Differences between King cobra & Python

[Johnny P]

At one time the Colt Pythons were beautifully finished revolvers, but when Colt threw out the wood and leather polishing wheels the Python finish took a severe downturn. I have a Colt Python that I bought new in 1977, and it shows all the characteristics of being polished with a cloth buffing wheel. While the cloth buffing wheel is faster and much easier to master than the wood wheels used previously, it also gives the Python the gun shop reblued look. The fibers of the cloth buffing wheel run down in the stampings and wash out the sides of the as the piece is moved over the wheel.

You can look at the displaced metal and see which was the barrel was moved over the buffing wheel.

[Iceman66]

When I started in LE in 1969, virtually all officers had to purchase their own duty weapons. I was just out of the USMC and had no experience with wheel guns, but knew I wanted a Colt. .38spl or .357mag were our only caliber choices. I went to a gunshop and looked at both a 4" Python and a 4" Diamondback. Having little money, I opted for the .38 Diamondback. I carried it for for approximately two years and learned a lot about revolvers and calibers, most importantly that the .38spl was severely underpowered compared to the .357mag. In 1971-72 I had the opportunity to buy a very slightly used 6" Python from a private party. I jumped on the deal when my Lt. offered to front me the $. In 1974 I found myself assigned to my first tour as a detective and knew the 6" Python was impossible to carry under a suit coat. I still didn't have a lot of money as cops still weren't paid very well in those days, but I didn't want to carry a different weapon other than the Python. I made some sacrifices and purchased a new 2.5" Python from a local dealer who had one on hand.

It was around 1975 that handguns were recognized as essential uniform parts - court decisions - and departments started providing handguns to officers as an alternative to personally purchased duty weapons. My department bought 4" S&W Mdl. 19 .357mag. I checked one out and returned it two days later. I carried my Pythons another 10 years before automatics were finally authorized and I purchased a H&K P7 M13 directly from H&K on a departmental personal purchase arrangement. By this time the Mdl 19s had all failed and been returned to S&W for the new L frame Mdl 686 which could handle the steady diet of 357Mag ammunition. In the early 1990's the department adopted their first auto pistol made by Glock. As a grandfathered employee I was allowed to continue to carry my personal handguns, which I did until my retirement.

Circa 1984, I took my Pythons out of daily service. I sent my 6" back to Colt for a complete factory inspection and upgrade, including a fresh polishing, new Colt Royal Blue finish, installation of a red insert front sight and white outline rear sight and a pair of Colt custom wood stocks. It has never been fired since it was returned to me. My 2.5" shows a lot of holster wear from the spring retention Bianchi shoulder holster that it was carried in during my years in the detective division.

I never had a problem with either of my Colt Python revolvers. They were carried daily and banged around in wrestling matches with bad guys and, while I took care of them, they were not handled with kidd gloves. I treated them as tools that were needed to protect my life and the lives of the citizens I was sworn to protect. So my experience tends to dispute some of the negatives alleged about the Colt Python. It was, IMO, the finest example of American gunsmithing and will always remain so.