. They would have Gold medallions, Silver being used on all other models.
Since grips were made from planks, not blocks of walnut, the grain and figure will not match, and you do see slight differences in color, but not a lot. If you see major color differences in a set of grips, it's probable one side is a replacement, especially if they don't fit well with each other.
Here's a set of Third Type Colt Target grips.
Note the checkering border under the medallions in a straight slanted line and the "thumb rests" on both sides.
Note: Medallions should be Gold, these are from a different Colt model but the actual grips were the same.
Note also that around the time of the change from the Second to Third Type there were several transition variations.
It's also possible your Python could have shipped with Second Type grips.
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Prior to this Colt started all models at a serial number 1.
All the "E" prefix being desirable means is that it was made earlier then later guns, and therefore the feeling is that general quality was higher.
While this may be true, you have to judge a gun on it's own merits and not just on the year it was made.
It's a little uncertain when Colt made changes in the type of grips used, since often catalogs showed older grips even though a change had been made, and often Colt used old stock until supplies were used up.
A 1975 Python would "probably" have shipped with the Third Type Colt Target grip. They would have Gold medallions, Silver being used on all other models.
Since grips were made from planks, not blocks of walnut, the grain and figure will not match, and you do see slight differences in color, but not a lot. If you see major color differences in a set of grips, it's probable one side is a replacement, especially if they don't fit well with each other.
Here's a set of Third Type Colt Target grips.
Note the checkering border under the medallions in a straight slanted line and the "thumb rests" on both sides.
Note: Medallions should be Gold, these are from a different Colt model but the actual grips were the same.
Note also that around the time of the change from the Second to Third Type there were several transition variations.
It's also possible your Python could have shipped with Second Type grips.
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