In the Data Model section of the documentation regarding descriptors invokations (http://docs.python.org/2/reference/datamodel.html#invoking-descriptors), it is said:

    Note that descriptors are only invoked for new style objects or classes (ones that subclass object() or type()).

However, it seems this restriction isn't enforced in practice:

    Python 2.7.4 (default, May 16 2013, 13:28:03)
    [GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple Clang 4.0 ((tags/Apple/clang-421.0.60))] on darwin
    Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
    >>> class Desc(object):
    ...     def __get__(self, obj, cls):
    ...             return 'test'
    ...
    >>> class A:  # Not inheriting object here
    ...     desc = Desc()
    ...
    >>> A().desc
    'test'

I dived into CPython's code and saw no trace of a test for new-style classes in the descriptor invokation code path (down in classobject.c / instance_getattr2).

Unfortunately, fixing this behavior doesn't seem trivial as class methods appear to be implemented as descriptor themselves. In other words, and from my understanding, restricting descriptor invokation to new-style objects and classes would prevent method calls on old-style classes.

IMO nothing should change here (either the docs or the implementation).

The OP has observed an implementation detail of old-style classes (which were reimplemented in Python 2.2 using descriptor logic instead of their former hard-wired behaviors).

Sorry if I am missing something, but it seems that the documentation doesn't match the behavior: the doc says that descriptors are invoked only for new styles objects and classes, while the attached code seems to prove the contrary.

If my understanding is correct, either the doc or the code should be changed accordingly.

We document what we're willing to guarantee.  The exposure of descriptors in old-style classes was an incidental implementation detail.

Sorry, I'm going to close this one.   Besides, it's time to start forgetting Python 2 and move along :-)