What is it

**GRIZZLYBEAR** · November 13th, 2006, 12:11 AM

Going through a couple of safes today and found this revolver, haven't seen this "thing" is about 10 years. Had to run a couple of hundred rounds through it today so it would feel unwanted.

What is it and what were these used for?

grizz

**Stooperzero** · November 13th, 2006, 03:00 AM

Looks like a S&W rebarrled with a COlt barrel.

**fultonCoShooter** · November 13th, 2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Stooperzero

Looks like a S&W rebarrled with a COlt barrel.

Plus 1... I agree

**jdlv4_0** · November 13th, 2006, 12:54 PM

That's definately a Python Barrel, as far as what it was used for....who know's other than Grizzly that is...

**ChamberedRound** · November 13th, 2006, 01:08 PM

C'Mon Grizz! Give us the answer!

**Karys** · November 13th, 2006, 01:26 PM

I agree with everyone else, a Smith 586 with a Colt Python barrel.

As for what it's used for, my guess is PPC?

**Frenchy** · November 13th, 2006, 02:06 PM

Barrel is too small for PPC, Im thinking pre PPC, Im thinking some one wanted a more weight to the front. WHat happened Grizz. Did you have a Snubby S&W you wanted to make into a 4' and get drunk one night and do it?

The frame looks like an older one so Im thinking an older frame newer barrel. Might even wonder if it was not a "prototype" to the newer models. Im thinking some one had to have some Machinist experiance in there, Are the threads even the same? The flash looks pretty tight on the picture. Im going to throw out the Idea this was possibly a 38 Smith with a tapered barrell and some one wanted a full ramp for presision shooting with higher pressures.

The All new Smith & Colt!

**GRIZZLYBEAR** · November 13th, 2006, 06:26 PM

The what is it:

I'll answer the question this is a Colt Python barrel on the S&W Model 19 and is referred to as either a "Smolt" or "Smython". The Smolt crowd seemed to be "working class" while the smython crowd were more "Collectors".

The Smolt was really a great gun with great balance and handling in a smaller size than the Python, or the later L-frame. Even nicer was the "Couger" or "Rolt"...Python barrel on a Ruger Security-six frame.

Another gun out there, but very little known is the Colt TroopOn.

In the late 60's, Vietnam was on big time, and Colt Python's were almost impossible to find. So, several gunsmiths took the still available Colt Trooper, welded up the front of the topstrap to match the Python barrel, fitted a Python barrel, gave the action a high-grade tune, and finished it with a Python quality blue job.

Thus was born the Colt "TroopOn" revolver.
There are a fair number of people out there with "valuable, early 60's Pythons".........That aren't. The only ways to tell are a serial number check, and a close look at the front of the barrel for signs of the weld job.

What it was used for:

A great many PPC police shooters used the Python because of the muzzle-heavy balance and super accurate Colt barrel. But, people also liked the S&W trigger action, so somebody thought "If only I could have a Python barrel on a S&W action". The PPC police shooters of that era shot what they carried on duty. The Smolt was a little heavier than the Model 19 and a little lighter than the Phyton. The most popular barrel length was the 6 incher, followed by the 4 inch barrel, but the rarest version had a 3 inch barrel.

The biggest "advantage" of the "Smolt or Smython", besides the underlug, was the rifling twist change...from 1-18" to 1-14", which stabalized 148gr wadcutters better...also the "choking" down of the barrel at the muzzle.

Sorry about the long post.

grizz