How modern Colt Pythons are made

[boykinlp]

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

 

[kennyb]

I have three of the new Pythons, waiting on the 2.5 blue. Thanks for the video.

Mike, I too await the blued 2.5 blue. So far, I have not heard of a release date.

 

[bedwards]

What is the purpose of the ugly code on the side?

 

[GeeBee]

There was a video of someone removing this with a Dremel and it ended up looking
just as bad as you might think, even with his misguided attempt to polish it out.

OK, I'll just shut up then!!!

 

[Jerry in SC]

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.

 

[BC38]

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.

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

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.

 

[gator59]

Don’t particularly care for the new Python’s hammer rise in SA firing. I’ve read that’s a result of Colt ensuring the new Python will pass California’s drop test.

 

[rodneysan]

I, too have the new 4” blued Python. I like the three vents on the rib versus the two vents on the other 4”ers.

Also have the new 5” stainless Python. I was always fond of that barrel length. But in hindsight, on a Python it looks a little short

I find the double action better than the original. But the single action of the original superior to mine

 

[66fan]

Check out Exile Armory on YouTube. They have the best deals on Colt Pythons and other snakes. Thanks S&W forum.

 

[cowboy94916]

I sure hope the new pythons are better then the old. I owned, 4 Pythons back in the late 70"s. My first pair both 4" came home and one was out of time right out of the box. Back to the factory. The other, I ransom rested against my smith 19 and 27. The Smiths won hands down. So I traded the 4" for a 6 " and same result. So i traded the 6" on a Colt new Frontier in 44 Special. I got the other 4" back from factory and it still felt off. Trigger stacking was horrendous, so I traded it off on my last 4". The fourth one shot equal to the Smiths and went well with a 4" Diamondback that I had at the time. I love that Colt SAA, but never found the Colt DA revovers, to be worth the premium price, vs my Smiths, so I sold them after a number of years. I bought some added Smith's P&R.
I am now trying, a king cobra 22, which so far has been excellent, except for the rear sight, which sucks. I have been looking at Pythons again, but not sure. A friend sold his original yrs ago and got the new one. All he does is complain how the trigger is not as good as his old one.
Thanks for the video, more for me to mull over other then high price. Also, the current Smiths quality issues as commented on in the forum are very concerning. Not sure i want to add anythig other then older Smith's to my hord.

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

Don’t particularly care for the new Python’s hammer rise in SA firing. I’ve read that’s a result of Colt ensuring the new Python will pass California’s drop test.

Yes that's due to the silly drop test requirement thing. Colt added a tiny "ski jump" looking hook on the SA hammer ledge so it provides a slight bit of resistance before the sear break. As a result if you look closely at the hammer during SA trigger pull, you wil see it retract ever so slightly to the rear a tiny distance, almost like a "mini DA" pull when firing SA. This is why the out of the box SA pull is a little heavy. Removing that little "Kali bump" off the hammer ledge turns a 5.5 - 6 lb SA pull into 2.5 - 3 lb pull. I did that mod on both my new Python and Anaconda, and both now have sub 3# SA triggers. The hammer and trigger in the new Pythons and Anacondas are billet machined and through-hardened 420HC stainless, not case-hardened, so you don't have to worry about breaking through a case and creating rapid wear.

 

[Golddollar]

This was an interesting program. I ran a cable from my computer to my TV so I could watch it on the big screen.

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

I sure hope the new pythons are better then the old.

In some ways it is better and in other ways it isn't. Everything you buy is the result of a series of tradeoffs being made. The new Python is made of superior metallurgy than the old. It is stronger. It is simpler mechanically, so it is a little less likely to go out of time. It adopts a mechanically simpler S&W style cylinder lock (or in Colt terminology, "bolt") rather than the old "seesaw" style bolt. It did away with the 2 pc rebounding hammer block and now uses a transfer bar instead. I think the DA trigger pull is a little better on the new vs the old, but the SA pull is worse. The front sight is now a quick change design that allows you to change it out by simply turning out a set screw. The rear sight kind of sucks, but luckily you can change it out easily by a Wilson Combat replacement that is significantly better. Fit is every bit as good as the old Python, but the finish polish is maybe not quite at the same level of the old Python's famous mirror polish. Blued models look almost but not quite at the same level as the old Colt "royal blue." Still very well finished and attention to detail is very good. New Python isn't likely to ever be as collectible or valuable as the old Python, but if you're looking for a shooter rather than a safe queen, it's the better gun. Grips that fit the old Python also fit the new Python and Anaconda. The old Python had a larger beavertail hammer spur with knurled surface and the new has a little smaller spur with straight serrated surface. Back of grip on the old was serrated, new is smooth. Old had a cylinder stop lug on the lower rear of the cylinder window, new eliminates the cylinder stop lug. Appearance-wise the new looks very much like the old with only minor differences.

 

[thefresh2o]

All high end machine tools, would love to get that tour as I spent many years as a machine tool tech. Kind of surprised the guy asked if barrels were hammer forged as all hammer forged barrels are round. Here’s a couple of forged barrels, shot gun and half finished 7.62.

The interviewer was lacking, given the opportunity he had. The hammer forging question was a real clunker tho.