just for the hell of it, here's my Python. My brother bought it in San Diego when he was in the Navy in about 1980. About ten years ago he decided that he no longer needed a "big fancy magnum", and I was currently between Pythons, so I gave him a Springfield 1911 and a (way too big) pile of cash for this one. I had always had 4" versions, since I often packed one, but I thought I would try the 6". I've grown to like it. I don't carry one anymore, and the longer barrel makes it a better plinker or "range gun". I've always liked the Colt mechanism and its "feel" more than the S&W or Ruger, even though some complain that it "stacks" at the end of its double action pull. I like the stacking. And, boy, even on a rather pedestrian example like this one, the fit and finish are so much better than the competition. Now that they have a blued version again, I might just have to replace that long gone 4" version.
With the original Colt grips, which are apparently almost as valuable as the gun. I don't like them, they have raised checkering that acts like a cheese grater. Denis's has a much better version:
With a set of grips from Steve Herrett Jr., son of the man who developed the .357 Herrett (a .30-30 case necked up to accept .357" dia bullets for the old T/C Contender). Steve has a trace of my right hand in his file cabinet, and a new grip for any gun is a phone call away. Most of my DA revolvers wear his grips:
