Tag Archives: 3 inch python

Pythons in the News

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Colt brought back the “fighting Python” in the 3-inch format last year, but only recently started shipping it

Besides the new 3-inch Colt Python quietly released in late 2022 by the now-CZ-owned gunmaker ($1499 MSRP, available in stainless only) but finally shipping this month, Lipsey’s also has a very upscale version that features premier-grade engravings by Tyler Gun Works and elkhorn stag grips. The ask on the TGW model is $2,400.

I saw the TGW Combat Python at SHOT and it is a looker for sure.

In other Python news, Uwe and the gang over at Royal Tiger Imports have lucked into a small batch of early-model Colt snake guns as part of their sweeping warehouse buys in Ethiopia. Apparently, some of Emperor Haile Selassie’s royal guards’s commanders liked to carry them for special occasions.

Of course, old Haile was deposed more than 50 years ago and these things have been stored in pretty bad conditions. (RTI)

Still, that hasn’t stopped RTI from getting some outrageous prices for these Horn of Africa Pythons and Serial No. 10 just went for a downright bonkers $40K on Gunbroker (after an already bananas starting bid of $4,999) even though it looks to have been re-barreled or at least partially reblued at some point, is in incredibly beat up condition, and now carries an import mark.

Wow.

On Deck for 2022: Colt Combat Pythons and S&W Firestorms

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Although they haven’t “officially” announced them, both Colt and Smith & Wesson seem to have new handguns inbound for this year that mines at the tried-and-true vein of gun culture nostalgia.

Smith’s new CSX (Chief’s Special X?), a single-action-only subcompact 9mm that is hammer-fired, has an alloy frame, and a 10+1 or 12+1 magazine capacity, could be a hit with folks that don’t want polymer striker-fired micro 9s and are more familiar with carry-friendly M1911s such as the Colt New Detective or Sig Sauer P938.

The S&W CSX

It also, in my opinion, looks a lot like the old Star Firestar M43, although with a larger magazine capacity.

The Star Firestar was made from 1992-97, and would probably still be in production if the Spanish gunmaker was around as these were well-received little guns

Then there is the Colt Python with a 3-inch barrel.

While Colt produced the original Python in several barrel lengths between 1955 and 1994, including 2.5-inch snubs and commanding 8-inch Python Hunter, Python Silhouette, and Python Stalker models, the big I-frame snake gun rarely came with a factory 3-inch barrel. This was reserved for a short run of “California Combat” guns and a batch of 500 “Combat Pythons” made in 1988 for Lew Horton complete with a special “K” prefix serial number.

This circa 1974 Colt Python with a factory 2.5-inch snub-nosed barrel is sweet, but folks just went ga-ga for the 3-inch version, and Colt could do well to put such a thing back in production

The rebooted Pythons, introduced in 2020, including both a 4.25- and 6-inch model, with nothing shorter. With all that being said, the new 3-incher could prove both a hit with collectors as well as providing a more “carry friendly” Python for a new generation of wheel gun aficionados.

Either way, SHOT Show doesn’t start for another two weeks, so get ready for much more new gun news…I got my bags packed.