Possible New Colt Pythons?

You know I really haven’t been that excited about buying a revolver for the last 2 or 3 years. This sort of reenergizes my interest.

I mean I didn’t loose interest in revolvers and still enjoy shooting the ones I own, but I just wasn’t really looking to buy.

Elkins45 said:

Artificial scarcity is what’s kept the Python market alive. And nostalgia.

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None of the naysayers have new Mustangs, Challengers, Camaros, Airstreams, Corvettes, Chargers, 911s, Shelby Cobras, or Harleys, I hope... or 1911s... or M1As...or XM177s, or “AK47” patterns, or Brownells “retro” ARs...

sabbfan said:

I have been looking at Smith & Wesson’s website quite a bit the last several months, a target 38 or 357 is on my wishlist and will be my next firearm purchase. This announcement has me looking at the Colt website now! Looking forward to some reviews, especially since every review on here has been overwhelmingly positive about the Cobra and King Cobra.

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I've been doing the same. I've always been a S&W fan, and thought a new 66 was going to be my next purchase, but these and the Cobra's have peaked my interest.

What really buzzes me off is the repeated mantra of how complicated and fragile the old style Colt lockwork was. Look, really, it's not that complicated at all - there are only people who fail to understand that most of the parts were assigned to do several things simultaneously. Failing to understand that and trying to tune, or repair the action as one would do a S&W style one is a recipe for frustration - adjust one issue and another one pops off. Many people, gunsmiths included, fail to understand the simple fact, that fist you have to know exactly what is going on and why and only after that you address the issue. And to address it the proper way. That goes both ways though - S&W also have it's "dark secrets"...

When comparing the old style Colt action to S&W or Ruger it surely is more demanding, it will go out of time quickly and it's more complicated for repair. But fragile it was not. It has it's quirks, it has tighter tolerances and issues that must be addressed in a timely manner. It is different. Yes, it's outdated, but not that bizarre, or fragile at all. It's almost like the old "Manual Vs. Auto transmission" dispute - both have their advantages and disadvantages. It's up to the end user to make an educated choice based on his needs. Those of us who do not anticipate the latest and greatest competition grade gun that has all the bells and whistles promoted by the latest gun rag, are still enjoying shooting those outdated and fragile guns. On daily basis. And yes, I do find the horrible DA stacking on Colts rather pleasant actually. Because I'm used to it - that way I know just when the hammer will let off and I can adjust my sight picture in the last moment if needed... Personal preference, nothing more.

Just enjoy it for what it is - it's like shooting a SAA Colt and complaining it doesn't have double action feature and loading it is complicated. It is what it is - if you want that just look elsewhere, there is no point of complaining and proving it being inferior to something you imagined.

P.S. Old fart rant mode off.

Gordon said:

<Youtube Video>

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Maybe I can't tell from the camera angle, but it seems like the host points the gun at Ken a lot.

Then he's got his thumb in front of the barrel cylinder gap. Just makes me cringe.

I looked again, and even Ken is doing it. If you watch him start shooting at 3:57, his thumbs slip farther and farther forward as he goes through the cylinder and by the last shot his thumb is over the gap. He does the same thing starting at 4:02, but it may be a replay from another camera. At 4:05 his thumb is past the front of the cylinder.

The host starts with his thumb over the gap at 5:30 and it moves even farther during the string so the entire thumbnail is past the gap.

Not only is the grip changing with every shot, but putting the thumb out there risks losing it.

Give me one good reason this isn't crappy technique and both these guys shouldn't go back to Handgun 101 and learn a proper grip.

Sorry folks. But I guarantee The Walking Dead DID play a role in this revival. My 70 year old father called me today and “Did you see Colt is bringing back Rick’s Python!?” Apparently he and several of his buddies emailed Colt asking them to bring it back. So I think it’s safe to assume others did also. And I don’t know a single guy (or married for that matter lol) that talks about TWD and doesn’t mention the Python. Rick Grimes did for the Python what Harry Callahan did for the 29. I don’t think I want one. I’m a Redhawk and 29, 66, 686+ guy. But I am interested to see how they perform.

labnoti said:

Maybe I can't tell from the camera angle, but it seems like the host points the gun at Ken a lot.

Then he's got his thumb in front of the barrel cylinder gap. Just makes me cringe.

I looked again, and even Ken is doing it. If you watch him start shooting at 3:57, his thumbs slip farther and farther forward as he goes through the cylinder and by the last shot his thumb is over the gap. He does the same thing starting at 4:02, but it may be a replay from another camera. At 4:05 his thumb is past the front of the cylinder.

The host starts with his thumb over the gap at 5:30 and it moves even farther during the string so the entire thumbnail is past the gap.

Not only is the grip changing with every shot, but putting the thumb out there risks losing it.

Give me one good reason this isn't crappy technique and both these guys shouldn't go back to Handgun 101 and learn a proper grip.

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Camera angle

BigBore44 said:

Sorry folks. But I guarantee The Walking Dead DID play a role in this revival. My 70 year old father called me today and “Did you see Colt is bringing back Rick’s Python!?” Apparently he and several of his buddies emailed Colt asking them to bring it back. So I think it’s safe to assume others did also. And I don’t know a single guy (or married for that matter lol) that talks about TWD and doesn’t mention the Python. Rick Grimes did for the Python what Harry Callahan did for the 29. I don’t think I want one. I’m a Redhawk and 29, 66, 686+ guy. But I am interested to see how they perform.

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The prices started skyrocketing on Pythons before the series begin.

I don’t care, they did not appear to get injured, and both of them have probably forgotten more about shooting than you’ll ever know.

Gordon said:

The prices started skyrocketing on Pythons before the series begin.

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Maybe so, but it sure added fuel to the fire. I mean it's a given when a classic gun is discontinued it will increase in price because of supply and demand.

When TWD came out the python hadn't been made for what 5 yards already? Now toss it in the lime light of a hit show and it's going to be further sought after than it was before. To top it off you can add video games to the mix. Mentioned earlier or maybe in one of the other python threads, most video games that have a revolver seem to have them modeled after a python. And the mid 2000's being the point where graphics were starting to take off. Now that generation (my generation) that grew up with those games is of age to purchase handguns. Lots of use are also at the point where there may be some extra jingle in our pockets enabling us to finally buy some of the guns we've dreamed of owning. Within reason and debt permitting.

labnoti said:

Maybe I can't tell from the camera angle, but it seems like the host points the gun at Ken a lot.

Then he's got his thumb in front of the barrel cylinder gap. Just makes me cringe.

I looked again, and even Ken is doing it. If you watch him start shooting at 3:57, his thumbs slip farther and farther forward as he goes through the cylinder and by the last shot his thumb is over the gap. He does the same thing starting at 4:02, but it may be a replay from another camera. At 4:05 his thumb is past the front of the cylinder.

The host starts with his thumb over the gap at 5:30 and it moves even farther during the string so the entire thumbnail is past the gap.

Not only is the grip changing with every shot, but putting the thumb out there risks losing it.

Give me one good reason this isn't crappy technique and both these guys shouldn't go back to Handgun 101 and learn a proper grip.

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Are you REALLY critiquing Ken Hackathorn's shooting technique??? A wise man once said, sometimes you have to be smart enough to know how dumb you are.

I will temper that by saying I don't like the thumbs-forward, high grip or locked elbows hold on a revolver because it doesn't work with anything that recoils heavily. However, I'm not gonna tell Ken Hackathorn he's doing it wrong.

CraigC said:

Are you REALLY critiquing Ken Hackathorn's shooting technique???

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I am. It sucks. At least in this video it really sucks. The grip is poor and his recoil control is poor. It's not just a matter of a poor choice of grip technique. It's also not working for him.

You can worship a man if you choose. I choose to see things for what they are.

Gordon said:

The prices started skyrocketing on Pythons before the series begin.

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Didn’t say anything about the value of original colts. I said the revival of.....Bringing them back. Movies, tv, and now video games, play a fairly large role in marketing. Which is kind of ironic if you think about it. But whatever the reason, I’m glad Colt decided to bring out something “neweremade” and improved.

I don't know that I will let me 686 with a tuned action go in favor of one, but I'm certainly interested in handling one to see.

Im definitely interested in a 6 inch one once the 3rd party reviews come in; I personally think these new ones won’t be a failure, Colt has a lot riding on theses now. So I doubt they will drop the ball on it.

labnoti said:

I am. It sucks. At least in this video it really sucks. The grip is poor and his recoil control is poor. It's not just a matter of a poor choice of grip technique. It's also not working for him.

You can worship a man if you choose. I choose to see things for what they are.

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Are you moonlighting as a comedian??? Because that's really funny. I don't "worship" anyone but I know who the real experts are. As I said, it's not how I shoot because it's not applicable to 'what' I shoot but only a moron tells someone like Ken Hackathorn his technique is all wrong. What next, you gonna troll Jerry Miculek's videos??? I need my waders for this thread.

labnoti said:

I am. It sucks. At least in this video it really sucks. The grip is poor and his recoil control is poor. It's not just a matter of a poor choice of grip technique. It's also not working for him.

You can worship a man if you choose. I choose to see things for what they are.

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What recoil do you speak of and how is it not "working for him?"

Starting at 4:00, he cannot keep hold of the gun. His grip changes with every shot.

labnoti said:

Starting at 4:00, he cannot keep hold of the gun. His grip changes with every shot.

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Oh for heaven's sake. Give it a rest. Ken is a noted autoloader professional; if I haven't shot a revolver for a while, it takes me (sometimes, quite) a bit of time in my first session to re-acquaint myself with shooting one. Especially if I started immediately shooting full-house .357s …

I am simply not understanding how some folks can find so much to be critical of in a thread about a topic on something we should be rejoicing about.

I’m honestly not sure why it matters how someone handles a gun. The subject is the new python, not how to handle it.

This is the gun that rick has in the Walking Dead right?

labnoti said:

Starting at 4:00, he cannot keep hold of the gun. His grip changes with every shot.

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He is also 70 years old or so, and has stated that he is no longer fond of shooting hard kicking pistols due to his hands and wrists not being what they used to. Plus the grips on that revolver don’t look particularly “grippy” and probably roll around quite a bit.

I have .454 Casull with smooth laminated grips on it, I’ll give you $50 if you can shoot full house ammo through it and not have your grip shift.