Colt Python
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The Colt Python is a .357 Magnum caliber revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The Colt Python is considered to be a premium American revolver. Along with the Colt Peacemaker it is considered to be one of the finest revolvers ever made by Colt.
Colt Manufacturing Co. announced the termination of its production of Python revolvers in October 1999 [1]. The Colt Custom Gun Shop continued making a limited number of Pythons on special order until 2003, when even this limited production was terminated. (Although the Colt Python homepage under external links below states that this limited production continues, it has been confirmed by Colt that this is not the case and the web page is out of date.)
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[edit] Description
The Colt Python is a double or single action, large I-frame handgun chambered for the powerful .357 Magnum cartridge originally developed by Smith & Wesson. Pythons have a reputation for superior fit & finish, accuracy, smooth trigger pull and a tight cylinder lock-up. If there is a downside to all this precision, it is the Python's tendency to go "out of time" with continued heavy shooting. This is a condition in which the cylinder is no longer turning into exact alignment with the forcing cone, so a shooter may be sprayed with tiny bits of hot gun powder when the gun is fired. When this happens, the lockwork needs to be re-timed.
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 target revolver. As a result, it features precision adjustable sights, a smooth trigger, solid construction, and extra metal. Routine production ceased in 1998, and individual manufacture by the Colt Custom Shop stopped altogether in 2003.
Pythons have a distinct appearance. A full barrel underlug, ventilated rib and adjustable sights combine to give the gun its unique look. Originally, Colt manufactured Pythons with hollow underlugs but quickly left them solid to add stabilizing barrel weight.
[edit] Variants
The Python was originally available in two finishes: Royal Blue and Bright Nickel. The Bright Nickel model was discontinued with the introduction of the more durable satin stainless and mirror-polished Ultimate Stainless models. The stainless steel and Royal Blue finishes were offered until 2003 by Colt on the Python "Elite" model.
Pythons were available with 2.5 inch, 4 inch, 6 inch, and 8 inch barrels. The six-inch model was the most popular generally and the 8 inch model was intended for hunting. The 3 inch barrel version is very collectible.
The Python Silhouette model, with 8 inch barrel and factory-installed Leupold scope, was made in 1981. A Python Target model was made for several years in .38 Special only, in blue and nickel finishes.
Today the Python is no longer manufactured due to lack of sales and rising production costs.
Two variants of the Python were made in small numbers by Colt. The first was the Colt Boa of 1985, which was a limited production revolver, also .357 Magnum caliber, made by Colt for the Lew Horton Distributing Company in Massachusetts. It resembles closely the Python. Six hundred 6" revolvers and 600 4" revolvers were made, of which 100 were matched sets. Though it resembles a Python visually, in order to keep its purchase cost down it is substantially different internally and required less hand fitting. The second was the stainless steel Colt Grizzly of 1994, another limited production .357 Magnum revolver. One thousand two hundred of these weapons were manufactured, half with 6" and half with 4" barrels. The Grizzly had smooth, unfluted cylinders.
It is rumored that a small number of Pythons were built in .41 Magnum caliber, but Colt officially denies that the factory ever produced such a variant. It would be possible for a highly-skilled gunsmith to re-bore and re-chamber a Python to fire .41 Magnum ammunition.
[edit] Usage
The Python immediately made inroads into the law enforcement market when introduced, with the 6" barrel being popular with uniformed officers and the 3" and 4" barrels considered optimum for plainclothes use. However, it has since fallen out of favor (along with all other revolvers) due to changing law enforcement needs that favor semi-automatic pistols, combined with agency policies banning "special" ammunition, including Magnum loads. Ironically, when law-enforcement agencies realized that the 9mm semi-automatic pistols fire a round with similar characteristics to the .38 Special, they began a still-continuing migration to more-powerful cartridges, not willing to accept that the rejected .357 Magnum is a ready solution. The Python revolvers are still popular on the used market and command high prices.
[edit] Colt Python Serial Numbers
- 1955 — 1
- 1956 — 300
- 1957 — 1650
- 1958 — 5550
- 1959 — 7050
- 1960 — 9100
- 1961 — 13100
- 1962 — 18800
- 1963 — 24800
- 1964 — 30800
- 1965 — 41400
- 1966 — 50500
- 1967 — 61000
- 1968 — 73800
- 1969 — 90000-99999
- 1969 — E1001
- 1970 — E6301
- 1971 — E21201
- 1972 — E38001
- 1973 — E53501
- 1974 — E61001
- 1975 — E83701-E99999
- 1975 — 01001E-15000E
- 1976 — 15001E-48300E
- 1977 — 48301E-86200E
- 1978 — 86201E-99999E
- 1978 — 01001N
- 1978 — V01001
- 1979 — V36737
- 1980 — V88374 to V99999, AL0101 to AL9999, LA0101 to LA9999, VA1001 to VA9256
- 1981 — K16266
- 1982 — K75748
- 1983 — K99999. T01001 to ????
- 1984 — T27541
- 1985 — T34453
