Welcome everyone to the 110th edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or only has a Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

In our last edition, our poll showed that you, the readers, found the custom MR920L to be soul-crushing fudd crap.  

HGFC – Skull Crusher or Soul-Crushing? — Poll Results

At this time the original auction remains up with no bids placed on the Shadow Systems pistol. We can only hope this skull-clad gat finds its way to a new home in the near future.   

In this week’s edition of HGFC, we look at a heavily engraved Colt Python. As is tradition, this engraved wheelgun classic is currently up for sale on GunBroker for $14,995.00 Buy It Now.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP?

Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

Let’s see what the Staff had to say about this week’s offering:

“Those bullets aren’t silvery enough for my taste” – Giorgio O.

“I’m not even mad. I kind of want that to go with my powdered Wig at my next country club meeting” – Luke C.

“Vampires don’t exist. Neither should this Colt” – Eric B.

“For the Wesley Snipes Blade fan who has everything” – Nick C.

“Someone combined the two cap guns of my youth together” – Rusty S.

“Who knew that Hornady FTX bullets worked on vampires? I guess we still don’t since there’s no notches on the grip.” – Doug E.

“If Van Helsing lived in a trailer, smokes Paul Malls and hands out justice from he Geo Metro” – Matt E.

“Exquisite workmanship, asinine application. 3/10.” – Will P.

“For the cartel boss that moonlights as a chupacabra hunter in all of us” – Ben F.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

Selling this vampire hunter-themed gat is GunBroker seller FANCYBULLETS, located in Las Vegas NV.  Let’s see what they had to say about this heavily engraved python.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

1971 Colt Python with a 2 1/2” barrel. Engraved by FEGA certified master engraver Mark Swanson. Over 80 hours of work! It is done in a Germanic style of scroll. As you will see every scroll has has cuts inside of it. Every other cylinder is alternated with a bat and a cross. There is also a mixture flowers into the cuts as well as wings and bat heads. The top strap and crane hinge have a hatche pattern on them. The face of the barrel and the bottom of the trigger gaurd have a cross as well. When you get into the small details. Notice the grass around the coffin that the pony is dancing on. The over the top part it the bat hanging from the tree branch on the bottom of the frame in front of th trigger gaurd. The background has been heavily punch dotted. After it was punched every exterio was recut to retain all of the definition. It was then sent to Nutmeg Sports for the antique nickel blue small parts. Nutmeg also custom fit a set of black buffalo horn on it with antique pewter medallions.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

One likely source of inspiration for this Colt Python may have been this Vampire Hunter’s Colt in the NRA museum. Either way, this is certainly a very specific firearm for a very enthusiastic python collector.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

I did find it a bit odd that the front and rear of the cylinder hadn’t been engraved on this gun.  Aside from these two very virgin surfaces, it seems like every millimeter of the rest of the gun had to be engraved.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

When it comes to revolvers, the original Colt Pythons will always be the gold standard of quality. These guns were so good that when the new Python was released, a lot of skepticism ensued regarding the quality. The biggest question now becomes “How much engraving is too much engraving?”. It is sort of like buying a Ferrari F40 and painting it black. Yes, it’s still a Ferrari F40, but I don’t think you’ve increased the value by not having it in the original red.

Still, I could very well be wrong, and as I pointed out earlier, this gun looks to be a copy of a gun in the NRA Museum. I don’t know if that makes the gun worth just a shade under $15k, but with Python enthusiasts, you never know. So is this gun worth it for the price? As always, I leave it up to you, the readers, to decide.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Colt Python “Vampire Hunter” Edition

What do you think?  Is this custom python a Hot Gat or some overengraved Fudd Crap?  Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and cast your vote to let us know if this is Colt Python Vampire Hunter Master Engraved is a Hot Gat or Fudd Crap: