Another party I am late to, but here's my $0.02:

The 6" Python is my hands-down favorite pistol for handling, especially for full-house .357 magnum DA shooting. I carried one in nickel with Mustang combat grips for years and couldn't have been happier.

That being said, that Colt action is significantly less-robust than any modern S&W, especially the cylinder stop and trigger block.

Also, Colt never made target or combat triggers for these, nor colored sight inserts or white outine blades; if you wanted such touches you had to go custom or, in some cases, aftermarket.

It also wasn't available in stainless until almost the end of it's production life.

That 6" cost $300 new, BTW; the insane prices today are the final straw as to why the 686 makes vastly more sense.

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Richard