Posted: 1/31/2013 2:36:11 PM EDT
| A gentleman that I work with told me he had a Python that he wanted to sell and I was excited until I looked at it. It looks exactly like a stainless model but, it's some kind of coating over an original blued gun. It has an E for the first digit of the serial number. He's telling me that he bought it brand new like this. Did Colt offer something like a Boron coating back then (mid-70's)? Or could it have been sent to Colt later and had something done? |
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The "E" serial number prefix Pythons ran from 1969 to 1975.
During that time frame Colt offered only Royal Blue and Bright Nickel. Later in the very late 1970's-early 1980's Colt offered Royal Coltguard which was an electroless nickel. This was a brighter shine finish than the standard Coltguard as used on other models. This doesn't look like any other electroless nickel finish due to the brighter shine. Problem is, even if the gun was returned to Colt for some sort of new finish, they won't have any record of it. Chances are this is not a Colt factory job. It could be an electroless nickel or hard chrome finish. Compare the gun to something you know is stainless steel. A kitchen spoon will do. Nickel finishes, bright or electroless will have the typical "yellowish" tint common to nickel that will be pretty obvious when compared to stainless. Hard chrome plating has a "blue" tint that's also obvious when compared to the "white" stainless steel. So, a non-factory refinish drops the value of a Python, but a Python is still a Python. If the price is right, it can be a good buy. However, a Python from this era with that finish is not factory. Possibly he bought it that way, but it was a used gun whether he knew it or not. |
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Quoted:
The "E" serial number prefix Pythons ran from 1969 to 1975. During that time frame Colt offered only Royal Blue and Bright Nickel. Later in the very late 1970's-early 1980's Colt offered Royal Coltguard which was an electroless nickel. This was a brighter shine finish than the standard Coltguard as used on other models. This doesn't look like any other electroless nickel finish due to the brighter shine. Problem is, even if the gun was returned to Colt for some sort of new finish, they won't have any record of it. Chances are this is not a Colt factory job. It could be an electroless nickel or hard chrome finish. Compare the gun to something you know is stainless steel. A kitchen spoon will do. Nickel finishes, bright or electroless will have the typical "yellowish" tint common to nickel that will be pretty obvious when compared to stainless. Hard chrome plating has a "blue" tint that's also obvious when compared to the "white" stainless steel. So, a non-factory refinish drops the value of a Python, but a Python is still a Python. If the price is right, it can be a good buy. However, a Python from this era with that finish is not factory. Possibly he bought it that way, but it was a used gun whether he knew it or not. Thanks for that info. From my quick research this afternoon I had a good idea that it wasn't an original finish. I only had a couple minutes to create my first post and left out a couple details but, I don't think it makes any difference. It has a brushed stainless look and is very well done. If a person was just casually looking at the gun you wouldn't notice it because it looks so good. What gives it away is the original surface was left exposed around the cylinder exits. He's asking a premium so I guess I'm out. 
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