Colt Python: Difference between revisions

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The '''Colt Python''' is a [[.357 Magnum]] caliber [[revolver]] formerly manufactured by [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]] of [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]. It is sometimes referred to as a "Combat Magnum".<ref name="Dougherty, Martin 2005, page 48">Dougherty, Martin ''Small Arms: From the Civil War to the Present Day'', New York City: Fall River Press, 2005, page 48. ISBN 978-0-7607-6329-2</ref> It was first introduced in 1955, the same year as [[S&W Model 29|Smith & Wesson's M29]] .44 Magnum. The now discontinued Colt Python targeted the premium [[revolver]] market segment. Some firearm collectors and writers such as [[Jeff Cooper (Marine)|Jeff Cooper]], [[Ian V. Hogg]], Chuck Hawks, Leroy Thompson, Renee Smeets and Martin Dougherty have described the Python as the finest production revolver ever made.<ref name="Dougherty, Martin 2005, page 48"/><ref name="hawks">[http://www.chuckhawks.com/colt_python_revolvers.htm The Colt Python .357 Magnum Revolver] by Chuck Hawks at www.chuckhawks.com accessed Apr 27, 2009</ref><ref name ="Thompson">{{cite book | last = Thompson| first = Leroy | authorlink = | coauthors author2= Rene Smeets| title = Great Combat Handguns: A Guide to Using, Collecting and Training With Handguns| publisher =Arms & Armour Publication | date = October 1, 1993| ___location = London| pages = 256| isbn =978-1-85409-168-0 }}</ref><ref name = "Wilson1">Wilson, R.L., ''The Colt Heritage,'' New York City: Simon & Schuster, 1987, P. 272.</ref><ref name = "Wilson2">Wilson, R.L., ''Colt: An American Legend,'' New York City: Abbeville Press, 1985, P 272.</ref><ref name="Cooper">Cooper, Jeff, "Cooper on Handguns," Los Angeles, Petersen Publishing Co., 1974, P. 189.</ref><ref name="Hogg94">[[Ian V. Hogg|Hogg, Ian V.]] (1994)''Military Small Arms: 300 Years of Soldiers' Firearms'', Salamander Publishing</ref>

==Description==

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Pythons were available with {{convert|2.5|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|3|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|4|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on}} and {{convert|8|in|cm|adj=on}} barrels.<ref name="hawks"/> The six-inch model was the most popular generally, and the 8-inch model was intended for [[hunting]]. A 3-inch barrel version is very collectible, although not rare.<ref name ="Thompson"/>

The Python Hunter model, with 8-inch barrel and factory-installed 2X [[Leupold]] scope, was made in 1980.<ref name="Handgunning">{{cite journal | last = Metcalf| first = Dick | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Top 10 Hunt Guns| journal = HandGunning| volume = 8| issue = 5| pages = 52–58| publisher =PJS Publications | year =1994 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref> The Python Hunter was the first field-ready handgun hunting package made by a major handgun manufacturer.<ref name="Handgunning"/> The scope was mounted on the barrel using Redfield mounts and the gun was packaged in a [[Zero_Halliburton|Haliburton]] case.<ref name="Handgunning"/> It was discontinued by 1990 and briefly offered as a "Custom Shop" model afterward.<ref name="Handgunning"/> A Python Target model was made for several years in [[.38 Special]] only, in blue and nickel finishes.

Two variants of the Python were made in small numbers by Colt. The first was the Colt Boa of 1985, a limited production .357 Magnum revolver, made for the Lew Horton Distributing Company in Massachusetts. It used a Python barrel mated to a [[Colt Trooper Mk III|Trooper Mk V]] frame. Six hundred 6-inch revolvers and 600 4-inch revolvers were made, of which 100 were matched sets. Though it resembles a Python visually, it is substantially different internally. The second was the stainless steel Colt Grizzly of 1994, another limited production .357 Magnum revolver. It used a Python barrel mated to a [[Colt King Cobra]] frame. 500 of these revolvers were manufactured, with 6-inch Magna-Ported barrels and smooth, unfluted cylinders. The ported barrel includes a bear footprint. Similar to the Grizzly was the Colt Kodiak, which was a [[Colt Anaconda]] with a Magna-Ported Barrel and an unfluted cylinder. Approximately 2000 Kodiaks were manufactured.