Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Another Python Question...

manderson
I see some early Pythons for sale that are described as "Factory Custom Shop Tuned". One I have actually purchased and is on layaway right now, and it is described as "purchased in 1972 and sent back to Colt in 1975 to have the Ellison combat sights and factory action job." It is also mint condition and never been fired.

Now my question is about "Factory Custom Shop Tuning". My local dealer told me that ALL of the early pythons were Custom Shop Tuned, so why would someone send a brand new unfired Python back to the custom shop for tuning? Is my local dealer wrong about this?
0

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Idahjo
    Just for what it's worth, I got a new Python 4" in 1967 that was as smooth as "frogs hair". Can't imagine having anyone else tinker with it. Very sweet sidearm[^]
    0
  • Rocklobster
    It's as good a way as any to justify tacking a couple hundred bucks onto the price.
    0
  • manderson
    Rocklobster...You could be very correct. I got the serial number and found that it was manufactured in 1978 and not 1972 as advertised. Nice looking gun, but I got my money back because I just don't like being deceived. Any real gun dealer should be able to provide accurate information, or at least be honest if they just don't know.
    0
  • punchie
    Let's see now, bought in 72, sent to Custon Shop in 75, New, NEVER FIRED but made in 78. Sounds like they got their sales staff from WallyWorld. Unless the price was very, very good I believe I would have done what you did. Honesty=Good, Blatant Lies=BAD.

    Cartoon_truck.gif

    AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY<P>
    0
  • RancheroPaul
    "Custom Shop Tuned" has a very NICE sound to it! Not sure how Colt was able to accomplish the Custom Shop tuning of all these guns considering the size of that operation. I would be very leary of such statements, unless, There was an actual invoice for such work, a Colt Historical Letter which documented such "Custom Shop Tuning" or some other way to prove such, (Not sure what that might be), otherwise, I would take such claims as a "grain of salt!"

    I have seen way more Python's for sale that are "Custom Shop Tuned" than I have ever seen that weren't!

    One of the main selling points of this gun in the beginning was simply that they were hand made be a Gun Craftsman that completed the work leaving nothing to be desired. This may have been forgotten to some extent over the years, but not really. These guns have always been hand made and continue to be to this day. You can order a New one made in the Colt Custom Shop for about $1,500.00. Not sure why you would want a new one when the old ones in good or better condition are as good or better. Why? They were made by folks that were proud of their work and competed against each other to make the finest examples. No such work ethic exists anymore and the attitude is more that "good is good enough!"

    But this phrase, "Custom Shop Tuned" sure sounds good and probably sells more guns for more money that if no such claims were made. My 2 cents worth.......


    I Miss The World I Grew Up In!
    0
  • JudgeColt
    Yes, your dealer is wrong about this. All early (what is early? 1955? 1960? 1970?) Pythons were NOT "Factory-Tuned," but they were tuned at the factory. By that I mean all early Pythons received careful assembly, fitting and polishing, thus resulting in a very smooth action. However, the term "Factory-Tuned" actually does have application to much later Pythons made after careful hand-fitting had been reduced to a minimum.

    In the early 1980s, Colt offered a "Factory-Tuned" and an "Elliason Sight" package on Pythons. There was a special order number applicable to each package separately, and another for the two packages combined. I have an 8-inch nickel (before stainless became available) Python with the combination package, but not at hand, nor do I have access to my catalog files here at home.

    The tune and sight package added about $200 wholesale as I recall. The box end label has the "Custom Shop" logo as I recall. It took me a couple of months of waiting to get the gun in the early 1980s. I also recall a warning that the tune package was not to be used for law enforcement or protection since ignition force was reduced and might not be reliable with all ammunition. Mine is reliable, but I think I can tell the ignition force is less.

    While the tune work mentioned would make a nicer gun, the value added to a gun shipped back to get "tuned" would not be as much as an original gun factory-delivered with the tune package.

    It is easy to say the gun is "factory-tuned," but, absent paper proof, I would not pay much for the representations of the seller.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity