[craigos]

Searched the forum thinking this has surely been discussed but can not locate if it has. My apologies if I am wasting folks time.

Question occurred to me - seeing the prices of NIB Python Elites --- how does the quality of a Colt Python Elite compare to say a Colt Python in the 1957-1965 time period?

Any takers?

Thanks
Craig

 

[gruesome]

From what I have seen the only special thing about them is the word elite. I dont think they are only better or worse than most of the others. People just get all in a tizzy over the word elite on the python and start reaching for their wallets and throwing hundreds out, while giggling like a school girl.

 

[weagle99]

Early guns are higher quality. Python Elites are available in stainless whereas the old guns were blue and nickel only.

 

[dfariswheel]

As with all gun makers, quality was better in the 50's and 60's, as quality was better in the 30's and 40's then in the 50's and 60's.

Strangely, when it was being produced, many people turned their noses up at the Python Elite claiming quality was bad and not up to the standards of the 80's and early 90's.
The primary reason for the high prices of the Elite is that it was only produced for a short time and therefore is considered to be collectible.

As far as quality, the truth is you have to look at a gun as an individual. Guns are not vintages of wine. There are no "good years" or "bad years", there are only good or bad guns.
You can make the statement that Pythons made in the 50's are better quality then Pythons made in the 90's, but you can get a dog from the 50's and a jewel made in the late 90's.
Buying a gun based on just when it was made can get you burned, or cause you to pass up a winner.

As above, the sole and only difference between an Elite Python and all the others is the Elite has the word "Elite" stamped on the barrel..... that's it.
In the later 90's Colt was having trouble producing the Python on the production line so they moved production to the Custom Shop.
To indicate the move they added the "Elite" stamp.

 

[chaosrob]

i miss mine, it is one of the very rare guns I made a decision to sell that I regret.

 

[TFlyboy]

Early guns are higher quality. Python Elites are available in stainless whereas the old guns were blue and nickel only.

There are blue elites as well.

 

[71firebird400]

In my experience; it doesn't. I have Pythons from a variety of decades and in my case they all point towards older being better. I completely agree with dfariswheel that guns must be evaluated individually but the trend I've seen has been noticed by many others.

 

[Colt-SL]

No waste of time at all. Good question. It HAS been addressed here before in other threads, but since the advent of a Python Sub-forum it isn't readily found without some searching.

Always the patient and knowledgeable gentleman, dfariswheel has taken the time to post his wisdom again.

 

[KMKCOLT]

This may have been discussed before but I shall say this in my opinion only a Python is a Python no matter when or who made it all the parts are hand fit. It is not a drop in piece so attention has to be administered to have the weapon function properly and precisely as it was designed to. So I don't care what it states on the barrel or when it was made the quality of the inner workmanship has to be to par. As for when it was made well remember one thing I don't know when exactly Colt began to forge the frames of these guns I believe they started to advertise this in the 1980's. I don't know if that is the same as the older ones but I am willing to put money on the fact that the metallurgy is better in the later years than the older ones. Now when it comes to finish I prefer the blue guns of the 1970's era due to in my opinion they were finished and richer looking. This is my opinion. I may be wrong but I try and buy guns from this era just for that reason as far as Pythons are concerned.

 

[greekgeek]

I have a 6" stainless Elite and while it is nice it certainly does leave something to be desired on the fit/finish of the sideplate. This and the forum's take on them make me scratch my head when I see the gunbroker prices, I can only surmise that there were very low production numbers on the Elites driving up the value.

 

[KMKCOLT]

Yes, the elite was not produced long before they stopped production. Specially compared to the regular ones. I personally don't see any difference in the guns one way or another. They are all hand fit. The only difference I see is the word "Elite" added on the barrel. I also understand a collector may desire to own one for his collection.