They have been going up nicely. I was lucky enough to get a 99% one with box and papers in 2001 for $450.00. I have kept it in the dark of the safe due to its condition and since I have a few other .22 LR handguns to play with. I know there are others out there who are not in favor of this practice, but I am pretty set in my ways.

 

I got this one at auction in 2001 for $400. Was in great shape, but no box or papers.

 

I like my Diamondbacks, but I like the OMM better, as a shooter. The DBs certainly do look better.

 

An Officer`s Model Match in 22LR would be a great gun to have. But I`ve never run across one when I had the spare cash.

 

In my collection I have a 6" with factory nickel plate. In its original box. Bought it in 1979 when the 1st 6"ers came out. As far as a shooter goes a pre M17 S&W will shoot circles around it. I don't like the sights. It is a safe queen now, as are my K22 Masterpieces. Big Larry

 

I like both of them. I have a Smith model 17-4.

 

Nice 6" blue one is sitting in our Cabelas at $2500

 

There is no way I would buy a Diamondback at today`s prices.
The Diamondbacks and Pythons are nice guns, but the prices they bring today are just insane.

 

I have both, but as far as Colt 22's go, my $$$ is on a nice 4" Match Target Woodsman. Big Larry

 

They are a nice, well built revolver. A Baby Python if you will. Big Larry

 

Actually, not even close to a baby python: take yours apart and compare actions if you doubt.

 

I think he meant it looks like a baby Python. Colt was going to make a real Python in .22LR, but they never did. I sure wish they had!

 

I think he meant it looks like a baby Python. Colt was going to make a real Python in .22LR, but they never did. I sure wish they had!

Would probably have been a great shooter. The Python was for the most part a slicked up Officer`s Model Match.

 

I had a 6" Diamondback. Bought it about 1983 for $300.

Beautiful gun.

What are they going for now?

 

Last time I saw one sell locally at auction it brought $1,850

I got mine 13 years ago for $400.

 

I have a 6" and a 4" Diamondback in .22 and would love to have a 6" in nickel.
I have owned 2", 4" and 6" barrel Diamondbacks in .38 special.
I've heard that the .38 specials shot really well but the .22s nothing to brag about.
Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

I have an about perfect 4" .22 Diamondback.

On the cool factor, it knocks it out of the park! Deep, Royal Blue, vent rib, beautiful grips. The accuracy is not as good as either of the K-22's I own (4" & 6").

I have a 6" and a 4" Diamondback in .22 and would love to have a 6" in nickel.
I have owned 2", 4" and 6" barrel Diamondbacks in .38 special.
I've heard that the .38 specials shot really well but the .22s nothing to brag about.
Can anyone confirm or deny this?]

 

I have two, one 38 and one 22. Both 6 inch nickel, new in box, with tag, never fired. Current asking prices have really tempted me, but never seen any bids

 

If you want a Python in 22, an Officer Model Match is about as close as you can get. They are certainly better shooters than a 22 Diamondback. The Diamondbacks look awesome, but they are basically a fancy Detective Special. An OMM is the same basic frame as the Python without the ventilated rib and fancy bluing.

 

There has always been talk about the 22 version of the Python appeared on the cover of the catalog, and rightfully so. As far as production guns go, the OMM is about as close as you'll get to a Python in 22LR.

 

I had one.Absolutely flawless,NIB,cased,etc.
I was surprised when I stumbled across it in a gun shop.It was a 1 of 500,but priced where I figured a standard version would be.
Had it just a few years and decided the gold stuff wasn't for me,and sold it with a nice profit.Wasn't long after that,when I saw standard versions being offered for that same amount.
If mine was the standard,I'd probably still have it.

 

I love the Python look. The accuracy is good, not great. Sure is a lot of fun to shoot, though.

 

Here is one of the rarest 22's Colt ever produced..1960 OMM in 22 WMR..only about 850 of these were reported to have been produced and it's not worth near what a .22 Diamondback is worth these days...but I am very patient

 

Here is one of the rarest 22's Colt ever produced..1960 OMM in 22 WMR..only about 850 of these were reported to have been produced and it's not worth near what a .22 Diamondback is worth these days...but I am very patient

Very nice revolver.:bthumb: I had a chance to get a like new one about 7 or 8 years ago for under $1,000. Like a mo***, I didn't do it.

 

I'll jump in---my 4 inch Diamondback is, like everyone says, a looker so far as bluing. Hard to beat the blue. Accuracy is so-so. The grips, IMHO, suck--about as ergonomic as a pick handle or a fence post. The only thing worse was a S&W 22A with factory woods grips. Clunky comes to mind.

 

I have a 4" blued 22lr diamondback in layaway right now.. No box or papers in really nice condition it does have the start of a faint turn ring on the cylinder. It was 1700$ and I picked up a box for it on eBay. I think the price was fair for the gun, I know I can sell it for about 2000$ - 2200$ online if I had to.
I love 22 revolvers and pistols and fell my collection would not have been complete with out a colt. I also bought it so when I drop dead my kids could sell it off for something dumb...lol
What really amazes me is the price of a 4" nickel colt 22lr diamondback. There selling in the 5k-6k range. What a beautiful gun. But wow expensive!!!..
If any one has one and is will to post pics . I would love to see some. Also are the nickel models hard to find?.. That is did Colt only produce these in a limited run?.. That would justify the selling price.
Thanks

 

I'm not willing to fork over the money that Colt snake guns command but I do like my 1969 Officers Model Match. I probably wouldn't have bought it if I had not spotted it in a local shop. But I'd never seen one in person and the shop offered layaway so I bit. I also have a 1971 S&W 17-3 and it's nice but I like the Colt a little more, probably because I have several S&W revolvers but this is my only Colt revolver. I paid a fraction of a Diamondback's price for the OMM and I can't imagine the Diamondback would be that much better.

 

colt



really nice pair of revolves you have there, great pictures and thank you for sharing.

 

Photoman 12001
That is one hell of a smith and Wesson.. Is it also a 22lr. .these high end guns are beautiful peace of tooling. At this end of the spectrum a lot of these fine guns and there history are new to me. I was never willing to fork over the $$ for a 22lr. With in the past 3 years I've become addicted to them and love shooting them. Thanks for posting pics

 

From the look of IHMSA's picture there is at least ONE .22LR Python out there. Wonder whatever happened to it?

 

I have a 4" Diamondback. I got it a couple of years back for only 1K on GB. The pictures were terrible. The pics made it look like the finish was messed up. The description was not informative. I had the only bid. It' a 99% gun. :t

The receiving LGS offered me $1,100.00, then he offered me $1,200.00.

As pretty as it is, it will not out shoot either of my K-22's. but I like its rakish good looks and amazing bluing. It's comforting to know I could just flip it @ a profit.

The market is just driven by buyer demand, not by accuracy or longevity. A S&W 686 will outlast and outshoot a Python. The Python brings 4X what a 686 brings, go figure!

In the mid 80's, Cold made some Diamondbacks in an electroless nickel finish called "Coltguard". It looks like brushed stainless. Those guns had rubber grips. I would like a 4" Diamondback in Coltguard! .

 

Saw a few Diamondback .22s at the gun show in Tulsa this weekend. Average price for good one was around $1800. One NIB was $2500. Saw beat-up one for $1400. Lots of beautiful firearms.

 

Were any sold, and if so, what was the actual trading price?

 

I still have the 6" nickel Diamondback I bought in 1979 I think. The revolver is now worth near its weight in gold. I think I paid under $300 for it. A few years ago I gave it to my Stepson and it is still in my safe. Big Larry

 

It is not uncommon for prices at shows to be at the upper end of the market. I think dealers feel they can always sell them online if they choose to, so the price is consistant with or a tad higher than auction prices. It's the American way. Few walk around with $2500 in their pocket at a show except dealers. One dealer that I used to be on regular speaking terms was Jeff Faintich and he would often have as much as 50K with him at a show to buy a collection if one became available.

Hard to tell if any DBs sold unless they dissappeared from the table and you still wouldn't know the price paid.

As far as the picture of the 8" Python 22 goes, I have read that the gun never existed as a finished gun. Colt sold off their prototypes a couple of years ago at auction.