Unlike the original Smythons that Bill Davis and others made, starting in the 1970s that had the Python Barrel on the S&W K Frame, my Smython is on a 686 frame.

I prefer the L Frame to the K Frame and the barrel lines up nicely.

JoJos in Southington, CT did the barrel swap, and they slicked up the action for me as well.

It was the first time I shot it, and it did not disappoint.

I am looking forward to a lot more range time with this one.

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That's interesting. My understanding of the "Smythons" was that they were all Python barrels on L-frames due to the similarity in frame sizes. I don't think I've ever heard of a Python barrel mounted on a K-frame. But I will freely admit this is not an area I have a lot of familiarity with.

They started in the 70s before the L Frame ever existed, so the most common ones were done on Model 19s.

I have seen a Picture of 6” Python Barrel On a 28-2 N Frame and it was beautiful.

Offhand I do not recall another Smolt on an L frame but I've probably forgotten one or two. Back in the 1970s when Davis had a store near me their clerks said Smolts were made to create heavier PPC revolvers. There was also a questionable claim Colt barrels were more accurate with 148 grain hollow base wadcutters. They had them on the shelf along with Cougers, Python barrels on Security Six revolvers. (note er as in Ruger) L frames were a few years off in the future.

I did not see an N frame Smolt before seeing my first on this forum. The main reason they are so scarce is that the Python barrel threads are smaller than an N frame barrel threads. For K frames and Six series revolvers Python threads can be turned and rethreaded in a lathe. To get a Python barrel in an N frame requires sleeving the N frame, a custom adapter, welding metal onto the Python thread, cutting off the Python barrel shank and machining a new shank further forward or some more practical gunsmith wizardry that I'm unaware of.

If I over look contaminating a S&W with a Colt part an L frame Smolt ain't bad looking.

Very nicely done. Shoots good too.
Jim

...to converting K frame S&Ws to Smolt/Smythons. The idea was to get more weight on the barrel to steady the gun for target shooting(NRA) and PPC. I doubt many of us will find L frame Smiths converted to Smolts. The reason being L-frames have full-underlug barrels(like Pythons).

I have a Smolt built on a Model 19-3 round butt(so a snub). The Python barrel has no markings at all. Because the original gun was a snub, the extractor rod was very short. A local friend(and forum member) donated a normal extractor rod so I can clear the cylinder of empties.

I haven't shot this gun a lot so I can't talk accuracy.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

These are actually properly called “Cith & Pythosson Mythons”.

Before reading this forum the only name I'd heard them called was Smolt. That's what Davis' clerks called them.

Nice revolver!
Doe it have the "M" stamp?, haha.

....but I've sure never heard of a smolt smython.

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To my eye smolts don’t look proper unless you use a k frame snub with the long sight tang that mates with the top of the barrel. I don’t care for the step between the barrel and top strap, especially with the new style sight base.

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I will be getting the longer rear sight assembly and have it fitted to the top strap. I may even have it hard chromed to match the finish. The top strap looks like it needs to be machined to fit it.

I also have an L Frame Target Hammer in hard chrome to go in it as well. I tried fitting the hammer, but for some reason the surfaces didn’t line up, so I will leave it to a professional.

It wasn’t just the barrel weight, it was the twist rate of the rifling.

Colt Python Barrels had a faster twist then S&W Barrels at the time, so you were supposedly getting the best of all worlds.

Is this specific setup more accurate then a 6” 686?

Not in my hands. I am not anywhere near the shooter that can take advantage of such a thing.

However, is this thing different, cool, and in the Spirit of ‘Mercia?

Yes it is.

By the way, if you have a Smython and you don’t shoot it, that is unfortunate. I’d love to see a pic of it.

It’s a dash 3, so the hammer nose issue was fixed at that point.

I've read that Python barrels also have a tapered bore, narrowing slightly at the muzzle, and that this contributed to their intrinsic/mechanical accuracy.

Any accuracy (pun intended...) to this claim?

Groo here
Yes the Python had a tapered bore, extra polishing in the bore
and a 1/14 twist as apposed to the 1/18 twist of a S&W.
When shooting WC bullets [especially HBWC which are quite long]
at the lowest speeds[like for PPC] , the faster twist helped greatly.

just out of curiosity,

a Python barrel threads wont screw on a SW receiver? (yes/no)

what gunsmithing was required?

I can see the ejector rod end needed shortening (based on the pic)

when I started at a PD in 1989, we were issued 686s in Bianchi Hurricanes however the Lt/Armorer had a Smython in a Bianchi Judge.

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Good eye on the ejector rod, so I will address that first. That is actually a 629 ejector Rod. The 686 rod was bent. The bend was enough to gum up the pull on one or two chambers. No one had spare 686 ejector rods. S&W didn’t neither did Numrich or Midway. So I got some N Frame Stainless ejector Rods from Numrich and ground one down. Sanded the burrs off and it works like a charm.

The Barrel had to be re-threaded. The Colt threads don’t mate up, so they re-threaded it.

The Armorer had good taste.

Edit/add:
We also had to have ball detects put on the crane and frame for front end lock up since the ejector rod on a Colt does not lock the front end up. It’s why grinding down the 629 ejector was NOT an issue.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I can't remember the specific numbers but the thread pitches are different. With a K frame you have to turn down the barrel shank and re-thread to the Smith threads and cut the flat on the bottom of the barrel for the yoke to close. Then you have to address the front lock up, either with detent balls in the yoke or machining for the pin to lock the ejector rod. With and N frame , as said earlier, Either weld up the Colt barrel shank and re=cut the threads or make a shim ring with Smith threads on the outside and Colt threads on the inside.

The last few inches before the muzzle the bores of Anschutz .22 target rifles are a tiny bit tighter than the bore leading up to that point. They are button rifled. The choke is created by leaving outside barrel diameter larger for those last few inches. The thicker barrel walls spring back more after the rifling button is pulled through.

Please explain how it was feasible for Colt to machine Python barrels with a tapering groove diameter.

This one came out of Ten Ring Precision in San Antonio. It is a hoot to shoot.

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It's quite feasible but not practical for a production gun.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I actually talked to him and was seriously considering having him do it. He knows what he is doing. I used a local shop to me that does great work. Yours came out really nice.

my education continues . I usually learn something here everyday . I never heard of this custom combination . looks great and shoots great. what distance were you shooting at . thanks for sharing . kenny

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Too good

The barrels tapered from .357 at the forcing cone to .355 at the muzzle. All the different barrel lengths were like that. How is that even possible? They were forged with a rifled and tapered mandrel in the bore. There was a different mandrel for each length. Inside done first, then machine the outside. These were production guns. They made thousands.

The Python barrels were more accurate with light target loads because of the tighter twist. The tapered part didn't hurt anything, but I've had PPC guns that shot just as well with a 1 in 10 to 1 in 14 straight bore. I think a 1 in 12 would be about the ideal twist for revos across the board, but no one makes that twist.

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I had heard of the K frame conversions, back when PPC ruled the roost. These were made for serious competitors. Most of us mortals cannot shoot well enough for the difference to be worth the money. While I'd not heard of a similar conversion on the L frame, I don't know why it could not be done. I don't much care for the full lug barrels anyway, so not worth it even if I could shoot that well.

FWIW, JoJos has a very good reputation; a prosecutor friend of mine in the area speaks very well of them, as do a couple other folks I know of nearby.
'

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NHI, 10-8.

JoJos does excellent work.

They are known for their work on 1911s, ARs and Glocks but John and Jody did a lot of revolver work back in the day.

He did an action job on this one for me and it is super smooth.

These were not commonly done on L Frames, but I really like L Frames better then K Frames, and there are so many Pre-Lock 686s out there. So I figured what the heck.

I can’t wait to shoot this some more. I’ll shoot some magnums when I get to an outdoor range.

I bet it will handle magnums with ease.

I was a competitor in PPC in the decades prior to self loaders becoming common in LE holsters. Most of us used Davis conversions but one fellow used a Travis Strahan and there were a couple others I cannot recall. I do not recall a single Smolt ever, at least not among the top places in the classifications. I do know when I got my 686, 6” for the Distinguished leg that opened my eyes. It was not long before my practice scores were close to my Davis scores. After several thousand cyclings of the action I opened it up and smoothed a few of the “sticking” parts and my scores were pretty much the same with both revolvers. I started using the 686 for both legs and did not notice a difference. Ho the er, when I quit the PPC game the revolvers I sold were the 4” and 6”, 686s and I still have my Davis revolver.

Kevin

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I’d love to see some pics of your Bill Davis Gun.

Wonder if the new Python bbl would fit on a current S&W L frame once modified?

Maybe the Smolt Smython might return someday...

I’ll dig it out and get some new photographs.

Kevin

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I'm a huge fan of Smolts and Cougers. I've had a number of them built over the years, but have kept only these three, a 4" Couger built on a stainless Ruger Security-Six, a 6" Smolt built on a Model 66, and a 4" Smolt built on an old 2" model 15. The Couger and the 6" Smolt were built by Craig Maraviov in Woodland, CA, and the 4" blued Smolt was built by Mark Kearns. Both worked for Bill Davis. All shoot great!





Craig built this 6" Smolt on a 686-4 for me a few years ago. Since the -4 has the new rounded rear sight, I had him mill the rear sight cut to the end of the frame and weld an extension on the sight so it mated perfectly with the rib on the Python barrel. Was a great shooter, but I sold it.

Craig has built a number of Smolts on newer MIM/lock revolvers (L and N frame).

Nice looking gun Tom and nice shooting. Always like the look of a Smolt. Kevin, we need pictures of your Davis, Larry

Not new photos but ones from earlier posts.

Not the stocks. Pachmyer grips shifted and caused two overlapping groups at 50 yards. I took a pair of checkered presentation K frame stocks and removed all that was not appropriate for my hand. This is what was left. I intended to sand them smooth and oil them but never got around to it!

I will try to get better photographs.

Kevin

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These are awesome. I am going to get a rear sight that was meant for 2.5” guns and I believe will cover the full top strap as O have a gap there as well, and I want to close it up.

I also was somehow able to get an L Frame Target hammer for a 686 which Numrich had in stock. So I am going to get that on there too.

Your Smolts and Cuger are most excellent!

Thank You for sharing.

Back in the late 70's I had a Smith 27 that I sent to Davis and had a 6" python barrel screwed on to it. Sweetest gun I ever had. Needed family money so it went down the road. I still have a 2" python barrel from that era that I bought to put on a 19, never got around to it.

The Ruger Security Six and both S&W Model 19s have Colt Python barrels. I hope that the person that built the 3" Smython did not take the barrel off of a factory 3" Python.

I shoot all three guns as well as I shoot a factory Colt Pythons.

Okay, new photo time! I even put on some shoes! On the revolver, not me.

So, without further ado, the revolver.

Kevin

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These are the target stocks worked over to fit my hand.

Kevin

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I think it'd be fun to put a Diamondback barrel on a 17 frame!

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That is one real sweet revolver. I’ll bet you could shoot the wings off of a fly with that!

I have thought of that too.

Not sure about that, my vision has gone downhill some!

I do remember the first time in competition I shot 180-18X at 25 yards.

Kevin

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I bought a gunsmith special 10-7 frame and then I just came into a early 4" Python barrel. Did some research and here is what I know.

The first Python barrels had 2 front sight pins and these had .5634 32 to the inch threads. The next generation of barrels had 1 front sight pin and .5632 36 threads which match their Trooper Mark III revolvers.

I have the 1st style barrel and will have to reform the threads to screw it into a S&W K frame .540 36 (do able as .023 smaller)

Interestingly a S&W L frame has .562 36 threads and I wouldn't be surprised if a 2nd generation Python (1 sight pin) with the .5632 36 threads screwed right in with only a .0012 OD difference and the same pitch. Might also be a bit of difference in thread profile. But, no matter, I am sure, simply chasing the barrel's threads with a L frame tap would make them match perfect. Still have to fit shoulder to get it to time correctly and fit extension to get proper B/C gap. If much of the extension needs to be removed the forcing cone would need adjusted. I have taps and dies for N, K and J frames. I am seriously thinking I am going to rework the 4" barrel, fit and install it on the 10-7 frame, put a ball detent lock on the yoke and mill and install adjustable rear sights and a recessed model 19 cylinder I have in my parts pile.

Why not. Another interesting project. But, I have a hard time believing a Python barrels are that much more accurate than S&W barrels.

I can see the weight part helping, but that's it. Most bench rest guns don't rely on tapered bores and they are far more accurate than any python barrel.

Oh, you HAVE to do it now.

Why?
Because ‘Merica damnit, that’s why. Guys out Chevy Engines in ‘32 FORDs and that’s OK. Sometimes the best reason to do something is because you can, even if it doesn’t make sense.

I’d really want to see that build when you are done with it.

Neat revolvers, I have heard a lot of people say that the Colt barrels have tapered bores but I have yet to hear of anybody saying that they actually measured the bore. Not saying it is not the case but I would like to know if anybody has measured the bore on a Python.

One of the officers on my dad’s department had a 4” stainless smolt and I thought it was the coolest thing - been wanting one ever since I laid eyes on it. Has nothing to do with accuracy potential, it’s all about coolness.

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213th FBINA

Why didn’t people just shoot the Python in PPC?
Where were the gunsmiths getting the Python barrels? Deconstructing Pythons or other sources?

Because you can get a much nicer action on an S&W. It's easier to shoot a good score.
There used to be Python barrels available from Colt that weren't on a gun, or takeoffs where someone had a custom barrel made and installed, making the original an extra.

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