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.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} 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 = 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 =9781854091680978-1-85409-168-0 }}</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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==Usage==

[[Image:Pythons2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Colt '''Pythons''' with 8-inch and 6-inch barrels and royal blue finish]]

The Python immediately made inroads into the law enforcement market when introduced, with the 6-inch barrel being popular with uniformed officers and the 4-inch barrel considered optimum for plainclothes use.<ref name ="Thompson"/> However, it has since fallen out of favor (along with all other revolvers) due to changing law enforcement needs that favor semi-automatic pistols. When law-enforcement agencies realized that the 9&nbsp;mm semi-automatic pistols fire a round with similar characteristics to the .38 Special with higher capacity, they began a migration to these, and other, semi-automatic pistol cartridges<ref>{{cite book |title= The Encyclopedia of Police Science |last= Bailey |first= William G |year=1995 |publisher= Taylor & Francis |isbn= 08153133140-8153-1331-4 |page=309 |pages=865 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/21/nyregion/new-york-city-police-to-replace-revolvers-with-semiautomatics.html New York City Police to Replace Revolvers With Semiautomatics] The New York Times, By CRAIG WOLFF, Saturday, August 21, 1993, Accessed April 27, 2009.</ref> Colt's Python revolvers are still popular on the used market and command high prices.

The [[Colorado State Patrol]] issued 4-inch blue Pythons until their switch to the S&W .40 caliber autoloader.<ref name="Ayoob"/> [[Georgia State Patrol]] and [[Florida Highway Patrol]] issued Pythons to their officers.<ref name="Ayoob">[[Massad Ayoob|Ayoob, Massad]](2003)''The Colt Python'', The Accurate Rifle Magazine, November 2003</ref>