Here is a pic of the pyhon I purchased. Unfired

 

Looks nice in cellophane but I don't think Colt use that type of material back then. Let's see it outside the Glad wrap.....

 

That may just be a Wrinkled Plastic Bag. Mine looks like that and is also one that is apparently only Proof Fired and from the late 70s.

 

I have quite a few new colts from the 70's thru the 90's and have not seen a bag like that. Original bags are a thicker ply and not as shiny or see thru. Also, the bag would look very different with an oiled pistol wrapped in it for 30 years. Every bag I have shows its age including the box and contents.

 

Oh boy....here we go..... A factory-only fired 1981 Colt Python in nickel with a 4" barrel.......believable or unbelievable?

How about a factory driven only 1967 Corvette Stingray with 25 miles on the speedometer, in new condition DeLorian Back-to-the-Future gull wing sports sedan.....? Im sure it could happen......

However, I do believe the cellophane bag on your Python......

 

'81 Python with orange hangtag- think not.
'81 Python with clear plastic bag- not necessarily a problem.
No comment otherwise on OP's photo.

True 1981 NIB Python 4" in bright nickel- and other NIB Pythons- yes, they are still out there. Have some. Just hard to find the true ones....Colt Educations are expensive...:bang_wall:

 

"Unfired" is a much used and much abused term.

 

Does the NRA mail in fit that package as original?

 

You have a very nice pistol regardless if the packaging isnt correct. It can very well be unfired and the original owner tossed some of the original contents. Can you show some pics with it outside of the bag.
It's probably worth in the mid $2k range.
I just paid $1,900 for one that is used without the package.

 

I personally completely disregard any claims of "never fired." Quite frankly it's impossible to prove unless you can show you were the owner from day 1. Any time I hear it I think of all those times someone brought rick Harrison something saying it belonged to so and so and that the guy he got it from told him that. Then rick goes look man this is JFKs pen...my buddy got it from him...Could be legit but without concrete evidence it doesnt matter either way.

Not saying yours isn't. I'm just saying as a collector I take that claim with a serious grain of salt.

 

I totally agree that it is impossible to prove unfired. Unfired Looking, Unfired Type Condition, NIB Condition etc. maybe. I do have 8 pistols that I have personally purchased NEW and have the original recipts for, that I can attest to having never fired them, but it is hard to prove that. I do document every round I fire through every firearm that I own, but again, can't certify that. 6 of the 8 pistols are commemoratives and probably the only reason that they are work more than I paid for them is that they have greatly appreciated over the years. If I had put the money in CDs, I probably would be ahead of where I am now. The other two, I just haven't gotten around to shoot for some reason.

Bob

 

It sure must be boring being a collector. Get your prized Colt revolver. Never open or turn the cylinder. Only polish it in dim lit' rooms because the ultra-violet light rays might dull the finish. With white gloved hands gently lay it on a silk covered pillow and step back and admire it while worrying that dust may now be settling on it. Then carry it back to the safe ever so gently and snuggle it back in.

All the while family members can hardly wait for you to croak so they can sell them for pennies on the dollar, because they really mean nothing to them other then fast cash.

 

Well aren't you just a bright ray of sunshine......you can drag yours behind your truck and I am OK with that....

I personally don't need to shoot every gun I acquire.....

I like chasing rare guns and cleaning and waxing them and keeping them in the dark

You make that sound like a bad thing for some reason....different stokes for different folks....

Obviously YMMV....RR

 

I agree with Rod. Some people just like to have something and admire it. Just because you have a gun you don’t need to shoot it or drive a Corvette like you stole it. To each their own way of enjoyment and those that don’t agree should get their own toys and do as they please.

 

I agree with Rod. Some people just like to have something and admire it. Just because you have a gun you don’t need to shoot it or drive a Corvette like you stole it. To each their own way of enjoyment and those that don’t agree should get their own toys and do as they please.

 

The whole unfired thing bothers me more than the overuse of “Rare”. When I hear among the first words said, “unfired”, my guard goes up and I think he’s probably going to try to get me as hard as he can in my rear end. I think, we’ll im deducting 10% off what I would offer now, maybe more. I’ve had people straight up talk themselves out of a sale. I’ve argued a bit with people, even some dealers about this practice of “unfired”. I’ve realized I would have more success talking to the trees in my backyard. Actually I enjoy talking to the trees sometimes . Value is based off of condition not firing. A gun fired 12 times with no finish wear is worth more than one put up not shot with a blemish. Considerably more the higher the value of the gun. Maybe it’s gotten a little better because many used to say they weren’t even fired at the factory lol. When I heard this, it was just simply time for me to exit the conversation.

Another thing i can tell you, is if you have a revolver that the face of the cylinder is bright, perfect looking, no signs of firing, THE GUN HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH!!! As long as it is still all original, dies it hurt the value any, no, not currently. Actually it will probably bring more, which is why the polish them up. I had a discussion years ago with someone whom was a dealer but used to have “ties” with Colt early in his career. He enlightened me on quite a few things. I miss him, always worth the trip just to sit and talk, whether I got anything or not. Most of the time I did tho ...

 

Rare doesn't necessarily translate into extra value...sellers overuse and abuse the word. Sometimes it does...a 1969 Corvette L88 is pretty rare and worth a lot. A 1969 Corvette with a 3-speed manual transmission is pretty rare as well...but no one wants them except as a base for upgrades. The L88 has all the performance...the L48/3-speed has none and few were ordered and sold that way.

The same goes with firearms and many other objects in life. A M1 Carbine on a used gun rack isn't rare and bring X amount of dollars. A different Carbine...in the same condition...with a provenance that is beyond dispute and used by Audie Murphy qualifies as rare and would go for XXXX dollars. A friend who owns the local gun store owns the 1911 that was belonged to Admiral Willis Lee who commanded the battleships in the Pacific in WWII and led the action that destroyed the Japanese battleship Kirishima off Guadalcanal. My friend has the provenance and the pistol has been authenticated and photographed by the NRA and is in one of their books. That 1911 would be significantly more than the average 1911 due to its original ownership and back story.

 

My 67 L89 427/435 HP with aluminum heads, is not an L88 but is pretty uncommon and it has just over 18,000 miles on it. I put about 20 miles a week on it, on average. I guess the equivalent of a VERY LOW round count!

Bob

 

 

I only purchased this firearm to flip it as an investment. I am not the type to look at it and give my balls a tug in the corner.

I have quite a while left before I die off and my family sell my firearms. I'm 30 years old and enjoy adding Colts to my collection.

I like to drink beer with friends and shoot guns. I shoot every gun I own except the one posted above.

It's funny watching you all bicker. I get it, 'RARE' 'LNIB' and 'UNIFIRED' are all overused in listings. I came here looking for advice on a price and not knit picking everything from one shitty photo I took.

Either way if its is fired, the whole firearm is clean as it gets with a mirror like finish withiut a scratch on it. Even the grips are abrasive and not worn down.

Heres a pic of a few of my Colts for you all to knit pic at.