1968 Colt Python Royal Blue This 1968 Colt Python Royal Blue represents the polished, high-finish side of Colt collecting. It remains in the no-letter serial-number period, and that makes the 1955-1969 serial table especially useful as a first reference point.
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Overview
The Python earned its collector reputation through a combination of Colt fit, Royal Blue polish, ventilated rib, full underlug, adjustable sights, and .357 Magnum chambering. A 1968 example sits near the end of the original no-letter serial sequence before the later letter-prefix numbers became common.
For a Royal Blue Python, the finish is part of the story. Collectors should study the sharpness of markings, edges, screw slots, cylinder flutes, muzzle, ejector rod housing, and the way wear appears across the whole revolver.
A bright, glossy Python can be eye-catching, but collector value depends on more than shine. Originality, correct features, honest condition, and documentation are the details that keep the story believable.
I have owned Pythons with 2.5-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch barrels. The four-inch is definitely my favorite. I like the way it shoots and handles better than the others.
The 1968 Collector Context
The no-letter Python serial-number table places 1968 production between serial numbers 73800 and 89999, with the next year beginning at 90000. That makes the table useful for quickly placing a 1968 example within the late-1960s production window.
The serial number helps with the date range, but it does not answer every collector question. Barrel length, finish, stocks, factory configuration, box, and any Colt Archive documentation should all be reviewed before drawing conclusions.
Reference Books
Gurney Brown’s Python references are helpful for studying barrel lengths, finishes, factory options, serial-number ranges, advertisements, and documented examples across the broader Colt snake-gun family.
The original page highlighted Colt’s Python, King of the Seven Serpents and Seven Serpents, the History of Colt’s Snake Guns as useful references for Python collectors. Those kinds of focused references are valuable because small production details can change how a gun should be understood.
Collector Takeaway
Why a Royal Blue Python Deserves Careful Study
Royal Blue finish is one of the great attractions of classic Colt collecting, but it also makes over-polishing and refinishing easier to spot when you know where to look. Study the details before judging the revolver by gloss alone.
Collector Checklist
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Serial-number range | Use the 1968 row in the no-letter Python table as a starting point for date-of-manufacture research. |
| Finish originality | Look for crisp rollmarks, sharp edges, consistent wear, and no signs of over-polishing under the blue. |
| Configuration | Confirm barrel length, sights, stocks, and factory features against period references or Colt documentation. |
| Mechanical condition | Check timing, lock-up, bore condition, crown, ejector rod, and screw slots without confusing careful use with abuse. |
| Documentation | Boxes, labels, receipts, and Colt Archive Letters can help support originality and provenance. |
Value Factors to Preserve
For a 1968 Royal Blue Python, collector strength comes from the combination of correct serial range, original finish, crisp markings, correct features, and believable supporting paperwork. Photographs should show more than the best angle; they should show the details that prove the finish and configuration.
Common Collector Mistakes
- Judging Royal Blue only by shine instead of checking edges, markings, and wear consistency.
- Assuming a no-letter serial number automatically proves every feature on the revolver is original.
- Ignoring box labels, archive information, or period paperwork that could confirm configuration.
- Overlooking altered screws, changed stocks, or sight changes because the revolver presents well overall.
Related Colt Python Pages
About Greg Cook
Greg writes these pages as a collector and hobbyist. The firearms shown are presented for historical reference, photographs, and collector discussion; they are not sale listings.