The serial number indicates a manufacture date of 1960. Marked "PYTHON .22/CAL. .22 LONG RIFLE" on the left side of the barrel with standard Colt Manufacturing rollmark on the right side of the barrel and the Rampant Colt on the left side plate. Other than being chambered in .22LR and a blade front sight it appears to possess all the standard features of a Colt Python of this period of manufacture. It is possible that this is a one of a kind functioning Colt Python chambered in .22LR, as there has never been confirmation that the four rumored Pythons in .22 were ever functional. In the letter that accompanies this revolver Mr. Thomas J. Koessl claims that this gun first became known to him in the late 1970's which is when he also had the opportunity to see it first-hand. The owner of it at the time informed Mr. Koessl that this revolver, along with some other fairly unique Colt handguns had come from the personal collection of a Mr. Joe Gannon, who had been the Supervisor of Special Services at Colt, a department which would later become the Colt custom shop, after Joe Gannon's transfer to a different department. Mr. Koessl goes on to explain that this position would have given Mr. Gannon the access, position, and means to create this very special Python which has been very precisely converted to a rimfire firing pin, .22 caliber cylinder and sleeved barrel. Mr. Koessl believes without a doubt that this revolver is a fully functioning prototype that was 100% hand done at the Colt factory. Included is the letter from Mr. Koessl, an assessment sheet which appears to be suggesting that a set of non-factory grips that were on the revolver be changed back to the factory original Python target grips and notes that the revolver was from Joe Gannon's personal collection. Of similar note of verification that other calibers of a very limited number of Pythons were made experimentally, a Colt Python serial number 14264, also being sold as the next lot (this example number 12149) is photographed on the bottom of page 402 of The Book of Colt Firearms by R.L. Wilson with the caption "serial number 14264 .357 Magnum revolver. Sent to Colt's Engineering Department, March 1961, for conversion to 256 Magnum caliber Python .256 marked on the left side of barrel. A rare experimental." Also included is a Colt presentation case which is wrapped in red-orange colored faux-leather with orange velvet lining. The lid shows the Colt shield crest in gold, while the inside lid shows "Colts Patent Repeating Pistols./Hartford, Conn/BEWARE OF COUNTERFEITS & PATENT INFRINGEMENTS/" followed by a copy of Samuel Colt's signature, all in gold.

Excellent, retains 99% plus original high polished blue finish, with limited very light handling marks and a very light cylinder drag line. The grips are fine with some minor dings (mostly on the bottom) and a couple sizeable nicks on the bottom edge. The checkering is crisp. Mechanically excellent. The damaged case is good with one hinge detached from the lid and one hinge reattached.