Stopped in my local Gun shop yesterday and they were checking in a bunch of police trade ins. A lot of them were junk but mixed in were a few gems. Including what appeared to be a 95ish % Colt Python.
This is why I never, ever make any irreversible modification to a firearm. You never know when the money you get out of it will be worth more to you than the gun.
I’ve known more than one person who thought engraving their social security number into a gun was just the perfect burglary deterrent (in the days before identity theft, of course), and found out the hard way what a stupid idea that is.
Years ago, Skeeter Skelton wrote a story for one of the gun mags about his days “horse trading” south of the border. The Mexican government had outlawed guns a Skeeter and his compadre found they could pick up Winchester rifles and Colt pistols cheap from the south of the border ranchers and other, bring them into the States where they could be sold for a nice profit.
Prices started climbing as supply started drying up and word got out about the two heinous paying American dollars for guns. Rumor got to Skeeter there was a clean Colt Single Action Army still for sale, if he could just find who had it. Excited, Skeeter and his compadre tracked down and bought the Colt, one of the last in the area. It was in pristine condition with on exception. The owner had crudely scratched his name “Bustamonte” in the side of the frame with a nail.
Gun could have possibly have been used in a shooting. I have read stories of year past, or more likely decades past, where the officer would create the chain of custody at the scene doing what is on the side of that revolver. If it could be linked to a specific shooting, that was high-ish profile, or had some history, it could be possibly worth more.
Lots of people used to engrave their name, telephone number and even social security number on valuable items. Even so, I think I’d have found a place under the grips to mark it. You can’t fix stupid, stupid is forever.
Oh by the way, did you happen to catch how much it sold for?
If the price was right for me I would buy it too. My dad bought a new Colt government in 1968. It’s still in great shape but to him it was a pistol plain and simple and he intended to defend his family with it. A veteran of WW2 he cleaned it as he was taught and modified it to his liking with a trigger shoe, trigger job and the infamous scratch below the slide catch… It’s is mine now and remains as I got it. Of course now it’s somewhat of a classic as many common firearms of our day will be someday…
That gun was probably evidence. Agencies used to “engrave” the officer’s initials, date, case number for identification purposes in court. Cause you can’t trust the serial number to be unique or everyone to log it correctly.
I guess that gun was lucky not to head to the smelter after it’s time in court was done. That’s where they went back in the 80’s.
A family member had a mint colt python, 8 rounds through it, complete box and papers.
Person committed suicide with it and its probably still rusting away in an evidence locker.
If the ugly initials slashed 2k off it, I’d buy it in a second. Closest thing to lubed metal sex I ever had was shooting a Python. Not a big wheel gun guy (have a 686 cuz its the law of gun guys one has to have at least one wheel gun) but if i was, I have a Python.
I believe this is the most plausible explanation, it’s probably a case number or evidence locker identification number. The poor Colt doesn’t look like a service revolver based on the barrel length. Agency marked firearms I have owned or handled had much cleaner and more uniform markings, stamped not engraved.
