Posted: 6/9/2010 10:35:47 AM EDT
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Found a good deal on a Python modified to shoot SAO. Pull of trigger only spins the cylinder. Cocking hammer pulls trigger back into hair-trigger position.
If I understand correctly, there is a piece removed that connects the trigger to the hammer (I assume the trigger pulls a bar connected to the bottom of the hammer). How hard would it be to get the part and put it back in? |
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That is not very easy. Best thing would be to send it back to Colt, or perhaps a well know Python smith (few are left) as those parts must be hand fitted and is not a Bubba, the average smith can not do right. But given the cost, it just is not worth it with all the shipping aggravation.
My suggestion is to just pass on any Bubba'ed Pythons.Unless it is just cosmetic and you can live with it to get a really nice shooter. |
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The missing parts are the double action strut, and it's spring and pin.
Here's an exploded view of the Python. The parts are Part number 36 the strut, part 35 the strut spring, and part 34 the strut pin. http://www.coltparts.com/pt_python.html The strut often needs some fitting since the action depends on a very close relationship with the trigger. If the strut is too close to the trigger the strut will hit the trigger in single action and can even catch. Not fitted closely enough and this can cause all kinds of serious problems. I recommend sending it to Colt for a proper installation. As for the local gunsmith who removed it, removing the strut is simple. Installing one is NOT. For a qualified Colt expert, installing a new DA strut takes only a few minutes. Simply trying to drop one in can cause major problems. |
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Quoted:
The missing parts are the double action strut, and it's spring and pin. Here's an exploded view of the Python. The parts are Part number 36 the strut, part 35 the strut spring, and part 34 the strut pin. http://www.coltparts.com/pt_python.html The strut often needs some fitting since the action depends on a very close relationship with the trigger. If the strut is too close to the trigger the strut will hit the trigger in single action and can even catch. Not fitted closely enough and this can cause all kinds of serious problems. I recommend sending it to Colt for a proper installation. As for the local gunsmith who removed it, removing the strut is simple. Installing one is NOT. For a qualified Colt expert, installing a new DA strut takes only a few minutes. Simply trying to drop one in can cause major problems. That's what I figured. The smith has done a lot of work on pythons in the past. |
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They usually command lower prices, unless you have a real Custom Shop gun WITH the paperwork proving it that was modified at the factory.
Otherwise all you have is a Python that no longer works properly, and was probably modified by a previous owner. This makes the gun worth less. |
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Quoted:
They usually command lower prices, unless you have a real Custom Shop gun WITH the paperwork proving it that was modified at the factory. Otherwise all you have is a Python that no longer works properly, and was probably modified by a previous owner. This makes the gun worth less. So... I have more to add here. The gun shop spoke to Colt about this particular Python and sent them the serial. They said it was built by them from the ground up to be a Colt Python SAO. Essentially, it's a custom shop bullseye gun. I gotta speak to Colt about getting a certified letter... would I have to send the pistol in to them to get inspected or something? And how does this affect the value of the pistol? |
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You won't have to send the gun in, unless you'd like it to be inspected to insure it's in proper working order and timing.
The letter you'll need is a Colt Archive Historical Letter. This is a document-grade frameable letter detailing everything Colt knows about the gun. http://www.coltsmfg.com/archive.aspx This will include how the gun was set up when it left the factory, barrel length, caliber, finish, any custom options or modifications, when it was shipped, and WHO it was shipped to. Cost is $75.00 and takes some months to get. Anytime you have an old collectible Colt or one that's been worked on by the Custom Shop that might be valuable, the first thing a potential buyer will want to see is the Colt letter. It's to the point that counterfeit Colt Archive letters are starting to show up as "proof" a Colt is a valuable gun. Smart buyers buy their OWN letter from Colt to verify. Since modern Colt custom guns are themselves not marked in any way, the only way to identify one is with the letter. This can be a problem if the gun was bought locally, then sent back to Colt for custom work, since Colt doesn't put that info into the archive with the original production info. If the gun was bought from Colt with the custom work done at that time, the archive will have the custom info. These days, Pythons are worth more and more money and Custom Shop work usually increases the value. Whether a single action-only factory conversion will up the value much is a matter for the market to decide. Since SA-only factory Pythons are very rare, I'd assume this would increase the value to some extent. How much would depend on what a buyer or a real firearms appraiser would set for it, and of course, the condition of the gun and whether the original box and paper are with it. I don't know how Colt did modern SA-only conversions, but years ago they did conversions to Colt Officer's Model target revolvers by actually modifying the hammer to eliminate the double action feature. This was done by not only removing the DA strut assembly, the hammer itself was altered. In short, a genuine Colt Custom Shop SA-only Python with verification documents from Colt is going to be worth more than a standard Python. How much more is debatable. |
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I intend to leave it alone. I picked it up on Friday, cleaned it up a bit after shooting (and it's dead-on balls accurate) and took some photos. I'm over at ColtForum looking for advice on this as well.
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29532 Pics will be up soon, just gotta upload them tonight. |
