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Colt Python - Serial Number question

coltnutz
I just bought a Colt Python, 8", blued with Pachmayre/Colt rubber grips, in excellent condition. Serial # is K63xxx.

My questions are: What appx year was this gun manufactured? When did they start producing pythons with 8" barrels? What grips (walnut checkered, rubber, etc) came originally with this gun? Are all pythons I frames? What is a good colt reference book to buy to help me with these kind of questions in the future?

I found only one reference chart regarding serial #'s and it indicated that 63xxx dates back to 1967 era. Since my serial number has the K in front, what does that mean. Any info offered to this new colt enthusiast is appreciated. Thanks
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  • CS8161
    Welcome to the boards! I am not an expert on COLT revolvers but there are plenty of very knowledgeable people on here and one of them will be able to answer your questions.

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • RancheroPaul
    The "K" in front of the number, (Called a "Prefix"), indicates a certain group of serial numbers. If it had a "K" AFTER the number, that would be called a "Suffix." The numbers themselves are meaningless unless the entire serial number is looked at, as in this case, "K63XXX" which is the entire number.....manufactured in 1981.

    Your "Best" Book to give you Colt information was written by R.L. Wilson with Robert Sutherland's help and published in 1971. Be prepared to pay in the neighborhood of $400 to $500 for this "First Edition" of the book. There was a later edition, but it wasn't printed in any great numbers and they are "out of Print" but found sometimes used on Amazon or E-Bay, but still at only a few dollars under the First Edition.

    As I mentioned, the above Book was published in 1971 and covers most everything up to that date, (with only a few mistakes), but leaves little after that. R.L. Wilson also published a couple more books, like "Colt, An American Legend" which sells for between $20 and $60 usually, used. It has Serial Number Tables which go to about 1985, but little else. From 1971, to 1999, the best information you can find out there is the Colt Catalogs from those years, but they don't give you anything on serial number recognition. The only source on numbers after about 1985 is the Factory itself. Colt Catalogs are found for sale on E-Bay from time to time and collecting those years is fun but slightly expensive. Sometimes you get a good buy but mostly, the Catalog sell for $20 to $50 or more each. That can get expensive when you need 28 or them to have model identification for those years.

    All Pythons are designated as the "I" frame. Grips from the Trooper, Officer's Model Match, Official Police, Army Special (.38 & .41), and the Commando will fit the Pythons.

    The 8 inch Pythons seem to be priced considerably less than the 6 and 4 inch. There is also an 8 inch which is chambered for the .38 special only and is a Target Model. Although I can't tell you exactly when the first 8 inch Python was made, these guns did come from the Factory with Pachmyr rubber grips during certain years.

    Information about Colts is sometimes very hard to get if in the later years after R.L. Wilson's publications. The Colt Factory will furnish you with a "Historical Letter" advising the date a certain gun was shipped from the factory and to whom. It will also enumerate the features that were optionally installed on the gun. But, you have to PAY a fee for this service and sometimes you get little for the money. Good Luck....Hopes this helps!

    I Miss The World I Grew Up In!
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  • coltnutz
    quote:Originally posted by Chris8161
    Welcome to the boards! I am not an expert on COLT revolvers but there are plenty of very knowledgeable people on here and one of them will be able to answer your questions.

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • coltnutz
    Thank you both Chris8161 and Ranchero Paul for your responses.
    I hope I am responding to your posts in the proper fashion......new to this board you know.

    I appreciate you taking time to write that in-depth info.
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  • tomh.
    The book mentioned by RancheroPaul "Colt, An American Legend" is a decent book for the money. They're usually on ebay or here. Lots of good pics!
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  • CHGOTHNDER
    Good info found in an older post.

    PJ

    editorialcolor.bmp
    If nobody seen you do it, how could you have done it. NRA PATRON-LIFE Member, AF&AM, Shriner Life Member, A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois "Chicago Chapter" Founding Member & Board Member
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