One of the guys I work with is selling a Colt Python 4" stainless which is NIB. I haven't seen it in person so I can't confirm the fact of it being new. He's asking $2,000 for it, so would I be stupid for passing this up? Its more then I want to spend for a "safe queen"

Thank you
Cody

Really? I've seen them online for $2400-$2600.

For $800 that's a good deal.

$2000 is butt sex.

$2k isn't bad for a genuine NIB. Close inspection will determine that. Look at cylinder notches and forcing cone for any evidence of firing.

I love the Pythons. I have owned several of them over the years. But I wouldn't pay over $1500 for one, even if it is new in box.

Yeah, but none will have the luster, elegance and appeal of a Colt Python.

I've always thought the Pythons were overrated. The finish is beautiful, but that soon passes if you use it much. The DA trigger is magically smooth in the gun store, but it stacks, has no reference points, and it takes a lot of practice to shoot well in DA mode compared to the Smith. The Smith isn't as smooth, but it gives you a lot of feedback before it releases. The Smith SA trigger is much lighter, smoother, and crisper. The Smith SA trigger is pretty hard to beat right out of the box. With a little work the Smith DA pull can be made plenty smooth. It's just some polishing and the right lubes.

The Python was built on the Colt "I" frame, a variant of the "E" frame with a longer cylinder and adjustable sights, and of course the underlug and top rail. The action was built such that one V spring powered the trigger, hammer, and hand (pawl). Only the cylinder locking bolt had its own spring. This makes the Python almost impossible to smith beyond the way it comes from the factory. You can get a lighter V spring to lighten everything, but that's about it. Anything you would polish already is. The Smith has individual springs and a less interlocked action. It can be tuned just about any way you want. The Python action required fairly extensive hand fitting. All that labor was why it cost so much, not that it was inherently any better. Parts will wear and it will get out of tune before an "L" or "N" frame Smith. Parts will have to be replaced, and it takes a decent gunsmith, familiar with the action, to hand fit them to the gun.

As an investment, a safe queen, or an occasional shooter the Python definitely has sex appeal. If you are a good shooter and want to shoot it a lot, a Smith 686 is a better bet in my opinion.

The proof of what I am saying is that highly tuned Smiths, not Colts, took the overwhelming majority of wins in major action shooting competition, back when a lot of people did that with revolvers.

This is what I would do.
$1500 would ne a great deal.

unless you are a collector and will never shoot it, i would spend less on a gun that is fired.

in addition, i dont get the high prices of a python. its just a pretty .357(i have NO first hand experience with this gun, however a friend of mine has one and told me the da trigger is nothing to write home about)

i would recommend a smith 586 for a shooter.

Yup.