Wheelgun Wow Factor — Colt Pythons Numbers 2, 3, and 5
Photos courtesy NRABlog.com.
Each day, on Facebook, the NRA National Firearms Museum showcases something special from the Museum collections. A while back the Museum displayed a trio of snakes — three very special Colt Pythons. From bottom to top, these three prized wheelguns are: Colt Python serial number 2, number 3, and number 5. And yes, that is the original box for Python #2 (at bottom). The museum says such low serial number guns were typically produced for a company executive or key members of the gun design team.
Loved for their beautiful finish, nice balance, and great trigger, Colt Pythons have proven to be excellent investments. Since the Colt Python was first introduced in 1955, Python prices have gone through the roof. A pristine, LNIB early-era Colt Python can now command $4000.00 or more. The Museum estimates the price of Pythons has risen 14,300% since 1955. How much did a Python cost in 1955? You could purchase the Royal Blue model for just $125.00! Factory-engraved models started at $245.00, according to this Colt advertisement from June, 1955:
You can see hundreds of other interesting firearms on the National Firearm Museum website, www.NRAMuseum.com. Or, if you’re lucky, you can see the collections in person. The NRA now operates three Museum locations: the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum in Springfield, MO; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest in Raton, NM.
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Tags: 1955 gun price, Colt, Colt Python, National Firearms Museum, Revolver
That $125 is roughly $1,200 in todays dollars.
I don’t think that Colt (or anyone) could build a revolver of that quality for that price now.
If the 1955 base Python ($125) brought 4,000 now, that is only 32 times price, or 3,200%, which would be knocked down by inflation. This is still great but less than 1/4 of the museum’s appreciation estimate for Pythons of over 14,000%.