Colt Python .357 Magnum 6” Single Double Action Revolver Nickel, MFD 1996

SOLD FOR: $1,913.99

LSB#: LSB251003GL031

Make: Colt

Model: Python

Serial Number: PN11305  (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/)

Date of Manufacture: 1996 / Modern

Caliber: .357 Magnum

Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver With Swing Out Cylinder

Markings:  The left side of the barrel is marked “PYTHON 357 / * 357 MAGNUM CTG. *”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A.”. The flat under the crane and the crane are marked with the serial number “PN11305”. The sideplate is marked with a “Rampant Colt” logo. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with “VP” in a triangle.

Barrel Length: 6” Vent-Rib with Full Underlug

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade pinned to the front of the rib with an orange insert. The rear sight is a square notch adjustable for windage and elevation in a base pinned to the top-strap. The top of the barrel rib and the top strap have a matte finish to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are replacement Hogue one-piece smooth Goncalo Alves with finger grooves. The Hogue Mono Grip Mounting stirrup has been installed to the backstrap. There is light handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Nickel

Finish Originality: Original 

Bore Condition: The bore is mirror bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.  In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10. 

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 98% of its finish. The balance of the finish is strong and complete throughout. There are very limited light handling marks.  The cylinder has a thin turn-line.  There are no carbon rings on the face of the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in Fine to Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The lock-up on this revolver is solid, with no play when the trigger is depressed. The action functions correctly. We have not fired this revolver. This revolver has a wide target style hammer and a serrated trigger. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None 

Our Assessment: The Colt Python has long been regarded as the pinnacle of American double-action revolver craftsmanship. Introduced in 1955 as Colt’s flagship revolver, the Python was conceived not as a duty gun, but as a premium, hand-fitted target and sporting revolver built to the highest standards Colt could achieve. Each Python was assembled and tuned by skilled craftsmen, with extensive hand polishing, a meticulously fitted action, and a level of finish that set the benchmark for revolver quality for decades. The model’s ventilated rib, full-length underlug, and distinctive profile quickly made it one of the most recognizable handguns ever produced.

This example was manufactured in 1996, during the final years of original Python production, a period when output was limited and collector interest was already firmly established. Chambered in .357 Magnum with a 6-inch barrel, it represents the classic Python configuration, prized for its balance, extended sight radius, and recoil-taming underlug. The revolver retains approximately 98 percent of its original nickel finish, with only very light handling marks visible and a thin cylinder turn line present. The bore is mirror bright with sharp rifling and no erosion, rating 9.5 out of 10. Markings remain crisp and clear, screw heads are sharp, and overall presentation falls solidly in the Fine to Excellent range.

The revolver is fitted with replacement Hogue Goncalo Alves one-piece grips with finger grooves, showing minimal handling wear but no cracks or chips. Mechanically, the action functions correctly with solid lockup and no play when the trigger is held to the rear, retaining the smooth double-action pull and crisp single-action break that made the Python legendary. Produced just a few years before original Python manufacture ended in 1999, this revolver stands as a late-production example of Colt’s most celebrated wheelgun, embodying the craftsmanship and refinement that continue to define the Python as the standard by which all double-action revolvers are judged. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck on your bids!

BF