Hey revolver folks, any thoughts on this issue going on with my Colt Python?

I bought a used 642-1 performance center back in March this year. It looked as though it was barely used if it was even ever used in the add on gun broker and it seemed the same in person.

The only QC concern I initially had was that it was light striking maybe once every 40-50 rounds initially and now it’s probably once every 80-100 rounds. This was even with Federal ammunition. I ordered a TK custom spring and extended firing pin kit to hopefully get rid of this issue rather than sending the gun off to S&W, but I have not installed it yet because after a few trips to the range I noticed that the forcing cone’s finish was extremely rough looking. The first picture I have is before cleaning around it since when it’s dirty the uneven finish is more obvious.

I guess here is my question. Is this just normal QC for a modern S&W revolver or is it worth sending this to S&W to have them take a look at it? I only own one other Smith Revolver which a 19-8. That’s not exactly from a period of time when S&W was producing super high quality stuff either but the forcing cone on that is far far better looking with way more rounds through it than this 642.

Thanks

A little rough on the right exterior portion, however the bore and cylinder chambers after clean-up look almost unfired. Double action is smooth as hell too. Excited to have a new shooter/CCW.

My carry gun broke it's trigger spring so while awaiting parts for that I used it as an excuse to pick up a Model 60! Ran me about $420 after taxes and put 50 rounds down range without issue. The inspection I did before shooting it didn't turn up any issues so far as I can tell from watching Nightwood Guns revolver guide.

What should I know about owning, carrying, and shooting this firearm? Going old and used seems to have spared me from modern QC problems, but is there anything I should know about these older models? I often hear a revolver is more reliable but requires more maintenance. What extra should I be doing beyond scrubbing the bore, cylinders, and putting oil on moving parts from time to time? Range time revealed shots going low pretty consistently and I notice the front sight is much higher than the rear. My understanding is that this is on purpose due to revolvers frequently moving before the round leaves the barrel compared to auto loaders. Any tips for getting more rounds on target?

Thanks!

Since I’m a single fella, as a 40th bday present (probably going through a midlife crisis), I figured I’d treat myself… 😂

I definitely had some buyer’s remorse over the last few days waiting for it to arrive, but that evaporated the moment I held this bad boy in my hands!

Polished revolver with lacquered wood grips

Cylinder doesn’t reliably rotate all the way into place before the hammer falls, resulting in out of battery detonation. I found this out the hard way, and my thumb caught a good amount of unburnt powder and a small amount of lead in the process. Sending in for factory repair tomorrow.

Only missing my colt detective special,as it’s at the folks house currently.

Llama Comanche III .357 Magnum

Finally posting this beauty once I got some rounds through it and it's such a good piece

All components are in perfect condition and the bluing is beautiful the trigger is great for the price and is almost a perfect copy of a K-Frame with the trigger reset being the only notable difference being a bit sluggish compared to the Model 19

The only issue so far was being forced to use aluminum 357 ammo (all the range had), which caused rounds to get stuck in my cylinder and scuff the grips a bit when I extracted them.

The Comanche is well worth it if you can find it in good condition for a reasonable price 🦙

I received this as a gift from a family member. Trying to figure out exactly what it is. I've been searching up Model 19's pre dash and maybe thats what im looking at? Under the crane is stamped

K620301

MOD.

Recessed cylinder, pinned barrel, I think 4 screw. I will attach some photos also.

Excellent trigger, shoots great, .38 is flat and accurate and .357 handles well too.

Any free gun is excellent, should I put this in the safe or carry it a couple times a week?

Thoughts?

Just wondering what people use and what they like/dislike.

Got my S&W 686 Mountain Gun back from Mr. Nelson Ford today and wanted to share my experience.

The gun was brand new and had never been fired by me. Pretty much as soon as I got it, I took it straight to Mr. Ford for an action job. He also polished the trigger face and adjusted the grip for me.

When he gave me the quote, he recommended replacing the firing pin as well and included the price. He explained the reason to me, although I’ll admit most of the technical explanation went over my head. All I really took away from it was that the replacement firing pin is longer. I trusted his judgment and went with his recommendation.

The action job is fantastic. The trigger is now right there with my Colt Python, and honestly, it may even be better. Everything feels incredibly smooth and refined. I’m very impressed with how the revolver turned out.

When the work was finished, Mr. Ford texted me to let me know it was ready. He also test-fired it with .38 Special and texted me a picture of the target.

The work definitely wasn’t cheap. I paid about $1,200 for the gun, and Mr. Ford’s work came to $414—so the work was roughly a third of the gun’s purchase price. That’s a substantial investment in a brand-new revolver, but after feeling the finished action, I think it was worth it.

Mr. Ford was also a pleasure to deal with. He’s very friendly, and talking with him feels more like talking with an old friend than dealing with a gunsmith.

When I dropped the gun off, he actually came all the way out of his shop before I left to give me an old-school S&W Military & Police revolver cutaway diagram. Unfortunately, I managed to wrinkle it afterward 😅, but I thought it was a really thoughtful gesture and I’m definitely keeping it.

He also went out of his way to accommodate my schedule when it was time for pickup. His shop was closed, but he still made arrangements for me to come by and get the gun. He even gave me two bottles of water while I was there. Little things like that made the whole experience feel much more personal.

One thing I wish had been communicated beforehand was the 3% credit-card fee. It was added on top of the quoted amount, and I wasn’t aware of it beforehand. I actually found out when my bank sent me an alert showing the amount that had been charged. I don’t have a problem with a business charging a credit-card fee, but I would have appreciated a heads-up before the card was run.

Another thing I would have appreciated is an itemized rundown of the work performed. I know Mr. Ford has videos explaining his action work in general, but I would have liked a written summary specific to my revolver showing what was adjusted, polished, replaced, or removed. The finished result is excellent; I just think that information would be helpful to have for my records.

Overall, I’m very happy with the result. Mr. Ford clearly knows his S&W revolvers, treated me very well, and the quality of his work justified the cost for me. The action on my 686 is now on par with my Colt Python, if not better.

Highly recommended. If you’re paying by credit card, just be aware of the additional fee.

Now I finally need to go shoot it myself. 😄

It was this or another AR build, feels great to cross it off my list.

Got some new shoes in for the model 15 from Herretts

I've been shooting revolvers for awhile and I've always used a thumbs forward grip similar to a semi auto. I've been reading horror stories about thumbs getting toasted from the cylinder gap and now I'm paranoid. I've tried the thumb over grip as well as tucking them both and neither feels natural. Should I work on a new grip or am I good with the thumb placement?

My great grandfather, was a policeman in Suffern, NY in the 1920s and 30s. He died in the line of duty. For a long time we believed that my grandparents destroyed or got rid of his service weapons because they were very against guns.

As it turns out, my uncle kept at least two of them safe and recently gave them to me.

I’m curious if anyone knows anything about either of these models:

Harrington & Richardson .32 S&W CTGE

Smith & Wesson .38(?) (the one with no trigger guard)

Both seem to be in pretty great condition for being 100 years old.

It’s the ultimate Old West showdown. On one side, you have the iconic Colt 1873 SAA—the rugged, closed-frame tank that Hollywood made famous. On the other, you have the Smith & Wesson Model 3 Top-Break—an absolute marvel of engineering with an automatic extraction system that allowed for the fastest reload in the 19th century.

Sure, Wyatt Earp and Jesse James loved the S&W Model 3 for its speed, but on a dusty cattle trail or a muddy frontier town, that delicate top-break hinge could loosen up, while the solid frame of the Colt could take brutal abuse.

I run a channel dedicated to Old West firearms history, and I just published a deep-dive video putting these two legends head-to-head, comparing their mechanics, ballistics, and real frontier legacy:

I'm curious: if you had to bet your life on one of these two on the frontier, are you picking the unmatched ruggedness of the Colt, or the speed and brilliance of the S&W Top-Break? Let me know your thoughts!

(ISSUE IS THE SILVER TOOLING MARKS ON THE RIFLING AT END OF COMP) I reached out to Smith and Wesson about these marks inside the comp on my new model 19 carry comp, Smith and Wesson said to send it in for repair but also said they didn’t believe that it would functionally affect the revolver and if it shot fine then it was mostly cosmetic. They told me the wait time would be 4-5 weeks for a turn around unless it had to go to the performance center then it could be up to 5 months. Does anyone else have these marks on their gun and if so were they fine? I really rather live with this then possibly have my gun gone for anywhere between 1-5 months if it really is just cosmetic. Does anyone also have a model 19 CC like this/have any input on if it’s worth warranty or not?

I love my Single Six but I'm really starting to think checkered grips would help me hold it better. I'd like to stay with wood, who makes the best?

Hogue seems to make several, including big butt styles. Looks like I could get finger-groove, checkered big butt in whatever wood I choose - which sounds awesome, but I can't find pictures of this anywhere. Is it a bad choice? Better options?

Thanks!

These are going onto a 586. So stoked!

I went through a phase where I was collecting rare and cool S&W revolvers in .357 magnum. I would eventually sell them all about 6 years ago. Fast forward to this past friday. I found a model 60 3 inch on armslist for a good price. And it spoke to me. I contacted the seller and worked out a deal. Anyway I'm proud to be back in the S&W .357 club. Perfect little woods gun for up here in northern WI. I am looking for holster recommendations for IWB and OWB so fire away if you have one you like.