Anyone here have a Smython/Smolt

[Anchorite]

My Bowen Redhawk with a 45 Colt Anaconda barrel installed.

 

[Mn Fats]

View attachment 1075804 View attachment 1075805
My Bowen Redhawk with a 45 Colt Anaconda barrel installed.

That's mighty nice! Thanks for posting.

 

[Anchorite]

That's mighty nice! Thanks for posting.

Thanks. At one time I had a 4” Anaconda in 45 Colt. It was drilled and tapped and I felt it was therefore “weak,” so I sold it. I did eventually pick up a 6” in 45, but I always wanted a 4 inch. When I learned Hamilton Bowen had a limited supply of Anaconda barrels, the deal was struck. I like this better than a 4” Anaconda.

 

[Mn Fats]

Thanks. At one time I had a 4” Anaconda in 45 Colt. It was drilled and tapped and I felt it was therefore “weak,” so I sold it. I did eventually pick up a 6” in 45, but I always wanted a 4 inch. When I learned Hamilton Bowen had a limited supply of Anaconda barrels, the deal was struck. I like this better than a 4” Anaconda.

It looks like a sweet shooter.

I like this better than a 4” Anaconda.

A tank of an action with a classy barrel, I like it better too.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I used to hang out at the Bill Davis Co when he put together the first Smolt (that's what they were originally called) and Cougers.

The original Smolts were built on the K-frame as the L-frame didn't yet exist. PCC shooters wanted the more accurate barrel (1-14" twist and choked muzzle) when shooting the Distinguished (non-bull barreled) Match (to keep up with the Python shooters), but they wanted to keep the shorter action of the S&W K-frame.

When S&W introduced the L-frame guns, the Smolt sort of fell by the way side...except for folks who liked the aesthetics of the vert rib. A 3" Python barrel mounted on a round butted M-19 is a great handling gun...as is the same barrel mounted on a Ruger Speed-Six

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

The original Smolts were built on the K-frame as the L-frame didn't yet exist. PCC shooters wanted the more accurate barrel (1-14" twist and choked muzzle) when shooting the Distinguished (non-bull barreled) Match (to keep up with the Python shooters), but they wanted to keep the shorter action of the S&W K-frame.

When S&W introduced the L-frame guns, the Smolt sort of fell by the way side...except for folks who liked the aesthetics of the vert rib.

I always figured that the L frame was just as close to the Python as S&W was willing to go.
Too much pride for them to go all out and vent the rib, but at least they finally (after 30 + years) conceded
that Colt's E and I frame had been the right size along.

JT

 

[Blkhrt13]

I have a Redhawk 45 Colt with an Anaconda barrel installed. Does that count?

The cougar

 

[Master Blaster]

Smith 686 revolvers are just as accurate as Pythons. Back in the day Colt made an accurized target revolver for target shooting called the Officers model. It had the same action as the Python and a match grade barrel in .38spl. They made it all the way into the 1980s if I remember correctly.
Target shooters going for speed and accuracy did not shoot .357 magnum rounds, they used .38 spl. PPC shooters where speed was a factor used custom bull barrels and their guns were based off model 14s. Few to no colts in PPC because the fast double action shooting wore the colt action out way too fast. I have heard of the Smolt, Smython, and seen pictures, they are a custom gun novelty, I never saw one on the line at any Bullseye competition in the centerfire stage. I did see a small number of Model 14's and once I saw an Officers Model Match being used by an old-timer but by 1999 revolvers were rare. By the early 2000's most folks were using the 1911 topped with a red dot in the any centerfire stage.
Here is a custom PPC gun built on a model10