How much more durable are those new finishes? NOTE: My nickel plated gun pictured on this page is a half century old and has been used throughout the last 50 years (not stored in a safe). The Bright Nickel model was discontinued with the introduction of the more durable satin stainless and mirror-polished Ultimate Stainless models. The Python was originally available in two finishes: Royal Blue and Bright Nickel.

Originally, Colt manufactured Pythons with hollow underlugs but quickly left them solid to add stabilizing barrel weight. A full barrel underlug, ventilated rib and adjustable sights combine to give the gun its unique look. 357 Colt Python wearing period elephant ivory grips Use the Colt Serial Number Database Lookup Tool.ġ962. The Pythons from the 1955-1963 era were all hand made and hand finished (prior to CNC machining and mass assembly line production).

Pythons produced from 1955 to 1969 have no letter in the serial number and are the most desirable to collectors. The Colt Python was first introduced in 1955 as Colt's top-of-the-line model. These later guns however all have Letters included in the serial number.Colt Python The finest production revolver ever made. To further confuse things, in 1969 the Old Model Trooper models were discontinued and replaced by the Trooper Mark III, and later in the 1980's by the Trooper Mark V. So, production dating depends on both the caliber and the serial number. The numbers #1 to about 84616 cover the 357 model and the. In 1961, the 357 was discontinued, and the Trooper was then offered in. The 357 was more or less a deluxe version of the Trooper. This was both the caliber AND the actual name of the gun. 22LR Trooper.įrom 1954 to 1961 Colt also made a model known as the Colt 357. Trooper numbers from 900351 to around 938520 cover the. This gun was basically just an Officer's Model Match with a different barrel and markings.

This is really confusing, and makes problems when trying to date an Old Model Trooper. One covers the Trooper and 357 Model, and one has Trooper numbers mixed with the Officer's Model Match. There are actually TWO Trooper serial number ranges. As is usual with Colt, things got really confusing around 1953-54.

Colt trooper serial number dates