Wow - mine was made in 1980 as well. What are the chances? My older brother bought it when he was in the Navy, stationed in San Diego. Turns out he didn't develop the love of the shooting sports that I did and, about ten years ago, told me he wanted to sell it. He didn't think he needed such a valuable piece in his nightstand just for home protection. So, I traded a really nice Springfield 1911 and a fistful of cash, and the Python was mine.
I do shoot it, a lot. I never carry it, or pack it in the woods, or anything like that. Too big to carry, not enough gun for packing up into the Cascades, where I prefer something with a bit more power. So, it leads an easy, if not busy life as a "range gun".
Here are a couple of other double actions with smooth wooden grips, both S&W's. The Model 19 has the afore mentioned Herrett "Roper" grips, the Model 29 is wearing Eagle grips, also of the "Roper" design.
Here is another Model 29 with its original S&W made "Roper" style stocks (Walter F. Roper designed, and one Mathais Gagne manufactured these stocks for S&W in the mid 20th century). S&W chose to checker these but, fortunately, their checkering is flush with the rest of the grip. For whatever reason, Colt chose to raise their checkering "proud" above the grip surface, making it exceptionally uncomfortable.
I left the S&W "Roper" stocks on this one just because they are so darn pretty. This dates from when S&W were using a Brazilian hardwood known as "goncalo alves" to produce these grips.