Tag Archives: guns.com

So I saw how a Python is born…

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When you think of Colt revolvers, the Python immediately comes to mind, and we hit the road to get the behind-the-scenes access to see just how these iconic American wheel guns are made.

Launched in 1955, the .357 Magnum six-shooter stood out with its advanced features, which surpassed many standard models of the time. Featuring a full underlug with a shrouded ejector rod, ventilated rib barrel, and adjustable sights, Pythons are distinctive and quickly identified at even a glance.

We’ve seen hundreds of Pythons over the years and have loved every last one of them. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
There is just something electric about seeing the iconic “PYTHON” on the barrel. 

Over its original half-century run, the “I-frame” Python saw several variants with barrel lengths of 2.5, 3, 4, 6, and 8 inches, a few caliber experiments, and some specialty guns. The revolvers were produced in a range of finishes, including electroless nickel, referred to as “Colt Guard” by the company, stainless, polished nickel, Royal Colt Guard, an “Ultimate Bright” stainless, blued, and Colt Royal Blue, among others.

No matter the finish or barrel length, they are always appealing. A work of art crafted in steel. 

We were there at the SHOT Show in 2020 when the new Python was introduced. The event marked the debut of the updated generation of these premium revolvers for the 21st century.

The modern Python carries with it the legacy of the aristocratic revolver, whose name has become a household word.  

Now, with the new model in production for half a decade, we had to take a trip to New England to see how today’s Python is born.

More in my column at Guns.com. 

Hidden Roadside Gem– and its Amazing guns

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Tucked along the roadside in Polson, Montana is one of the largest collections of American history in the country – and I got lost there for a day this summer.

Gil and Joanne Mangels founded the Miracle of America Museum in 1981, with the non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of all that is American. Located near the southern shore of beautiful Flathead Lake, it is closer to Canada than Helena and has an annual traffic of about 18,000 visitors.

A big part of the story of the country involves guns, and the Miracle of America Museum has several hundred of them ranging from a working Puckle gun and Nock Volley gun to a converted Remington Model 11 converted to AAA training and a DWM-marked Maxim captured by Montana troops on the Western front in 1918.

Yes, that is a Maxon “Meat Chopper”

The principal facility contains more than 70 classic motorcycles dating back to the 1900s. Several are military variants to include a German BMW and a few Harleys from WWII.

As well as a Cushman motor scooter pulling a machine gun trailer including an M1919 Browning.

The grounds contain several aircraft, including a circa 1971 USAF A-7D Corsair strike bomber, a Navy T-33B trainer, the nose of an F-4 Phantom, four helicopters, and at least three different Cessna Bird Dogs.

For much more details, including a 20-minute tour video we did with Gil, head on over to my column at Guns.com.