Is This a Correct Python Box Label????

Roman3667,
The early (actually most I've seen and all I've had) Custom shop labels were Black. They did make some later in brown, HOWEVER that one pictured is a FAKE without a doubt from Vikrant. I just compared it to a known original and it is without a doubt one of his fake labels. It is obvious.
My personal opinion is that gun is NOT a 3k gun because the box is not original to the gun. I would even question the factory tuned, because when someone starts faking something, its puts EVERYTHING IN QUESTION. If its factory tuned, you will know, it is the lightest smoothest action you have ever cocked. I have one hand tuned action from the master himself, Don Tedford (letter verifies it). I have cocked "regular" Custom Shop tuned actions and they are so smooth, it really surprises you the first time you handle one. They are crazy smooth/light. If that gun were NIB or even LNIB (99%/+ with THE original box) it would be a 3k gun for sure. JMHO.

While the label may be a fake, it is, without a doubt, NOT the color that makes it a fake. I have an 8-inch nickel Python with factory tune and Elliason sights (Model I3681H) that I bought new in 1981 and it has a label that is chartreuse just like the pictured label. However, the information on my label is typed, except for the serial number, which is handwritten. (I theorize that the label was typed up in advance with the information from the factory special order, and it was unknown at that time what particular Python already built that would be grabbed out of the stockroom by the Custom Shop to finally receive the custom-ordered features.)

The Custom Shop label is applied over the original end label, and in the case of mine, the model number and serial number of the original under label can just be seen at the bottom edge of the Custom Shop label, which is not quite as tall as the original label. I believe it is important that my label also contains, on the first line, a typed-in factory order number. I assume, without knowing for sure, that every Custom Shop gun was probably a special factory order, hence every Custom Shop end label probably should have the factory order number typed on it.

All of that said, we know that Colt occasionally handwrote end labels, even during the bar code era, so it is not impossible that some Custom Shop labels were handwritten part of the time.

If this gun has the feel of a factory tune, being a "special order" gun, it is more likely that the original box would have been kept with it since new. The majority of the value is with the gun, but an original box would add a few hundred in value to the package. With the question about the box, discount the value of an original box if buying.

Here's Why I Think Its A Fakearooney!

The subject label, in photo # 2, is one that I would conclude is fake if I were looking at this Python to purchase. The Custom Shop labels from this time frame (1981) that I own or have photos of, are structured differently, with specific data, such as Factory Order Number and other codes, and some information typed. These known originals are shown in Photos 1, 3 and 4. Notice the similarities of the known originals, and how each differs from the subject.

Now going a step further, I compared the Coat of Arms in the subject label with my known originals and there seems to be some very distinct differences; enough of a difference that I would be highly suspicious of the subject label. Photo # 4 is a blow-up of a known original. Examine and compare the "shading" dots and the lower banner, as these are quite different and can't be a result of printer definition or copy clarity. Take a close look and tell us if you agree.

So the question was asked: is this a "correct Python box label?". It is sometimes impossible to know with 100% certainty when judging fake versus original Python labels and this one is such a case. Judging the label would have been easier if we could also examine the box and it contents for authenticity. Of course a fake box would also lead us to a near 100% fake label. With only the label, and its comparison to known originals, I found enough differences to guess the label is a reproduction. I certainly would not pay a "Custom Shop" premium for the Python.

PHOTO # 1: (Known Original From 1981)



PHOTO # 2: (Subject Label - Me Thinks It Stinks)



PHOTO # 3: (Known Original From 1982)



PHOTO # 4: (Close Up Of Coat of Arms From 1982 Known Original)





*****

Kanatak is the expert on fake labels imo and really helped me in the past--As it took awhile to sink in, the proof is in "the details". I find this one obvious. The color/shade of the yellow is different from any Custom shop label that I have seen (Black or Brown EXCEPT for Vikrant's fakes) and the color of the "brown" is different from the brown of other known original labels, again except for Vikrant's fakes. There is one other little thing too on these CS labels I've found, but I am not going to "put it out there" because Vikrant is known to watch this place like a hawk. I have studied these closely, probably more closely than any other by myself because of the EN CS DB's. Anyway I would not post such a strong opinion if I wasn't certain. I am no expert as I've said many times and even the "experts" make mistakes too, everybody does. I will be the first to say JudgeColt knows more about Colts overall than me for sure. I can only hope to obtain a fraction of his knowledge one day, especially the pre-war stuff. I just give my honest opinion and try to help and I will leave this thread at that.