Editing Colt Python (section)

==Usage==
[[Image:Pythons2.jpg|thumb|right|Colt Pythons with 8-inch and 6-inch barrels and royal blue finish]]

The Python has been extremely popular with both target shooters and law enforcement. 

===Law enforcement===
The Python immediately made inroads into the law enforcement market when introduced, with the 6-inch barrel being popular with uniformed officers and the 4-inch barrel considered optimal for [[Covert operation#Plainclothes law enforcement|plainclothes]] use.<ref name="Thompson"/> The [[Colorado State Patrol]] issued 4-inch blue Pythons until their switch to the S&W .40 caliber autoloader.<ref name="Ayoob"/> [[Georgia State Patrol]] issued Pythons in the 1980s until their transition to [[Glock]] semiautomatic pistols in the 1990s. [[Florida Highway Patrol]] issued Pythons to their officers in the 1980s until their transition to the [[Beretta 92#92FS|Beretta 92FS]] in the late 1980s.<ref name="Ayoob">[[Massad Ayoob|Ayoob, Massad]](2003)''The Colt Python'', The Accurate Rifle Magazine, November 2003</ref> Python has since fallen out of common use, along with all revolvers, due to changing law enforcement needs that favor semi-automatic pistols. When law-enforcement agencies realized that the 9mm semi-automatic pistols fire a round with similar characteristics to the .38 Special with higher capacity, they began a migration to these, and other, semi-automatic pistol cartridges.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Encyclopedia of Police Science |last= Bailey |first= William G |year=1995 |publisher= Taylor & Francis |isbn= 0-8153-1331-4 |page=309 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/21/nyregion/new-york-city-police-to-replace-revolvers-with-semiautomatics.html New York City Police to Replace Revolvers With Semiautomatics] The New York Times, By CRAIG WOLFF, Saturday, August 21, 1993, Accessed April 27, 2009.</ref> The move away from the Python is also being driven by the increasing number of law enforcement agencies which require officers to carry department-issue weapons (as a way to reduce liability).

===Crime===
A Python, loaded with [[semiwadcutter]] bullets, was used to murder Irish crime reporter [[Veronica Guerin]] in 1996, an act which resulted in the creation of the [[Criminal Assets Bureau]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/veronica-led-virtual-onewoman-crusade-to-bring-down-gangs-30054260.html | title=Veronica led virtual one-woman crusade to bring down gangs | work=Independent.ie | date=March 2, 2014 | access-date=December 23, 2014 | author=Corcoran, Jody}}</ref><ref name="traynor2013">{{Cite news| title = Gilligan returns, now just a trivial figure in a very changed landscape| first = Jim| last = Cusack| publisher = Independent.ie| date = October 13, 2013| url = http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/gilligan-returns-now-just-a-trivial-figure-in-a-very-changed-landscape-29655482.html| access-date = June 26, 2014}}</ref>

===Media===
The Colt Python was featured prominently on the AMC horror drama, [[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]], being carried by its main protagonist, [[Rick Grimes]], during its 11 seasons from 2010 to 2022, leading to a large increase in market demand which assisted in the reintroduction in 2020. It has been featured in many TV series, movies, comics, and video games including [[Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment]], the [[Resident Evil]] video game series, [[The X-Files|The X Files]], [[Burn Notice]], [[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]], [[Starsky & Hutch|Starsky and Hutch]], [[City Hunter]], [[John Wick]], [[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]], [[Fight Club]], and [[King Kong (1976 film)|King Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/8/18/colt-s-snake-guns/|title=Colt's Snake Guns|first= S.P.|last= Fjestad |date=August 18, 2015 |publisher = American Rifleman}}</ref>

===Famous===
According to Colt historian, R. L. Wilson, Colt Pythons have been collected by [[Elvis Presley]] and various kings: "H.M. (His Majesty) [[Hussein of Jordan|Hussein I of Jordan]] ordered a limited number of Pythons with 4-inch and 6-inch barrels, as gifts to friends. Casing and barrel were embossed with His Majesty's crest. The Python for [[King Juan Carlos of Spain]] bore his name in flush gold on the sideplate. Among other celebrated recipients: [[King Khalid]] and [[Prince Fahd bin Salman|Prince Fahd]] ([[Saudi Arabia]]), [[King Hassan II|King Hassan]] ([[Morocco]]), [[Sheik Zayed]] ([[United Arab Emirates]]), President [[Anwar Sadat]] ([[Egypt]]) and President [[Hafez al-Assad|Hafez Assad]] ([[Syria]])."<ref name="Wilson1"/>