You Walk Into A Gun Store in 1978...

[AimHigher]

The 3.5" 27. I have never understood the the attraction of the Python. I thought they were an uncompetitive deal 15 years ago when they were $800. Yes, I have handled them. They didn't tickle my fancy at $800 and they certainly don't today at $3000.

Now if it were 1978 and they were approximately the same cost, I would ask myself "Why would I pay the same money for a mechanically inferior gun?"

Not having the Python attraction has saved me beaucoup $$$$.

I could buy Pythons all day long for $169.95, in1973 at Big Five sporting goods store in Santa Monica (LA area). Except I never did - and I'm still kicking myself. I wanted a 6inch and a 4 inch bad. I ended up picking up a Colt Diamond Back for $135.00 in a hardware shop in Leawood Kansas. Used it as a police officer on and off duty for a year in Missouri and later in the SF Bay area. Then sold it for $220.00 out in California to a family friend of my father. A few weeks later, the family friend took that Diamond and committed suicide with it. Several months after that, he widow gave me the gun back. I cleaned it up and then sold it to a deputy in the SF Bay area. I then went out to Berkeley CA and bought a new S&W Mod. 19-4" .357 mag with pachmyer signature grips. Still have it to day. It's been worked on and has a ultra smooth action and crisp trigger pull. Have put about 3500 rounds through it. I have complete confidence my ability to conduct business with it. Years later, I found a pristine S&W Model 19-7 - 6" with target sights, hammer and trigger at a gun show in Montana, traded a 1958 Ruger first generation .22 cal MK 4 (I think was the model) + $200 bucks. I'll be packing the Mod. 19 4" when I start to carry. In spite of all these other guns, the one I've always wanted was the Colt Python in either 4 or 6. Probably would have gone with the 6. IMO, no finer revolver available for law enforcement and emergency hunting.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I won't hate on Pythons. While I prefer S&W actions, the Pythons had ( better liked by me) actions than any other Colt DA. And they were certianly accurate. And they couldn't have been too ugly if S&W blatently copied the bbl profile for the L Frames.

The 2016 me timetraveling would get a Python and lock it in a safe .

My late '70s self at the time would have gotten the 6.5in M27 .

From mid '80s to early 2000's would have gotten 3.5in M27.

 

[rwsmith]

I don't know why.....

I was introduced to the Python in the mid 60s and immediately didn't care for the looks. I thought the vented rib thing was a presumptuous attempt to look tough.

 

[Zebadiah]

What A Deal!

Back then I would have bought the 4 inch Python. Likely confirmed that again this week when I traded a 6 inch bright stainless Python I've had for 20 years even for a pre 27 5 inch (1956), a 8 3/8 27-2 (1972), and a 25-5 (refinished in hard chrome). Love the S&Ws but the snake guns have been better investments.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Wow! Are you ever an expert trader! Congratulations on a great deal.

 

[jack the toad]

I was introduced to the Python in the mid 60s and immediately didn't care for the looks. I thought the vented rib thing was a presumptuous attempt to look tough.

+1
IMO, the vent rib (python & diamondback) was useless. Thank goodness S&W kept theirs solid when they introed the full lug barrel with the L frame.
Thinking of the old smythons and smolts.

 

[SLT223]

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!!!

Please educate me. I was always under the impression a separate main and rebound spring was a more tunable action than a single v spring.

 

[les_garten]

...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?

Ya take 'em all home and in 2016, you're smilin' like a MOFO!

Throw in a few M-29's and ya got a FULL HOUSE!

 

[Archie]

Even that long ago I knew which revolver was superior in all regards save price. I'd take the S&W without hesitation.

 

[Taj]

When I started as a Police Officer in 1977, my first (personally owned) duty gun was a 4" Model 28-2. It was a tank, and I loved it. After that, it was the typical 19/66 revolvers. Today, I'd have the 28 back, but that's what nostalgia does to you.[/QUOTE]

Snowman.45,

First duty gun was a 6" 28 because that's what I owned when I got hired. Carried in a big ole Hoyt breakfront. I was a 6'4" skinny ******* back then just back from VN. I told all the bad guys in my area it was a .44 mag. They'd all seen Dirty Harry and knew if you got shot with a .44, they buried you in a sandwich bag. After a few years and my back started to hurt from carrying a crew served handgun, I switch over to a 19. I carried that 19 even after we went to auto loaders. They finally made me give it up when I made sgt. *******s!

 

[TiroFijo]

I was 16 in 1978, and lusting after a python thanks to G&A articles...

Now that I'm older and wiser I would pick the 3.5" M27 in a heartbeat

 

[rt11002003]

Now that I'm old and grey/gray, I find shooting revolvers to be less fun than in the old days. Double action is hard on my arthritic hands and thumbing a hammer hurts my tender skin.

But, it doesn't keep me from owning and shooting a S&W PC 986 and a S&W PC 929.

But, back to the thread; I'd have gotten the longer barrel Colt and the Python. All are beauties; being a target shooter longer barrels appeal. Being a retired USAF guy at that time, I would have strained and bought both. I think.

No way do I think the newer guns are as appealing as the older ones. But, my two favorite guns are a S&W PC Model 41 and a SIG X-6. Both are single action semi autos. Sorry, that's what happens to us old and partially infirm.

 

[petewoodland]

Ten years earlier

In 1968 I was 22 years old and making less than $100 a week. Decisions like this came my way regularly. Life has been good to me and now I could but all of them. Back in 68 I was trying to decide between a 6 inch model 28 and a similar model 27. That is a total lie as there was no way to come up with the $125 price on the 27. $98 for the Highway Patrolman was a severe stretch of my thin wallet.
That S serial numbered 28 is still mine and shot regularly along with 4 others. One 4 inch, four screw 28 made a trip back to the factory a few months ago and shoots as well as it did in 1958.
I did manage to buy a Python in the 70s and it never worked right so I passed it along to some other rube.
About 25 years ago I found a 5 inch model 27 I could afford but it sits in the safe. I don't shoot it as well the 28s. It sure is pretty but I feel the Highway Patrolman has served me better.

 

[raljr1]

I was 22. Buddy and I did just that, I bought a 6" nickel model 19, he bought a 4" Python.....both still have them, no regrets here.

 

[stykshooter]

Back in 1978 my Holy Grail gun was a model 27 with 6" barrel. Two of the local gun shops had them in the case and I made my rounds weekly just to drool over them. I bought my first .357 that year, a Trooper Mark III, as well as my second .357, a Dan Wesson. I think I had less invested in the two of them than a 27 was going for.

In the mid to late '80's I worked off duty in a gun shop and everyone was trading revolvers in for semi autos. I picked up two 4" Diamondbacks, one in .38 and one in .22 for less than $200.00 each. You couldn't hardly give a revolver away. Sadly, that was during my Browning Hi Power love affair stage and I didn't capitalize on all of the good deals.

 

[AlphaSig]

The S&W 27 3.5" of course but since I was a youngsta back in '78 I might have ask them to hold it for me for another 6-8years when i could then buy it! Colt makes a nice revolver no doubt, but after having shot both, well ... There's just something about a S&W revolver ... Especially the older ones-

 

[MyDogReese]

Take out a mortgage

I'd find the money somewhere and buy all four! They appear to be pristine and each is capable of becoming the pride of a collection.

 

[Checkman]

Given, if it's 1978 I'm only 12

None of them

I was ten that year. I would have been dependent on dad to buy one. Dad would have purchased either a Colt 1911A1 or a Browning Hi-Power. Bummer.

 

[samnev]

In 1977 I had a Model 27-2, which I still own, but wanted to get a 6" Python. I bought one and took it to the range and fired 50 rounds thru it and decided I like my 27-2 much better. That was the only time I shot the Python. It sat in my safe until last week and decided to sell it. It took 1 day to sell at a very good price. Who knew back then they would appreciate like they have. Still love my 27-2 and my recently acquired 19-2. Not sorry to see the Python go to an avid Colt collector.

 

[Abbynormal]

Been a S&W guy all my life. Bought a nice used 6" Python once at a really good price and in side by side shooting my 6" M-27 beat it by a mile. Saw a rifle I liked and used the Python as trade bait.

 

[micromontenegro]

Been there, done that. I was awfully young, but with my dad on tug I adquired my first centerfire pistol in 1978, the 4" Python, and never looked back. It is still in the pen, along with the K22 that was my first handgun.

Now comes the strange part: I took that thing out about twice a week, and fired like only a teen with unlimited ammo supply can. Remington 125 gr. full house stuff. To say that this gun has been well used would be the understatement of the century, even if in the past few years I have slowed down a lot. But it has never ever had any timing trouble. No trouble at all, in fact. Seems like it never read the internet.