Colt Python: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:22, 26 January 2013

Revision as of 02:52, 6 February 2013

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|unit_cost=

|production_date=1955–1996

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|variants={{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}} barrel

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|weight= {{convert|38|oz|kg}} to {{convert|48|oz|kg}}

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|cartridge=[[.357 Magnum]]

|action=[[Double-action]]

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|feed=Six-[[Cartridge (firearms)|round]] [[Cylinder (firearms)|cylinder]]

|sights= Rear adj.; front ramp

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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 =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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==History==

The Colt Python was first introduced in 1955 as Colt's top-of-the-line model and was originally intended to be a large-frame [[.38 Special|38 Special]] target revolver.<ref name ="Thompson"/> As a result, it features precision adjustable sights, a smooth trigger, solid construction, and extra metal. Pythons have a distinct appearance due to a full barrel underlug, ventilated rib and adjustable sights.<ref name ="Thompson"/> Originally, Colt manufactured Pythons with hollow underlugs but left them solid to work as a stabilizing barrel weight. When the revolver is at full cock, just as the trigger is pressed, the cylinder locks up for the duration of the hammer strike. Other revolvers have a hint of looseness even at full-cock. The gap between the cylinder and forcing cone is very tight, further aiding accuracy and velocity.<ref name="hawks"/> Each Python revolver was boresighted at the factory with a laser and was the first mass-produced revolver to do so.<ref name ="Thompson"/>

===End of Production===

In October 1999, Colt Manufacturing Co. announced the termination of its production of Python revolvers. In a 2000 follow-up letter to distributors, the company cited changing market conditions and the costs of defending lawsuits, as the reasons for the discontinuation of the Python line as well as a number of other models.<ref>[http://calnra.com/COLTupdate.shtml Update from Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc.]</ref> The Colt Custom Gun Shop continued making a limited number of Pythons on special order until 2005, when even this limited production was terminated.<ref name="hawks"/>

==Models and Variants==

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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 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.

According to Colt historian, R.L. Wilson, Colt Pythons have been collected by [[Elvis Presley]] and various kings in the traditional sense: "H.M. (His Majesty) [[Hussein I]] of Jordan ordered a limited number of Pythons, in 4-inch and 6-inch barrels, as gifts to his selected friends. Casing and barrel were embossed with His Majesty's crest. The Python for [[King Juan Carlos]] of Spain bore his name in flush gold on the sideplate. Among other celebrated recipients: [[King Khalid]] and [[Prince Fahed]] (Saudi Arabia), [[King Hassan]] (Morocco), [[Sheik Zyed]] ([[United Arab Emirates]]), President [[Anwar Sadat]] and President [[Hafez Assad]] (Syria)." <ref name="Wilson1"/>

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==Usage==

[[Image:Pythons2.jpg|thumb|right|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= 0-8153-1331-4 |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>

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==Criticisms==

Official Colt historian, RL Wilson described the Colt Python as "the Rolls-Royce of Colt revolvers"<ref name="Wilson1"/> and Firearms historian, [[Ian V. Hogg]] referred to it as the "best revolver in the world".<ref name = "Hogg94"/> However, the revolver is not without its detractors. The downside to the precision of the Colt Python is its tendency to go "out of time" with continued heavy shooting.<ref name="Grassi">[http://www.cylinder-slide.com/python.shtml C&S Python .357MAG] By Rich Grassi, Originally Published in Combat Handguns May 2005, accessed at Cylinder and Slide April 27, 2009</ref> This is a condition in which the cylinder does not turn in exact alignment with the forcing cone, so a shooter may be sprayed with burning propellant when the gun is fired or the gun may not fire when used as a double-action.<ref name="Grassi"/> When this happens, the lock work needs to be re-timed.<ref name="Grassi"/>

Author Martin Dougherty notes the weight of the Python as a drawback, as it is quite heavy for a handgun, ranging from 2.4&nbsp;lbs (1.1 kg) to 2.6&nbsp;lbs (1.2 kg), which is only slightly lighter than [[Smith & Wesson]]'s model [[S&W Model 29|M29]] .44 Magnum. The S&W M29 with 6½-inch barrel weighs 3.0&nbsp;lbs (1.36 kg).<ref name="Dougherty, Martin 2005, page 48"/>

==In Popular Culture==

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* In the video game series [[Half-Life (series)|Half-Life]], one of the weapons that Gordon Freeman, the main protagonist and player character, uses is a Colt Python .357.

* In the video game ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'', the Spy class uses a Colt Python as his default ranged weapon.

* In the Grand Theft Auto III era (VC, VCS, LCS, and CW), the Colt Python is the only revolver avaibleavailable.

==See also==

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*[http://proofhouse.com/colt/pyth.htm Colt Python Serial Numbers]

* [http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html Ballistics By The Inch tests including the Colt Python.]

[[Category:Colt revolvers]]