Suck The Life Out Of A Post Why Doncha!

I noticed recently some traffic coming from another blog which linked to my post suggesting Colt should bring back the Python. The author takes the time to run through why that is a lousy suggestion from a financial standpoint. I guess I should have done my homework and realized Colt used Lilliputian Pygmies to mine the ore from the volcanic fields of middle earth for forging the steel and their machinists were German transplants who’s perfection level is only surpassed by NASA and Tesla engineers and the retail cost would have to be 2-3X what I proposed. I think those who regularly frequent the blog will know I try to use at least part of my brain when making a post and had I used even a small part of the financial portion I would have seen my pricing ideas were out of whack. Still doesn’t make me want a new production Python any less. Colt should bring back the Python for people like me since it alone apparently cannot fix their money issues. At the very least my somewhat tongue-in-cheek 225 word post in December caused someone to respond with numbered points and boldface. 😉

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Recently it became clear the links to many of our photos are broken. It is a cumbersome process to go back through all the posts over the past three years to fix the issues. In some cases it may not be possible, but many of the photos are mine and I just need to revise each post. If you find a broken photo link, feel free to post a comment and I will get to it. I’ve gotten about half way through both 2014 and 2012 and will continue to work on it with the goal to have the photo links restored where possible in the next two months.

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Colt – Here’s A Solution To Your Money Issues

Maybe I’m naive, but I think the way Colt should solve their money woes is by bringing back the Python. My understanding is Colt discontinued them because production costs were too high, but that was back in 2000 when a wheel gun was becoming rarer and rarer and everyone was gravitating to a semi-automatic. Today the Python’s fetch ridiculous amounts when you can find one for sale. On one forum recently the asking price was over $4k and it sold within a day. Now I don’t think they could push the Python out the door at the current market prices for the firearm, but like Smith & Wesson they could easily ask $700-800+ with an MSRP of $900-1000+. A blued Smith Model 586 6″ has a MSRP of $839 and would retail for around $750. A blued Ruger GP100 6″ has an MSRP $699 and you might be able to get one for $550. It would take several years for Colt to saturate the market with new Pythons to the point people would say I’ll just go get a 586 or a GP100. Both the Smith and the Ruger are terrific firearms, but you cannot find a Colt and I know plenty of wheel gun enthusiasts who would line up to grab a new off-the-line Python for $800+ and that cycle would repeat until all of us left wanting finally had one in our hot little hand.

What’s it worth?

So let’s say you have to determine the value of a firearm you want to purchase. If it is a new gun, that is pretty simple. Go to at least five websites and check the price. One of those sites should be Bud’s Gun Shop since they tend to have a low price. Now add in any FFL fees and shipping and you should have a pretty good idea of what would be a good deal on the gun. I know when I went looking for a Bersa it turned out I had to purchase out-of-state in order to find the model I wanted. When I purchased a Ruger SR9C it turned out to be less to buy in-state and pay the tax then to purchase online and pay FFL fees and shipping. It can also be worthwhile to look at GunBroker to see what is being charged there, but keep in mind the prices on new firearms tend to be high on GB when you add in shipping and FFL fees.

On a used firearm it is not so quick and easy. First you have to decide the condition from photos or descriptions and then work to price. I find the best place to start is GunBroker knowing the price will be slightly inflated on most items. I also check the Gun Auction website, but their search is not as user-friendly. Often a simple google search for the firearm can yield results which can prove beneficial. Keep in mind a brand new in-the-box (BNIB) older firearm will bring a much higher price than one which has holster wear and does not come with a box. I got a used S&W on GunBroker and paid almost exactly what it was worth when you include shipping and FFL fees. So if I decided to sell it tomorrow I would at least be even. At times you may run into a rare firearm which is commanding a price more than what it should. Since the Colt Python is no longer produced the prices are sky-high and will not fall back to realistic levels. There are published guides with firearm prices in them and if you are purchasing more than a few per year it would be worth the money to purchase a guide. There are also some online guides and Firearms Price Guide is an excellent free reference.

Model 1911 – on everyone’s wish list?

Let me start by being clear, I’ve always been a wheel gun man. My first pistol was a revolver and the only semi-automatic I ever wanted was a Glock and last year I finally scratched that itch. Lately it seems the world is going crazy for 1911’s. I can understand the popularity with those who served in our nation’s military [If you served, thank you so much for your service!], but lately the average Joe seems to have their sights set on a 1911.  every pistol in Kimber’s catalog is based on a 1911 design.

The gun is notoriously trustworthy and has been so since Colt designer John Browning brought it for a test in late 1910 where 6,000 rounds were fired over two days and as the barrel heated they immersed the gun in water to cool it and had no malfunctions. I had never given the 1911 much thought until I spied a Ruger (we all know by now I am a Ruger fan) SR1911 and got on the waiting list for one. It is an affordable 1911 with pricing running from $590 – $750 depending upon the store. Because Ruger is not currently accepting new orders, some unscrupulous dealers are charging more than list price for the SR1911.

Smith & Wesson brought out their redesigned “E”Series 1911 last year and the scandium frame with the stainless slide speaks to me. Unfortunately it weighs in at nearly $1,200 so it may have to talk to me from afar!

So is a 1911 on everyone’s wish list? I don’t know, but they have started to find their way on mine!