You Walk Into A Gun Store in 1978...

[Iggy]

3 1/2" Model 27.

 

[Valmet]

The 27-2 at the top for sure. I've never been a Python pan, they look tacky and cheap to me (though I'm aware of the legions that covet them).

 

[old bear]

In 1978 I was still a YOUNG hot-dog patrol copper so none of them. I never carried for Colt revolvers. The Model 27's were old mans guns. So if it was not a 2 1/2"- 4" model 19/66 I had little interest.
Ah the fool behavior of the young.

 

[fyimo]

I'd have bought the Model 27-2 with the 3.5 inch barrel in a heart beat.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

The 3 1/2" Model 27... And it would look shot and carried and loved, to be sure.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Interesting exercise.

With today's knowledge I could go two ways.

Fiduciary thinking would have me buy a 4" python - or a dozen. Hold them until today and sell them off by way of bidding.

To shoot, different matter entirely. I'm an N frame guy, no doubt about it.

I'd get a couple 4" 27's, and a 3.5" and shoot the **** out of them, keeping one 4" in reserve for a bidding sale on GB.

Just traded off a Gen III Colt DS (1973) unfired, nickel for a 3" 13-3. Not a fan of the Colt stacking trigger.

Revolvers - S&W rules.

Semi auto - Colt rocks.

 

[Rio Laxas]

My dad faced that situation 9 years earlier in 1969 at Oshman's Sporting Goods in Houston shortly after returning home from Vietnam. He chose the 4" Colt Python.

Unfortunately for him, he no longer has it. Fortunately for me, I do!

Personally I prefer the 27, but I won't be parting with the Python.

 

[101Voodoo]

Neither. In '78 I was lusting after a Model 29.

 

[scattershot]

Back,then, the Python was just another nice pistol. I traded one straight across for a M25, but as much as I like that pistol, I kinda wish I had kept the snake as an investment. Who knew?

 

[Bro. Dave]

I picked the 6" Python and loved it. In 1980 I sold it and a S&W 4" K-38 to pay the Doctor's bill for delivering my firstborn son. I've never let him forget it, either.

 

[jack the toad]

I kinda wish I had kept the snake as an investment. Who knew?

my sentiments exactly...
and just so I could sell them at today's prices and buy some nice S&W's.

 

[Qball]

...you head to the handgun section and you see a couple of S&W's premier .357 Magnums:






...but right next to them you see the Premier Colt .357 Magnum knock offs of a King Super Target:



...You only have enough $'s for one. So which one do you take home with you?

Cant stand the Colts, so it would be the one i have been lusting for

 

[k22fan]

Now this member remembers the 1970s!

Neither. In '78 I was lusting after a Model 29.

For my dream 7 point buck I had to have a 29. A Super Blackhawk and a Colt .45 double action held me over until my name came up on the store waiting list for the opportunity to pay retail for a 29. Jobs that required a hand gun stipulated a Colt or S&W .38 Special. That left .357s way down on the priority list. The 4" 66 I bought in 1976 was a very fine revolver but it got shot very little. 6" K frame .38s made better target revolvers and my 29 was just a whole lot more magnum. By 1978 my New Service and Officers' Model had both gone out of time so I was done with V mainspring Colts. My other .357 purchase that was 2 years off was a 4" 28-2 in 1980. It was a much better revolver than a Python and did not suffer from a 3 1/2" 27's ******* barrel length and frivolous expensive polish.

More recently I added a couple of 6" 27s to my collection so I can say that is my choice between those four offerings now.

 

[arjay]

I would have bought the Python.I knew what a colt was,but didn't know much about S&W.


Duck!

 

[les.b]

Well, I'm with the guy above who used the purchase price of one to layaway all of them. Makes perfect sense to me!!! But if I could have only bought one, it would have been the 3 1/2" Model 27.

Best Regards, Les

 

[sw282]

P

Y

T

H

O

N

 

[J. W.]

Beautiful revolvers!!!

It'd be hard for me to choose. I might give the 3.5" 27 the nod, but that 4" Python is superb.


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk

 

[iPac]

"Why would I pay the same money for a mechanically inferior gun?"

That made me laugh. Have you actually worked on and understand the mechanics and design of both those firearms? I understand just about every comment on here is personal opinion and this IS the Smith forum, but don't claim a gun mechanically inferior unless you can actually make a case for it. I could plead a pretty good case as to why it is the other way around.

I would take the Colts any day. Better design and more attractive. A little action job to eliminate the stacking and you have the superior trigger between the two. I will give it to S&W though for having the original 357mag.

Beautiful collection OP!!!

 

[Ross3914]

I was heavy into Colts back in the day. It would have been the 4" Python.

I remember selling a very used 4" Python for the princely sum of $350.

 

[Dave]

I'd buy the python, then sell it 35 years later to buy the two S&W. But, can someone please tell me how to get to 1978 from here? I seem to be lost...