If it is a new design in any way, changed a spring or screw, it would have to be "approved" by the state. Gen 3 Glock is okay, gen 4 is not, for example.

can you expand on that?

Wish I still had this..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579023509.jpg

Like Tobra says, any design change must be resubmitted to the state for acceptance. These can be non-functional, purely cosmetic changes. Many manufacturers have grown tired of this and simply do not submit their new models for approval. I would suspect this is the case with Glock, where it simply was not worth it to them to submit their Gen 4 for approval.

As far as the Python, it meets current acceptance criteria. That does not mean Colt will submit it for approval. If they do not, it will not be legal for sale in California, whether it meets all criteria or not. I cannot imagine Colt ignoring this market, so I would be very surprised if they failed to submit it for approval.

I'd have gotten rid of it too with those grips...

No woodie :D

spit champagne on the keyboard. lol. But true. A Python in my mind is royal blue, walnut and fear.

Not that simple. Every new firearm needs to go through a specific process in order to be sold in CA. Some manufactures decide not to deal with the hassle. When that occurs the new gun does not make it to the approved roster. :confused:

So, I'll rephrase my last post. I hope Colt solves its issues and they do what's necessary to make the approved CA roster.

Interestingly, the original wood grips are now worth, all on their own, more than the guns sold for new. Most shooters replaced them with Pachmayrs or some form of aftermarket wood grips. When I horse traded my brother out of his Python several years ago, it had the Pachmayrs on it. Fortunately he had saved the original wood grips. Apparently, most just tossed them. They are really not all that great of a grip. I wound up putting a set of Herrett "Roper" style grips on it, which I prefer on double action revolvers.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579052527.jpg

I agree that functionally, they're not much of a grip. But something about the last great american gun requires them or something like yours. If I need to grab something to count on, it's not likely to be a Python, its unwieldy, at least for 5'5 me with small hands. So it should be perfect in form.

My Trooper came with the original grips and I HATED them. I got some Pachmyr grips and it was a huge improvement.

My fav revolver
 

S&W Performance Center .357 Magnum

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579054005.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579054005.jpg

I must confess....Pachmyrs adorned my M27 when I used to shoot a lot back when....with the originals back on it now....so I get that aspect ;). My M629 came with smooth wood unlike the typical wooden ones....and I like them, but haven't shot that one very much at all.

Nuthin' like good wood :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579055003.jpg

BTW Rick....that Combat Commander is a good one too :)

oh...my....

Performance Center .357......damn.:D

I would never bad mouth a man's spoon....but I bet he's got an ugly dawg :D

You do.

Well, about three or four silver colored ones.

Yeah, it's hard to argue with good wood. A couple of S&W's with the same Roper grips:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579057570.jpg

My all-time favorite, though, was the Goncalo Alves used by S&W in the '60's, '70's, and '80's:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579057570.jpg

Jeff, I have that exact Smith in the last photo. It is by far my favorite handgun. Period.

^^^ I can see why you like that last one :)

Yeah, I call that my "Pimp Gun". Nickel plated with goncalo alves grips... "Rooster" on the old Barretta cop show probably carried one...

I have Pachmyrs on my model 29 and just recently replaced the ones on my Commander. I wish I hadn't eBay'ed off the original S&W grips, but they were chipped and I was never going to use them. Still have the original receipt from Ray's in Dallas, 1981.

I've come to really dislike rubber grips on my handguns. I had them on a number of guns when I was younger, believing they offered a few advantages like a better, more consistent grip, and a bit of relief from the sting of recoil associated with some of the heavier loads used in my hunting revolvers. I've since come to realize I was wrong about all of that.

Properly shaped, hard, smooth wooden grips are, in my opinion, superior in every way. They offer every bit as consistent of a grip, and I feel they absorb heavy recoil better than rubber. They don't squirm around and twist in the hand as much, and they don't grip the hand, causing the skin to twist and stretch. I just find them far more comfortable, especially with heavy loads. The key is that they are smooth rather than checkered - I dislike checkered wood grips almost as much as I dislike rubber grips. They just chaff the hand too much, and offer no advantage in holding onto the gun.

My only exception to the above are the hard rubber grips offered on the Peacemaker. They aren't sticky and grabby like the popular soft rubber grips, behaving far more like wood grips. And, well, they are just kind of traditional and, to me, aesthetically pleasing, so I put up with them. At least on the Colts. All of my other single actions wear wood.

Colt:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579067406.jpg

Virginian Dragoon:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579067406.jpg

My 686 Plus 6 inch came with the rubber grips and I purchased wooden ones separately. I agree with everyone’s comments.

My ex FIL has a Python that has been shoot less than 10 times, completely original that I have asked to be given to my son.

Well, it looks like Colt is quietly acknowledging there is a problem with some of these new Pythons. They have recalled 100 examples that were sold through one major distributor. There may be more recalls coming but, for now, it appears that only the lot sent to this one distributor are suspect. "Reading between the lines" it may be Bud's Gun Shop. Hickock45's example that infamously had problems during the filming of his YouTube video came from Bud's. This is the one that failed to turn the cylinder on a number of occasions. There are at least six more with which various YouTube reviewers had the same issue.

I don't know.

My understanding is that Colt quit selling to LEO in California, because F-U California.

I know Barrett quit selling to California LEO. They do, however, still sell their long guns in the civilian market. The .416 Barrett, which is no more than the .50 BMG case necked down to .416 caliber, was developed specifically to get around California's ban on anything chambered in .50 BMG.

So, even though they adamantly refuse to sell anything to California LEO, they are not ignoring the civilian market. My guess (and only a guess) would be that Colt, if they were to remove themselves from any market in California, it would be the LEO market as well. They can't afford to ignore the civilian market.

Well, it sounds like a few of the early on-line reviewers who had difficulty with their Pythons and sent them back are hearing back from Colt. Colt is saying the sideplates were loose, allowing the hand to flop over and skip over the ratchet on the rear of the cylinder. Certainly possible, I guess. I've sure had plenty of screws come loose on handguns over the years.

Single actions seem particularly prone to this, but I honestly cannot remember a double action doing this. There is a big difference in functionality of the screws that come loose on a single action and the side plate screws on a double action. The latter simply hold the sideplate onto the frame, capturing the revolver's mechanism inside. The screws that typically loosen on a single action, though, serve as the pivot points, or axles, for the various parts of the internal mechanism, like the hammer, bolt, and trigger.

Anyway, that's Colt's story and they are sticking to it. A couple of guys are already saying "no way in hell", so it's hard to say what's going on. No one has actually gotten their gun back yet. It will be interesting to see what happens when they do.

This just landed in my in box from Colt. They are very much owning and addressing the problems with the new Python. I think that from here, knowing how Colt works, I would buy one with the utmost confidence. The last minute or so is worth watching, as it's a quick little "tutorial" on "how to buy the 'not available' Colt". I've done exactly as they say for decades, and I always (eventually) get my Colt.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vSBuhMC5JLA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That was an interesting video. Colt seems to have a better PR consultant than quality control manager. They don't come out and say they screwed up bigly, but they explain how they're gonna make things right. The speaker appears sympathetic and knowledgable and promises all will be made right. This video is a month late, but it's still pretty good.

We've both been in this game long enough to have seen a pretty good number of screw-ups from an awful lot of manufacturers. They all get them fixed as quietly as possible. I have never, before this, seen one take ownership at the level of producing a video to explain where they went wrong. That, in and of itself, is something.

If it didn't have to do with guns, this would end up being a PR case study, sort of like what happened with the Susan Komen Foundation about 12 year ago.

Tangent alert
 

Rather than start a new thread I'll hijack this one.

I've decided to get a wheel gun rather than another SA pistol.

I want a .357/.38 single/double action with no less than 4 inch barrel. I will go to the range and try a few but of course I want to canvas the crew here first.

I've already put the new Python and Cobra on the list. What others do you guys like?

I love my old S&W Model 19, mid 1980's vintage. It's still available in their "Classic" line. It's a bit smaller than their current "L" framed guns (it's the smaller "K" frame), and will not take a steady diet of .357 mag loads, but all I really shoot in it are .38 Specials anyway. It's wonderfully accurate, has a great trigger, and is very well balanced. Here it is with a 1911 for comparison:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1592974088.jpg

I'm not sold on the new python even after that video.

For the flatbutt question, I'd go with a pre-lock S&W 686 4" or 6" barrel that you can still get in very good condition for the same as a brand new lock version. The lock isn't a big deal but if you ever need or want to sell that gun, it will always be worth more than what you paid!

G

I have a post lock 686 plus in 6inch and really like it.

Yes, if you are ready to have a lock smith (haha) the 7 shot revolver sure is nice. I think there was only a very short period of no lock 7 shots? To me it is blasphemy to have a 7 shot 6gun! But some use it for self defense, so maybe they do feel an extra round is necessary. To me the .357 is a hunting revolver at best, I can't solve it with 6 rounds of .357 I'll probably won't do it with the 7th round. ;)

I carry mine for mountain lions while hunting big game in CO and the plus was what my LE connection hadn’t for me at a very good price...

As for the lock, it’s hardly noticeable, but if a pre lock fell in my lap I would not say no.

I have a 6” and my son has a 4”, fantastic fun to shoot and in my opinion far better made than the Ruger I was also considering (but more expensive).

The Model 19 sure looks tasty. I hope I can get one to try before commiting. What is the pull weight of that trigger? The book says 10lbs!

The 686 doesn't show up on their website. I may have trouble finding one.

The 686 is a fantastic revolver, as its blued cousin, the 586. It's built on the slightly larger "L" frame, so it can digest a steady diet of .357 mag. A bit heavier than the Model 19, but not much. And yes, they are in fact readily available, in many configurations. Just set the "caliber" filter to ".357 magnum" and the "frame size" to medium (K/L):

http://www.smith-wesson.com/revolvers

The double action pull on mine is probably about ten pounds, which is really pretty darn good. The single action pull is a very crisp two pounds. I'll go so far as to say it's the best trigger on any of my handguns.