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The Range
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colt python
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<blockquote data-quote="jonodeck" data-source="post: 1583118" data-attributes="member: 9891"><p> Colt Python serial number ranges from 1955 to 1985: The sudden increase in production in 1964 indicates that the CNC machining process may have been introduced in the mid-60's. Perhaps a reader out there that has first-hand knowledge will let me know and I can post that info here.</p><p></p><p> Year: Serial Numbers: Production:</p><p> 1955 1 - 299 299</p><p> 1956 300 - 1649 1,350</p><p> 1957 1650 - 5549 3,900</p><p> 1958 5550 - 7049 1,500</p><p> 1959 7050 - 9099 2,050</p><p> 1960 9100 - 13099 4,000</p><p> 1961 13100 - 18799 5,700</p><p></p><p>1962 18800 - 24799 6,000</p><p>1963 24800 - 30799 6,000</p><p>1964 30800 - 41399 10,600</p><p>1965 41400 - 50499 9,100</p><p>1966 50500 - 60999 10,500</p><p>1967 61000 - 73799 12,800</p><p>1968 73800 - 89999 15,200</p><p>1969 * 90000 - 99999 10,000</p><p></p><p> *Toward the end of 1969 the letter "E" was added as a prefix to the serial number. In 1975 the letter "E" was moved to the end of the number, becoming a suffix. In 1978 other letters were used. </p><p> </p><p>1969 E1001 - E6300 5,300</p><p>1970 E6301 - E21200 14,900</p><p>1971 E21201 - E38000 16,800</p><p>1972 E38001 - E53500 15,500</p><p>1973 E53501 - E61000 7,500</p><p>1974 E61001 - E83700 22,700</p><p>1975 E83701 - E99999 16,199</p><p>1975 01001E - 15000E 14,000</p><p></p><p>1976 15001E - 48300E 33,300</p><p>1977 48301E - 86200E 37,900</p><p>1978 86201E - 99999E 13,799</p><p>1978 01001N - ? ?</p><p>1978 V01001 - V36736 35,736</p><p>1979 V36737 - V88373 51,636</p><p>1980 V88374 - V99999 11,625</p><p>1980 AL01001 - AL9999 8,999</p><p></p><p>1980 LA0101 - LA9999 9,899</p><p>1980 VA1001 - VA9256 8,256</p><p>1980 K01001 - K16265 15,265</p><p>1981 K16266 - K75747 59,481</p><p>1982 K75748 - K99999 24,251</p><p>1983 T01001 - T27539 26,539</p><p>1984 T27540 - T34452 16,912</p><p>1985 T34453 - ? ?</p><p></p><p>According to the Colt Python Serial Number Table above, production of the Python peaked in 1981 (the highest production year). However, 1978 is a "question mark" due to missing information surrounding guns with serial numbers that have the "N" Suffix. If more than 9,900 Pythons were produced with the "N" Suffix, 1978 would be the highest production year. </p><p></p><p>At any rate, the five year period from 1977 through 1981 appears to be the peak demand period (Life Cycle Peak) or "golden years" of production for the Colt Python. After 1981 production numbers fall off rapidly, culminating with the gun eventually being produced by the Colt Custom Shop to order only, up until production ceased altogether. </p><p></p><p>Some very lucky person out there owns the very last Python produced by Colt. I suspect the value of that gun to a collector would be very high. However, as long as Colt remains in business the remote possibility exists that they might produce another Python, thus de-throning the "last produced Python", a proposition that could never threaten the "first Python produced".</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jonodeck, post: 1583118, member: 9891"] Colt Python serial number ranges from 1955 to 1985: The sudden increase in production in 1964 indicates that the CNC machining process may have been introduced in the mid-60's. Perhaps a reader out there that has first-hand knowledge will let me know and I can post that info here. Year: Serial Numbers: Production: 1955 1 - 299 299 1956 300 - 1649 1,350 1957 1650 - 5549 3,900 1958 5550 - 7049 1,500 1959 7050 - 9099 2,050 1960 9100 - 13099 4,000 1961 13100 - 18799 5,700 1962 18800 - 24799 6,000 1963 24800 - 30799 6,000 1964 30800 - 41399 10,600 1965 41400 - 50499 9,100 1966 50500 - 60999 10,500 1967 61000 - 73799 12,800 1968 73800 - 89999 15,200 1969 * 90000 - 99999 10,000 *Toward the end of 1969 the letter "E" was added as a prefix to the serial number. In 1975 the letter "E" was moved to the end of the number, becoming a suffix. In 1978 other letters were used. 1969 E1001 - E6300 5,300 1970 E6301 - E21200 14,900 1971 E21201 - E38000 16,800 1972 E38001 - E53500 15,500 1973 E53501 - E61000 7,500 1974 E61001 - E83700 22,700 1975 E83701 - E99999 16,199 1975 01001E - 15000E 14,000 1976 15001E - 48300E 33,300 1977 48301E - 86200E 37,900 1978 86201E - 99999E 13,799 1978 01001N - ? ? 1978 V01001 - V36736 35,736 1979 V36737 - V88373 51,636 1980 V88374 - V99999 11,625 1980 AL01001 - AL9999 8,999 1980 LA0101 - LA9999 9,899 1980 VA1001 - VA9256 8,256 1980 K01001 - K16265 15,265 1981 K16266 - K75747 59,481 1982 K75748 - K99999 24,251 1983 T01001 - T27539 26,539 1984 T27540 - T34452 16,912 1985 T34453 - ? ? According to the Colt Python Serial Number Table above, production of the Python peaked in 1981 (the highest production year). However, 1978 is a "question mark" due to missing information surrounding guns with serial numbers that have the "N" Suffix. If more than 9,900 Pythons were produced with the "N" Suffix, 1978 would be the highest production year. At any rate, the five year period from 1977 through 1981 appears to be the peak demand period (Life Cycle Peak) or "golden years" of production for the Colt Python. After 1981 production numbers fall off rapidly, culminating with the gun eventually being produced by the Colt Custom Shop to order only, up until production ceased altogether. Some very lucky person out there owns the very last Python produced by Colt. I suspect the value of that gun to a collector would be very high. However, as long as Colt remains in business the remote possibility exists that they might produce another Python, thus de-throning the "last produced Python", a proposition that could never threaten the "first Python produced". [/QUOTE]
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