[Mtwoodson]

COlt + rUGER = COUGER?
I found a Ruger Security-Six mated to a Python barrel and had to bring it home, even if just for oddity's sense. I 've seen the Smith-Python barrel combos regularly over the years, but this is only the second Ruger-Python I've seen in that time. Does anyone know who built these and when? The revolver is done is very well with a very high-polish blue, except for the matte part of the rib. Thanks for your help.

[Oro]

By your logic, if I put together a Marlin and an FIE, could I have a MILF?;)

[Chief-7700]

Davis out of Sacramento, around the mid 1970s. Folks want a gun with a bit more weight on the barrel for pratical pistol.. That looks like my old Couger that I had to sell many years ago. PM me for more information.
Chief-7700

[ArmedBear]

I saw one of those at the store a few weeks ago.

Anyone know the story on these?

[armoredman]

Brother had a Couger years ago, was an incredibly accurate revolver.

[DevilDog0402]

Odd to say the least, but I like it!

[9mmepiphany]

they originated from Cake-Davis Co in Sacramento CA. Bill Davis, World Class PPC shooter, put it together...as he did the Smolt.

the object was a "leg gun" with the additional weight of the python barrel and the the increased accuracy of it's 1-14" twist/choked barrel.

it became so popular that S&W introduced the L-frame

[LawofThirds]

It's the prettiest Ruger I've seen.

[bannockburn]

Massad Ayoob had one built years ago; don't know who did the work, but it looked nice

[Moonclip]

I've never seen or heard of a "cougar" but there is a "smolt" sitting i a local shop for $1500 built on a 19-3.

[theP8riot]

That book is almost as cool as the gun.

[aryfrosty]

I never handled a "Cougar" but have handled a "Smython" and shot it back in the '70s. They were strictly novelty items where I was. The rationale was that same as my dog is bigger than yours...."Everybody knows-you put a Chevy in a Ford or a Ford in a Chevy and they both go faster...everybody knows it!" There was some justification in putting a Python barrel on a S&W M-19. They did handle better. Smith watched that phenomenon and the 586 was born. Insofar as I am concerned they are neat and fun to own and shoot, but they're still little more than a novelty. Regards; Al

[19-3Ben]

Wow. That is beeeeyooootiful.

Ruger's toughness combined with the accuracy of a Python barrel? It's like a recipe for perfection.

[Moonclip]

Many people think they are cool it seems. My 18yo neighbor even wants one! They do remind me of a different era.

[Ghost Tracker]

It's kinda sad to realize I'm old enough to clearly remember when the "Cougar" hybrid was all the rage. But it's good to know that I'm still young enough to remember anything at all. :cool:

But there was a time, my young friends, when 'smiths commonly mixed & matched all sorts of multi-manufacturer firearms; Smolts, Cougars, Smythons. In a time before you could get almost anything from almost everybody via CAD stations & CNC machining cells, there were amazing guns build with eyes & hands. But make no mistake, the closest tolerances & finest metals are being built right this minute.

[Confederate]

The idea was to add the weight of the Python's full underlug barrel and the Colt's twist rate, and come up with a gun that would excel on the range. The idea worked fairly well as the Cougars had all the strengths of the Ruger and the accuracy of a Python.

If I were going to design my own Cougar, I would have found a Security-Six in .38 Spc. and add the barrel to that. Then I'd have the gunsmith ream out the cylinder chambers so that each chamber would be as identical to the last as possible. Once you combine identical chambers with a Colt barrel and a good Ruger trigger job, you've got a gun that's (in my opinion) better than the original Python.

The Ruger had a more massive hand, a sturdier ejector and, of course, a solid frame. By starting with a .38 cylinder, you control the reaming to .357 and each chamber should be equal to the one before and the one after. With a standard cylinder, that would not be possible.