I had an old Python years ago that I let go for whatever reason. I really like my pre lock Smith revolvers. When the new Pythons came out I saw a couple here and there and heard about some early problems so I waited a few years. Recently I saw in a gun classifieds that a guy not far from me had a nib 3 inch stainless that he said was an "impulse buy" and he only cycled the gun with snap caps that went with the deal along with a full box of defense ammo. He was asking well below any price a dealer in my area was asking. I like to see what I'm buying even if it's new so I snagged it. The rear sight did suck so new Wilson Combat sights went on. The DA is excellent but SA at 6# not too good. I got it down to just under 4# no creep and a clean break. I own some very old Colt DA revolvers and the idea that these guns are somehow delicate and go out of time easily to me is ridiculous. The Colt 1917 along with S&W were used by the military for quite awhile. The new Pythons use a similar cylinder bolt/stop as the S&W revolvers did for a 100 plus years. I've worked on these guns old and new for sometime and I thought that was the best thing Colt could of done. The old Colt pivoting cylinder stop was the main problem with Colt's going out of time. I am very pleased with the new Python.I've owned both and "new" Pythons. I'll take the new ones. They're just better guns. (Ducks incoming tomatoes) The new ones just beg to be fired DA. The DA on my two is 11.5 pounds, smooth as silk, with no stacking. S/A is about 6, but since I don't shoot them SA, I don't really care about that. I've never touched the sights on either out of the box, but I've always treated adjustable sights as if they were fixed. Almost all of my DA revolvers over the years and all of the semi-autos had fixed sights. I never saw much difference, but I don't shoot at longer ranges, or change loads often. I like the new grips better than the old ones. I don't like the grooved trigger, but can live with it. I would prefer a smooth face one, but not enough to change it.
I didn't buy a Python because I just wanted a 357. I bought a Python, because it was a Python, and nothing else would scratch that itch. I tried a lot of "just as good, but less expensive" guns, and they probably were, if we're just talking about being a 357. I've never thought a Python was any better than a Smith and Wesson or even a Ruger whatever. But it was a Python, and that was what I wanted all along.
Unfortunately the trigger pull is a new type of pull called "The California Compliant trigger pull". They had an engineer explain it on the Colt Forum. It supposedly has a shelf on it to prevent the gun from firing if you drop it with the hammer cocked back. To have it removed (if you can find any gunsmith that will do it) costs about $250. Its icing on the cake after only spending $1,400 plus the additional tax (sarcasm).
Based on your comments, how many of the new Pythons have you had extensive experience with?
You nailed it, and given me some useful information as I ponder the purchase of a NEW Python. Maybe a stainless 3" this time.I've owned both "old" and "new" Pythons. I'll take the new ones. They're just better guns. (Ducks incoming tomatoes) The new ones just beg to be fired DA. The DA on my two is 11.5 pounds, smooth as silk, with no stacking. S/A is about 6, but since I don't shoot them SA, I don't really care about that. I've never touched the sights on either out of the box, but I've always treated adjustable sights as if they were fixed. Almost all of my DA revolvers over the years and all of the semi-autos had fixed sights. I never saw much difference, but I don't shoot at longer ranges, or change loads often. I like the new grips better than the old ones. I don't like the grooved trigger, but can live with it. I would prefer a smooth face one, but not enough to change it.
I didn't buy a Python because I just wanted a 357. I bought a Python, because it was a Python, and nothing else would scratch that itch. I tried a lot of "just as good, but less expensive" guns, and they probably were, if we're just talking about being a 357. I've never thought a Python was any better than a Smith and Wesson or even a Ruger whatever. But it was a Python, and that was what I wanted all along.
Why does one barrel have two slots and the other have three? Just curious.I've owned both "old" and "new" Pythons. I'll take the new ones. They're just better guns. (Ducks incoming tomatoes) The new ones just beg to be fired DA. The DA on my two is 11.5 pounds, smooth as silk, with no stacking. S/A is about 6, but since I don't shoot them SA, I don't really care about that. I've never touched the sights on either out of the box, but I've always treated adjustable sights as if they were fixed. Almost all of my DA revolvers over the years and all of the semi-autos had fixed sights. I never saw much difference, but I don't shoot at longer ranges, or change loads often. I like the new grips better than the old ones. I don't like the grooved trigger, but can live with it. I would prefer a smooth face one, but not enough to change it.
I didn't buy a Python because I just wanted a 357. I bought a Python, because it was a Python, and nothing else would scratch that itch. I tried a lot of "just as good, but less expensive" guns, and they probably were, if we're just talking about being a 357. I've never thought a Python was any better than a Smith and Wesson or even a Ruger whatever. But it was a Python, and that was what I wanted all along.
Dan then spent some time in the nervous hospital and while away, his brother hid his guns. The Python sat in a cardboard box on a shelf in an old abandoned barn for maybe 20 years. When my friend, Joe, was given it by Dans brother, it looked like this:
totally on the same page as youI've owned both "old" and "new" Pythons. I'll take the new ones. They're just better guns. (Ducks incoming tomatoes) The new ones just beg to be fired DA. The DA on my two is 11.5 pounds, smooth as silk, with no stacking. S/A is about 6, but since I don't shoot them SA, I don't really care about that. I've never touched the sights on either out of the box, but I've always treated adjustable sights as if they were fixed. Almost all of my DA revolvers over the years and all of the semi-autos had fixed sights. I never saw much difference, but I don't shoot at longer ranges, or change loads often. I like the new grips better than the old ones. I don't like the grooved trigger, but can live with it. I would prefer a smooth face one, but not enough to change it.
I didn't buy a Python because I just wanted a 357. I bought a Python, because it was a Python, and nothing else would scratch that itch. I tried a lot of "just as good, but less expensive" guns, and they probably were, if we're just talking about being a 357. I've never thought a Python was any better than a Smith and Wesson or even a Ruger whatever. But it was a Python, and that was what I wanted all along.
No idea. I'd had both of them for some time before I ever noticed it, and then only after reading about it on the internet. Even then I had to go dig them out of the safe to verify it.
My Python was given to me by a dear friend, now passed. He had been given the pistol by the original owner's brother. The original owner had bought it sometimes in the 1970s, I believe. It was originally a nickel-plated 6" model. The owner had some mental issues and at one point, got into a confrontation with some Sheriff's Deputies. At some point in the confrontation, guns were drawn and Dan, the original owner, had a pistol shot out of his hand. One of the deputies told my friend that after being shot, Dan told the deputy, "Goddamn, good shot!".
Joe brought it over to show it to me and I suggested that it might could be "saved" by having it refinished. I suggested that since it was in pretty bad shape, he could have it parkerized for a different look. He and I took it to Randy Kline, aka Sledgehammer, in Jacksonville, Texas. Randy is a master gunsmith and has built several FAL rifles for me. At his shop, I lobbied to also have the barrel shortened to 5" for a truly unique look, but that idea was shot down. Probably for the best, too. Randy said that the most expensive part of the refinish was having to send the pistol away to have the nickel coating electro-chemically removed in Houston. Joe put the Pachymar grips on after getting it back.
I've heard of several other parkerized Pythons since acquiring this one. I imagine they were finished like that for similar reasons. It may well offend Colt purists, but I like the way it looks now, and it's surely much improved over the way it looked when Joe first got it.
I have a 4" S&W 686, bought new around 1987 or '88 that was tuned by a neighbor who was a gunsmith. His specialty was tuning S&W revolvers (and bedding rifle stocks) and he was fantastic at it. Gene Salach replaced the factory springs, stoneded, polished and shimmed the parts and the result is just an incredible trigger job. Many people say that it's the best they've felt. I don't know about that, but it is very fine. Recently, I had both it and the Python out of the safe and I'll say that even now, that Colt's trigger isn't that far from the trigger of that Smith. In both single and double-action mode, it's not far behind, and after all it's been through, that's quite the testament to its quality.
