Colt Python: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:47, 3 April 2013

Revision as of 22:26, 6 April 2013

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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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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 &nbsp;kg) to 2.6&nbsp;lbs (1.2 &nbsp;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 &nbsp;kg).<ref name="Dougherty, Martin 2005, page 48"/>

==In Popular Culture==

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*In the 2011 movie ''[[Paul (film)|Paul]]'', Sigourney Weaver uses a six-inch nickel Colt Python when confronting Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kritsten Wiig, Jason Bateman, and Blythe Danner.

*In [[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]], the character Rick Grimes uses a Colt Python as his primary weapon.

* In [[City Hunter |City Hunter]], the character Ryo Saeba uses the Colt Python .357 as his primary weapon.

* In [[Dead Bang]] Jerry Beck ([[Don Johnson]]) uses a six-inch Colt Python.

* In [[Magnum Force]] the "Death Squad" officers all used four-inch Colt Pythons.