How modern Colt Pythons are made

I found the video fascinating. I thought the information on using “proof ammo” in every revolver very interesting. So each of the new Pythons are actually fired at least 12 times assuming no problems. How would you like to be the lady that gets to shoot every Python manufactured for a job? Can you imagine being her at a party? “Hey Virginia what do you do for a living?” “I shoot Colt Pythons for a living!”

I guess during the manufacturing of the original Pythons, there were a couple more steps to the test firing. Back then each one came with its own test fired target. Setting up and shooting paper targets for every gun would be pretty time consuming! I personally would like to have seen how that was done.
Larry
 
The new Colt Python’s hammer and trigger is cut and machined from rolled steel. They are very well finished. With nice bores, cylinders, and forcing cones, etc. The area that causes some issues is sticky cylinder opening, it generally smooths out but some don’t.

Mike Heffron has made a business refining the trigger/hammer group and now offers a service that only requires the parts to be sent to him rather than the gun.

I had such a terrible time with two King Cobra Target .22’s breaking that Colt refunded my money. Same part broke three times, once on a replacement gun, involving a tiny hook on the MIM hammer.
 
So Manurhin's are made from forgings that are machined, not bar stock that is machined. Looks like Manurhin is more of a traditional style of revolver manufacturing with lots of hand fitting. Those are not inexpensive revolvers either!
The frames of both are forged. I'm sure the barrels of both are machined from bar stock since they aren't simple round barrels that can be hammer-forged. The cylinders and extractors of both are machined from bar stock - though the Manuhurins cylinders & extractors are machined together as an assembly - rather than as seperate parts.
The only significant difference I see is that the hammers & (presumably) triggers of the Manhurins are forged, vs being machined from bar stock like the Colts.
That's why they require so much more hand fitting - and labor - which is what makes them so expensive. Unfortunately that also makes them much harder to repair, since parts are so much less likely to be "drop-in" replacements.
To me, that makes the Colt a better gun in some ways. It certainly makes it a better value IMO.
 
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What is the purpose of the ugly code on the side?
I have a 5" Python, a 6" Anaconda, a 4" King Cobra .22, along with an old Diamondback .22. I called Colt CS a week ago to inquire about serial numbers. While on the phone, I asked the man I spoke with why the QR code was there, and if it had to be there why it couldn't be located somewhere like on the grip frame, hidden under the grip panels. He said that QR code is necessary for process routing efficiency and for providing employee work instructions and that it was in the best location on the gun for their scanning operations and something related to automation. He said it was vital and literally could not be excluded for their process flow to work as designed.
 
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