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what to do with this python.

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  • goodfellas

    Member
    Mar 20, 2008
    171
    1
    San Antonio
    My grandfather gave me a "rusty old revolver" he kept under a blanket at the ranch. Turns out its a 4" python in bad shape. I got a lot of the major rust off but it has a lot of pitting on it. What's the best way to go about restoring this gun. Also any info on pythons would also be welcome as I don't know much about colts. Pictures to come soon when I get to a computer.
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    Dawico

    Uncoiled
    Lifetime Member
    Oct 15, 2009
    38,007
    96
    Lampasas, Texas
    If I had a gun given to me by my grandfather I would send it to a professional. Even if it was a Hi Point.

    Then I would shoot the hell out of it.
     

    goodfellas

    Member
    Mar 20, 2008
    171
    1
    San Antonio
    revolver1.jpg revolver2.jpg revolver3.jpg
    Sorry for the quality these were taken with my phone. I can take better pictures tomorrow if yall would like to see it better.
     

    benenglish

    Just Another Boomer
    Staff member
    Lifetime Member
    Admin
    Nov 22, 2011
    23,933
    96
    Spring
    I don't have anything they have worked on but read many articles with pictures about their quality. Some are simply amazing.
    Yes, some are. And some are amazingly underwhelming.

    There's a test report on their case-hardened, wood-stocked AR in the "Book of the AR" that's on newsstands now. It has some big, high resolution pictures. Look closely. There is some truly rough finish on that rifle and the wood-to-metal fit is, well, completely UNfitted. The thing looks atrocious.

    I wouldn't hesitate to send them an 1886 Winchester or something like that. But unfortunately, like anyone else, they can get into real trouble when they try to drive outside their lane.

    I wouldn't send them a Python unless I had seen before and after pictures of a Python restoration from them.

    I'm getting to where I don't trust people in my old age, especially people who we rely on to be artists in wood and steel but whose most commonly and successfully demonstrated talents are for self-promotion.

    ETA - I've looked at their web site and their before and after pictures of revolver restorations. Yeah, I think I'd trust Turnbull with this job. In fact, the work on their site looks great...which leaves me all the more confused about that lousy-looking AR pictured in the previously-cited magazine. I guess even a really good shop can have a bad day.
     
    Last edited:

    556.45.12

    Active Member
    Mar 8, 2013
    480
    1
    Houston, TX
    I dunno man.. I'm all for keeping the past alive and restoring a great gun to its former greatness, but once a gun starts pitting externally, I wouldn't shoot it. Even with a thorough inspection, things can be missed. With my luck there would be a line of pitting that would form into a stress crack, then buldge, and then I'd lose an appendage or something. I would seal that sucker in a block of clear epoxy and put it over the mantle.
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    I was checking the prices on Gunbroker the other day for Pythons (I have a 6 inch)....

    The prices have gone into the crazy range...
     

    40Arpent

    TGT Addict
    Jul 16, 2008
    7,061
    31
    Houston
    Try these folks. They've been at it a lot longer then Turnbull.

    No doubt, they do very fine work, but saying they have been at it a "lot" longer is debatable and hardly a qualifier for who to choose in this instance. Ron's opened in 1964, and at that time, Doug Turnbull's family already had a thriving gun shop. So, both Paul (Ron's son) and Doug grew up in the business, and both have 30+ years of restoration experience. I am certain either would do an outstanding job on the OP's revolver.
     

    Moonpie

    Omnipotent Potentate for hire.
    Lifetime Member
    Oct 4, 2013
    24,102
    96
    Gunz are icky.
    FWIW, I'd just clean it up best I could and leave it be. Turnbull is very good but it'll cost you as much as a new Pythonand take a year+ to get back.
    and I know this sounds weird but it won't be Grandfathers gun when it comes back.
    Leave it as is, as is came to you.
    Shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it. A pristine safe queen is no fun.

    And another thing: DO NOT shoot fullpower 357 loads in it. Stay with 38's. 357 ammo WILL eventually knock it out of time. Very $$$$ and time to get repaired.
     
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