The Colt Python: A Timeless American Classic Firearm

The Colt Python, introduced in 1955 by Colt’s Manufacturing Company, is a double-action single-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. Over the decades, it has built a reputation for precision, smooth trigger operation, and solid construction.

The Python sits on Colt’s large I-frame, similar to the Colt Trooper and Lawman revolvers, but it was specifically designed for the premium market.

Often referred to as the “Rolls-Royce of Colt revolvers,” the Python has been hailed by firearms experts as one of the best production revolvers ever made. The revolver was produced from 1955 to 2005 and saw a resurgence in 2020, bringing with it some modern updates to enhance its legendary performance.

Development and Design

The Colt Python didn’t go through an intensive development process. Instead, it was the result of Colt’s gunsmiths experimenting on the production floor, aiming to create a match-grade revolver using mostly existing parts. The final product was a revolver that many consider one of the finest handguns ever made.

Al De John, who started working at Colt in 1946, played a significant role in the Python’s development. He collaborated with factory superintendent Al Gunther to beef up the design of the .38 Special Officer’s Model Match, reinforcing the cylinder, frame, and top-strap to handle the .357 Magnum’s higher pressures.

The iconic vent rib across the barrel was another contribution by Gunther. Sticking with Colt’s tradition of reptilian names, they decided on the name “Python,” following the earlier Colt Cobra.

First introduced as Colt’s top-of-the-line model in 1955, the Python was initially designed as a large-frame .38 Special target revolver. This focus on precision led to features like adjustable sights, a smooth trigger, and extra metal for durability.

A distinctive full barrel underlug, ventilated rib, and Colt’s clockwise-rotating cylinder set the Python apart from its competition. The cylinder lock-up is tight, thanks to the design where the cylinder rotates to the right, pressing into the frame and ensuring a tight lock when the hammer falls.

Generation 1: 1955–2005

When Colt first manufactured the Python, they experimented with hollow underlugs but eventually opted for a solid design to act as a stabilizing barrel weight. Initially, the Python was available with a 6-inch barrel, followed by 4-inch and 2.5-inch versions. This revolver also marked the debut of Colt’s Royal Blue finish, achieved through meticulous polishing before bluing.

The Python was a labor-intensive project for Colt. Only two gunsmiths, Al De John and Don Bedford, were initially allowed to work on the revolvers.

The process involved intricate hand fitting and polishing, with each Python taking about 20 minutes of labor, compared to the 15 minutes for other Colt revolvers. This attention to detail was reflected in the Python’s initial price of $125, equivalent to Colt’s reintroduced Single Action Army.

By 1969, over 100,000 Pythons had been built. During the 1970s, each Python was bore-sighted at the factory with a laser, making it the first mass-produced revolver to receive this treatment.

The End of Generation 1

In 1999, Colt announced that it would cease production of the Python, citing changing market conditions and the cost of defending lawsuits as the primary reasons.

The Colt Custom Gun Shop continued to produce a limited number of Pythons on special order until 2005, when production ceased entirely. The high cost of first-generation Pythons was due to the hand-fitting process required to compensate for the limitations of mass production and precision machining of the time.

Generation 2: 2020 – Present

Colt officially reintroduced the Python in January 2020. The second generation Pythons were built from stronger stainless steel, with significant improvements in design and construction.

The backstrap and area beneath the rear adjustable sight now have thirty percent more steel, addressing the reputation of the original Pythons as fragile when used with high-powered .357 Magnum rounds.

The engineers also redesigned the rear sight, allowing for the additional steel above the cylinder in the top strap. The modern Pythons benefit from advancements in metallurgy, with the original 410-series stainless steel replaced by a stronger, more corrosion-resistant alloy.

Available with 3-inch, 4.25-inch, or 6-inch barrels, the new Python is powered by a V-spring mechanism, redesigned into a “U” shape to prevent “stacking,” a common issue where the trigger pull weight increases sharply at the end of its travel. All new Pythons come with Altamont wood grips, maintaining the classic appearance of the original.

Usage and Popularity

The Colt Python quickly became popular among target shooters and law enforcement after its introduction. The 6-inch barrel model was favored by uniformed officers, while the 4-inch barrel was ideal for plainclothes use.

The Colorado State Patrol and Georgia State Patrol, issued Pythons to their officers until they transitioned to semi-automatic pistols in the late 1980s and 1990s. Despite falling out of favor as a standard law enforcement weapon, the Python remains a popular choice among collectors and enthusiasts.

Notable Instances and Media Presence

The Colt Python has been associated with a few high-profile incidents and has made numerous appearances in popular culture. In 1996, a Python loaded with semi-wadcutter bullets was used in the murder of Irish crime reporter Veronica Guerin, an event that led to the creation of the Criminal Assets Bureau in Ireland.

The Python also gained fame as the weapon of choice for Rick Grimes, the protagonist of the AMC horror drama “The Walking Dead,” significantly boosting its popularity and market demand, which contributed to its reintroduction in 2020.

Famous Owners and Collectors

The Python has been a favorite among some of the world’s most famous personalities. Colt historian R.L. Wilson noted that Elvis Presley was among its notable owners.

Additionally, various kings, including Hussein I of Jordan and Juan Carlos of Spain, received specially customized Pythons with personalized engravings and crests. Other prominent recipients include King Khalid and Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia, King Hassan of Morocco, and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt.

Models and Variants

The Colt Python featured a fully adjustable white-outline Accro rear sight and a front ramp sight with a red inset. It came standard with a wide spur, checkered hammer, and grooved, curved trigger. The Python was initially available only in a blued finish, but a nickel finish was later added. The first production model featured a 6-inch barrel, followed by compact 4-inch and 2.5-inch versions.

In 1980, Colt introduced an 8-inch barrel Python chambered in .38 Special, known as the Colt Python Target. This variant was produced in Royal Blue, with a limited run of 251 units in a nickel finish.

The 1981 introduction of Coltguard, a weather-resistant plating, expanded the Python’s appeal. The stainless Python returned in 1984, followed by the super-polished stainless Ultimate Python in 1985. This featured an Elliason target front sight.

The Colt Python Stalker, produced in 1988, was a limited edition with only 200 units made. It featured an 8-inch vented ribbed barrel, and a smooth non-fluted cylinder. It also has a Leupold M8-2x Extended E.R. scope, and rubber grips with the Colt Medallion.

In 1982, Colt introduced the Python Silhouette. This came with a rib-mounted Leupold scope and Pachmayr grips, housed in a black fitted case with nickel trim.

Colt Python Into the ’90s and Beyond

In 1997, Colt moved Python production to the Custom Shop. This was where the revolver was offered in both highly polished and matte stainless steel. It was then renamed the Colt Python Elite. Limited production continued until 2004.

The 2020 reintroduction brought the Python back with 4.25-inch and 6-inch barrels, followed by a 3-inch version in 2022. These reintroduced Pythons have been technically revised and reinforced compared to the original models.

The Colt Python Today

With its return in January 2020, the Colt Python continues to be a sought-after revolver for both collectors and shooters.

Colt sanctioned and authenticated the first engraved new production Python. This was made by Tyler Gun Works and sold at auction for $18,026 in February 2020. The proceeds were donated to the NRA Whittington Center Adventure Camp.

Today, the Colt Python remains a symbol of craftsmanship, precision, and history in the world of firearms. Whether as a collector’s item, a piece of history, or a reliable tool for shooting, the Python holds a unique place in the legacy of American revolvers.