Editing Colt Python (section)

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Colt Python
| image              = File:Colt-Python.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Colt Pythons with 6-inch (15 cm) and 4-inch (10 cm) barrels and nickel finish
| origin             = United States
| type               = [[Revolver]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = yes
| is_UK              = <!-- Production history -->
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 1955–2005 <small>(Generation 1)</small> <br/>2020–present <small>(Generation 2)</small>
| number             = 
| variants           = {{convert|2.5|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|3|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|4|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|4.25|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on}} and {{convert|8|in|cm|adj=on}} barrel
<!-- General specifications -->| spec_label         = 
| weight             = {{convert|38|oz|kg}} to {{convert|48|oz|kg}}
| length             = 
| part_length        = 
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[.357 Magnum]]
| action             = [[trigger (firearms)|Double action and single action]]
| rate               = 
| velocity           = 
| range              = 
| max_range          = {{cvt|200|yd|m}}
| feed               = Six-[[Cartridge (firearms)|round]] [[Cylinder (firearms)|cylinder]]
| sights             = Rear adj.; front ramp
}}

The '''Colt Python''' is a [[Trigger (firearms)#Double-action/single-action|double action/single action]] [[revolver]] chambered for the [[.357 Magnum]] cartridge. It was first introduced in 1955 by the [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]]. <ref name="Dougherty, Martin 2005, page 48">Dougherty, Martin ''Small Arms: From the Civil War to the Present Day'', New York City: Fall River Press, 2005, page 48. {{ISBN|978-0-7607-6329-2}}</ref>

Pythons have a reputation for accuracy, smooth trigger pull, and a tight cylinder lock-up.<ref name="hawks"/> Pythons, built on Colt's large I-frame, are similar in size and function to the [[Colt Trooper]] and [[Colt_Trooper#Lawman |Colt Lawman]] revolvers.<ref name="Tarr2013">{{cite book|last=Tarr|first=James|title=Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CaxuAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA120|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-1-4402-3747-8|pages=120–121}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The Colt Python is intended for the premium [[revolver]] market segment. Produced from 1955 to 2005, and again since 2020, it was described by historian R.L. Wilson as "the [[Rolls-Royce (car)|Rolls-Royce]] of Colt revolvers",<ref name="Wilson1"/> and firearms historian [[Ian V. Hogg]] referred to it as the "best revolver in the world."<ref name = "Hogg94"/> Some firearm collectors and writers such as [[Jeff Cooper (Marine)|Jeff Cooper]] and [[Ian V. Hogg]] have described the Python as "the finest production revolver ever made".<ref name="Dougherty, Martin 2005, page 48"/><ref name="hawks">[http://www.chuckhawks.com/colt_python_revolvers.htm The Colt Python .357 Magnum Revolver] by Chuck Hawks at chuckhawks.com accessed April 27, 2009</ref><ref name="Thompson">{{cite book| last = Thompson| first = Leroy| author2 = Rene Smeets| title = Great Combat Handguns: A Guide to Using, Collecting and Training With Handguns| publisher = Arms & Armour Publication| date = October 1, 1993| location = London| page = [https://archive.org/details/greatcombathandg0000thom/page/256 256]| isbn = 978-1-85409-168-0| url = https://archive.org/details/greatcombathandg0000thom/page/256}}</ref><ref name = "Wilson1">Wilson, R.L., ''The Colt Heritage,'' New York City: Simon & Schuster, 1987, P. 272.</ref><ref name = "Wilson2">Wilson, R.L., ''Colt: An American Legend'', New York City: Abbeville Press, 1985, p. 272.</ref><ref name="Cooper">Cooper, Jeff, ''Cooper on Handguns'', Los Angeles, Petersen Publishing Co., 1974, p. 189.</ref><ref name="Hogg94">[[Ian V. Hogg|Hogg, Ian V.]] (1994). ''Military Small Arms: 300 Years of Soldiers' Firearms'', Salamander Publishing</ref>