There are going to be a number of responses to your questions. What I'm writing is my opinion, and will likely be at variance to others.
From a pure collector's perspective, the original finished Python will be worth more than one even refinished by Colt.
The owner is the ultimate arbiter of what he/she wants to do with the gun.
Colt does not mark guns as being refinished the way that Smith & Wesson does. So it's up to the owner, or potential buyer to identify the history of the gun. Colt will provide information on the original finish of the gun.
I own a 1973 Python that was refinished to nickel at some point in its life. The roll marks were buffed out a bit by the refinisher. I opted to send the gun to Colt, and have it refinished, and restored to its original Royal Blue finish, and have the roll marks redone. However, the original roll marks can't be restored, since those dies are long worn out and scrapped. The new "roll marks" are laser cut, and readily identified by anyone who can identify them. The stocks were sent to SWAMP RAT, and refurbished, since they were badly worn.
My gun is refurbished and refinished. It is not an original gun, by any stretch, but it's what I wanted.
YMMV
- From a collector's perspective, any refinish, whether by Colt or anyone else, will diminish the collector value of the gun. Collectors, as a rule, like guns that are factory finished, no matter the condition of the gun.
- Refinished is refinished, regardless the source.There are other refinishers besides Colt, and their quality ranges from Earl Scheib, up to museum quality.
- Colt's refinish of a Python will restore it to the original "specs", although the newer Royal Blue has a blackish cast to the bluing.
From a pure collector's perspective, the original finished Python will be worth more than one even refinished by Colt.
The owner is the ultimate arbiter of what he/she wants to do with the gun.
Colt does not mark guns as being refinished the way that Smith & Wesson does. So it's up to the owner, or potential buyer to identify the history of the gun. Colt will provide information on the original finish of the gun.
I own a 1973 Python that was refinished to nickel at some point in its life. The roll marks were buffed out a bit by the refinisher. I opted to send the gun to Colt, and have it refinished, and restored to its original Royal Blue finish, and have the roll marks redone. However, the original roll marks can't be restored, since those dies are long worn out and scrapped. The new "roll marks" are laser cut, and readily identified by anyone who can identify them. The stocks were sent to SWAMP RAT, and refurbished, since they were badly worn.
My gun is refurbished and refinished. It is not an original gun, by any stretch, but it's what I wanted.
YMMV
