Interesting. The article says it's already selling for about $1400 in Europe...they'd better be able to drop that significantly over here, or I don't see them selling any. Bringing a clone to market that's the same price as the original, especially while the original is still in production, doesn't seem like a viable business model. Even moreso for the revolver crowd, who put a lot of stock in brand names and tradition.
Interesting move. I like the concept primarily because it has the correct and gorgeous original trigger profile unlike the new Pythons. Being Pietta I’m sure they’ll bugger it up with 299 stamps and billboards and proof marks and other crap.
It’ll be interesting to see if it has the original clockwork and spring arrangement also. I assume it likely does since the new one would be protected from direct ripoffs. If it does then it’ll have the same issues that the originals did and nobody around knows how to fix them anymore. Maybe a new crop of Python smiths will have to arise.
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Very interesting for sure, honestly I’d rather they made a clone of the original 1980’s King Cobra instead of the Python. The current “King Cobra” Colt makes I’m just not a fan of!
Originally posted by 92fstech: Interesting. The article says it's already selling for about $1400 in Europe...they'd better be able to drop that significantly over here, or I don't see them selling any. Bringing a clone to market that's the same price as the original, especially while the original is still in production, doesn't seem like a viable business model. Even moreso for the revolver crowd, who put a lot of stock in brand names and tradition.
I don’t know, a Spohr is a clone of a Smith, and people pay 3x what a new Smith goes for to buy a Spohr. If the execution is right, they could have a winner. No clue about their lockwork or accuracy, but, looking at those online pics, it just doesn’t have that right deep Python bluing.
Posts: 932 | Location: Volunteer | Registered: January 16, 2009
My friend had a Pietta SAA in .357, 5.5" barrel. It was a REALLY nice gun with a really nice feel to the lock work and trigger clicks. He bought it about 20 years ago I think it was. Put thousands of rounds through it.
Originally posted by pedropcola: I don’t care how nice Pietta makes a gun (I have Pietta) nobody is paying Colt prices for a Colt clone. That is retarded.
Everyone sure did during the USFA days. But I agree the demand for the Python is nowhere near the demand for the SAA at the time.
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I’m not an SAA expert but those guns by USFA were built on Colt equipment and by all accounts better than Colts at the time correct? Like I said, Pietta makes a fine repro. They aren’t Colt level or USFA level. At all. In fact I think my Uberti is overall nicer than Pietta. I think that your analogy isn’t exactly apples to apples.
If it’s only for the European market that is one thing. Trying to sell that instead of a real Colt Python at the same price point is moronic. The USFA thing also benefitted from it was difficult to find real Colts in stock and the prices were crazy high at the time.
Good luck you crazy Italians. lol
Posts: 8479 | Location: Florida | Registered: June 18, 2005
Originally posted by Shackelford: I don’t know, a Spohr is a clone of a Smith, and people pay 3x what a new Smith goes for to buy a Spohr. If the execution is right, they could have a winner. No clue about their lockwork or accuracy, but, looking at those online pics, it just doesn’t have that right deep Python bluing.
Despite having the overall design and dimensions of a Smith, a Spohr is more high-end (somewhat similar to Korth and Manurhin) than any Smith. The price hike over a Smith isn’t completely because of this (import duties, tariffs, and other economics play a role too), but comparing the two is a little like comparing a Les Baer Premier II to a Springfield Garrison. What I mean by all that is:
Pietta makes a quality gun, but they’ve never really been on that level (nor is it their mission). I am definitely wondering who this is intended for since the high quality reproductions that Pietta normally makes are generally of long-discontinued designs of yesteryear.
Pietta, to their credit, turns out a rather diverse lineup from a manufacturing standpoint. They do more than 50 versions of a SAA clone. I have been impressed with the blue finish on the few I’ve seen.
They are part of Beretta’s holdings so there is support at least.
I’m wondering if this is one of the celebratory Beretta anniversary guns.
Posts: 105 | Location: Deep in the fields | Registered: July 16, 2025
Originally posted by 92fstech: Interesting. The article says it's already selling for about $1400 in Europe...they'd better be able to drop that significantly over here, or I don't see them selling any. Bringing a clone to market that's the same price as the original, especially while the original is still in production, doesn't seem like a viable business model. Even moreso for the revolver crowd, who put a lot of stock in brand names and tradition.
Well, we agree that Colt is currently producing what they’re calling a Python, but I have a fair bit of trigger time on the early 70’s production Python I inherited and I assure you that the bolded part of your quote isn’t accurate. The original hasn’t been in production for almost a lifetime and the smiths who crafted them are probably all on to the next plane of existence. They don’t look the same, they don’t feel the same, the triggers feel vastly different and the finishes on the new ones aren’t in the same league.
There’s two at work I wish they hadn’t ordered because out of our customer base, I don’t know who they’re for. The younger shooters that may have any interest all want the 6” nickel Rick Grimes look-alike, not a 4” blued or a 2” snub nose, and the old timers aren’t remotely interested in them once they feel the trigger stacking. Pietta could conceivably pull this off at that price.
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Originally posted by P220 Smudge: the old timers aren’t remotely interested in them once they feel the trigger stacking. Pietta could conceivably pull this off at that price.
The original Python was well known for trigger stacking in DA, at least in the later years of production. Mine exhibits this. The new Python doesn’t use a V spring and is supposed to have cured the stacking “feature” but I haven’t ever tried one. From your comment I assume the new Pythons you have tried DO have trigger stacking in DA? That surprises me.
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