I've slowly been selling off a few guns, but it's been hard. I don't buy guns for investment or to flip, I've just bought what I've liked over the years. So far the ones I've sold have been non-shooters.
Today I decided to list this early 3-5-7, but after taking pictures and handling the gun, I just couldn't do it. I feel sorry for my poor son when he has to deal with all my stuff at some point. Some people (not me) call this a "pre-Python". They either came out in 1953 or 1954, I've seen people with a lot more knowledge than me use both dates. Whatever year it was, this one is a first year gun. It ran concurrent with the same size Trooper, which only came in .38 or .22, and had a hammer mounted firing pin. The Python came out in 1955 and put it in the shade. Later on it was merged into the Trooper line.
But, since I took the pictures, I have to show them to someone! Please, no offers, or "first in line if you change your mind", it's not for sale. I have shot this one with .38's, it's a sweetheart:
In this one the top of the barrel shows some reflections from the background, it's not wear. You can see a little wear on the end of the barrel:
I have old Gun Digests and American Rifleman magazines from the 50's in which the writer salutes Colt for taking the firing pin off the hammer, and making it frame mounted "where it belongs on magnums". Yet, people are still griping about S&W doing the same in this century. Some of those same bellyachers also rave about Pythons with their frame mounted firing pin. Go figure.
Some people also like the "duo-tone finish" on these early guns, where some places are highly polished, and some are matte. Those same 50's publication state it was a cost-saving measure. Colt was going through some tough times.
Whew, I feel better now! I've always been a S&W guy, I bought my first one in the very early 70's; for a long time you couldn't give me a double-action Colt. That changed over the years, obviously. They have a feel all their own.
Today I decided to list this early 3-5-7, but after taking pictures and handling the gun, I just couldn't do it. I feel sorry for my poor son when he has to deal with all my stuff at some point. Some people (not me) call this a "pre-Python". They either came out in 1953 or 1954, I've seen people with a lot more knowledge than me use both dates. Whatever year it was, this one is a first year gun. It ran concurrent with the same size Trooper, which only came in .38 or .22, and had a hammer mounted firing pin. The Python came out in 1955 and put it in the shade. Later on it was merged into the Trooper line.
But, since I took the pictures, I have to show them to someone! Please, no offers, or "first in line if you change your mind", it's not for sale. I have shot this one with .38's, it's a sweetheart:
In this one the top of the barrel shows some reflections from the background, it's not wear. You can see a little wear on the end of the barrel:
I have old Gun Digests and American Rifleman magazines from the 50's in which the writer salutes Colt for taking the firing pin off the hammer, and making it frame mounted "where it belongs on magnums". Yet, people are still griping about S&W doing the same in this century. Some of those same bellyachers also rave about Pythons with their frame mounted firing pin. Go figure.
Some people also like the "duo-tone finish" on these early guns, where some places are highly polished, and some are matte. Those same 50's publication state it was a cost-saving measure. Colt was going through some tough times.
Whew, I feel better now! I've always been a S&W guy, I bought my first one in the very early 70's; for a long time you couldn't give me a double-action Colt. That changed over the years, obviously. They have a feel all their own.
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