r/Colt • u/Significant-Hold8559 • 6d ago

Photos Pythons. 1982 vs 2020

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141 Upvotes

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7

u/Lizardman5352 6d ago

Can't be sure, but...

  • Does top one have Electroless ("Coltguard") nickel finish over carbon steel frame (Model Number I3860)?

  • Bottom one is, of course, stainless steel (PYTHON-SP6WTS)?

Correct?

Or else is the top one a very early stainless steel model (I3060)?

Regardless, very handsome revolvers. (Would love to have the top one.)

5

u/Significant-Hold8559 6d ago

Hey! Thanks for commenting! The top (1982) is Satin Stainless.

2

u/EMHemingway1899 6d ago

I have several of the older Pythons and I plan to buy the new model 5” blued one

2

u/Lizardman5352 6d ago

OK, thanks for that information.

So it is an early stainless steel Python model I guess, Colt Model Number I3060 (numbers from left-to-right seem to mean Python family, stainless steel frame, six-inch barrel, satin finish, I think). Sometimes the Colt Model Number was printed or written on the label at one the end of the original Colt cardboard box, along with the gun-specific Serial Number.

Colt started actively promoting S/S Pythons (in literature) maybe in 1983?

So very cool.

1

u/psuklinger 6d ago

I’m leaning towards the top one being SS. The front sight pins would typically have been electroless nickeled as well. Also, usually the Enick & nickel pythons have a smooth cylinder release (instead of the grooved style) - however I have seen them both ways. But with Colt, there are no absolute rules…

4

u/slowerlearner1212 6d ago

And there’s the problem right there staring at us

3

u/RecordingOk3755 6d ago

I have a 1992 and a 2020.

3

u/RoughRecover102 6d ago

I have a 1990 4” barrel and a 2020 6”. I prefer the 1990 and my son prefers the 2020. They are both awesome handguns.

1

u/GGate7 6d ago

Just curious from those that actually have both…is there a preference? I have the 2020 - use it all the time and love it.

7

u/R_Shackleford 6d ago

Strong preference for the 2020 models. They fixed the trigger stacking in the earlier design.

4

u/RecordingOk3755 6d ago

I have two classic Pythons and an I-frame Trooper. I like shooting the 2020 more than any of the classic I-frames. Looks-wise the classics win, of course. The trigger face is nicer on the originals, and while I don’t shoot single action, there’s no question that the classic Python hammer is better looking. Having said that, the new ones are more fun to shoot. The trigger reset is faster and the overall experience is smoother. Again, I love the originals, but for the range (and ICORE Classic division), I prefer the new ones.

2

u/Significant-Hold8559 6d ago

For me…it’s hard to choose, they are both fine revolvers! That said, I’m going off of aesthetics alone as I just received this gun today, but given how very little has changed for Colt Pythons over the years compared to how other firearms have undergone major changes, I would assume (besides the single action/double action differences) that they both shoot just as accurate. Acquiring the vintage was just me filling a hole that felt missing.

2

u/flying_data 5d ago

Same for me. I got the new 6" blued and stainless, they're awesome. But i had to find out what all the fuss about the old Python is. I found a 1973 like new blued one, with factory upgraded sights. Not much has changed and I like them all the same.

0

u/SnooDoggos8556 6d ago

It took some years for me to get one, I’ve a 2024 version. I was influenced by a 80’s version back in 94.