S&W/Colt Combo

[el44vaquero]

I was looking at gunbroker and ran across a revolver that was a S&W frame with a Colt barrel on it. Really ugly in my opinion. Didn't even know you could do such a thing.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=42131018

 

[el44vaquero]

A little more info for those of you who don't want to follow the link.

This is a smith & wesson 19 frame with a colt python 4" barrel. The fellow i got it fromNhad it made for shooting tounaments. I think bullseye. not sure...Anyway, he said smith had the best action and colt python was the most accurate barrell. Sounds good to me ! The hammer was bobbed so you couldn't cock and shoot single action.(no cheaten) single still works..just can't cock it. must be some rule of the tournement. The trigger pull is sweeeeet ! Almost make me want to shoot tournament.

 

[thatguy]

A Smolt. Semi-popular in the 1960s-1970s. Colt barrels were thought to shoot better so...

 

[MacPelto]

How dare you sir! I love my Smython, and think she's beautiful. She has a super-slicked up smith trigger, comfy round butt, and the sexy and extremely accurate Python barrel. The one in the auction just happens to be in terrible shape...and why the hammer is bobbed baffles me.

Here is a better pic of a better example:

Mac

 

[MacPelto]

I also notice, unless I'm seeing things, that whoever did the conversion doesn't seem to have the top of the barrel rib lined up with the topstrap of the frame. That is very strange and really detracts from the shape of the piece.

Mac

 

[MacPelto]

Another shot:

Mac

 

[Old Fuff]

There is some basis to the story about the Python barrel being more accurate. They have a 1-16.00 twist where S&W use a 1-18.75. The faster twist stabilizes lighter bullets (read that to mean 148-grain full wadcutters and lighter hollow points) better. Many years ago bullseye match shooters noticed that there were “tails” left on bullet holes in their targets, indicating that the bullet was yawing, when they used S&W revolvers. Most S&W revolvers that were converted into specialized PPC (Practical Police Course) guns were fitted with custom bull-barrels with 1-14 or 1-16 twists.

Colt also bored their guns to .356” where S&W barrels were .358” and many lead bullets at least, preferred the tighter bore.

 

[MacPelto]

That would make sense, since what I shoot is almost entirely lead wadcutter target loads out of it, and it is marvellously accurate with them.

Mac

 

[el44vaquero]

I must say Mac that yours really catchs my attention more than this poor example. Your lines match up better. I really had never heard of doing this with a revolver before. Learned something new.

 

[dfariswheel]

The idea of mounting a Python barrel on a S&W started with the the Practical Police Course shooters.

Many of them preferred the S&W trigger, but liked the balance and accuracy of the Python.

Fitting a Python barrel gave them the best of both.

The Python barrel was more accurate both due to it's faster rifling, but also due to Colt's superior quality barrels, and due to the fact that the Python had a tapered bore.
The bore actually tapers toward the muzzle, getting progressively tighter toward the muzzle.
This grips the bullet tighter as it moves down the bore, and provides better accuracy.

After people saw the "Smolt's" or "Smython's" being used by PPC shooters, the idea of course started being used on non-PPC custom guns, just to be different.

In addition to the Python-S&W conversion, there was also a Python-Ruger version know as a "Cougar".

 

[Jim Watson]

Mac,

The reason the Colt rib matches up with your S&W's topstrap is because yours started with a 2 1/2" roundbutt M19 which has a straight topstrap and taller rib factory barrel. The auction gun was based on one with a longer barrel which has a lower S&W rib and a step down to match on the topstrap.

 

[MacPelto]

Thanks Jim, that's interesting to know. I would have thought that they'd have made them all that way, since the other way looks strange, for lack of a better term. Mine was apparenly built by Davis in california, but I just thought it was neat looking when I bought it. Turns out to be a real gem.

Mac

 

[Checkman]

I've also seen S&W frames with Dan Wesson barrels. Dan Smiths or perhaps they're called Wesson Smiths. Jim Cirillo wrote a couple articles about them back in the 90's.

 

[kjeff50cal]

So is the "Smolt" is one of the reasons behind S&W's full lug barrel of the L-frame 486/586/686?

kjeff50cal

 

[dfariswheel]

There were a number of reasons for the "L" frame 686, the primary reason was that the smaller "K" frame revolver was having problems handling large quantities of full charge Magnum ammo.

The "K" frame was intended to be shot with standard .38 Special ammo for practice, then loaded with Magnums for duty.
It was intended that the gun would fired less with Magnums.
One person said the "K" frame Magnum was a .38 Special that COULD shoot Magnum ammo.

In the 1970's the police stopped practicing with the light .38 Special and started doing all training with full Magnum ammo.

The lighter "K" frame and cylinder started to wear too fast under that much Magnum use, so S&W designed a beefed-up "K" frame and called it the "L" frame.

Strangely, the new "L" frame had almost the EXACT same size frame and cylinder as the medium frame Colt revolvers, and had a barrel that was as close as S&W could get to a Python barrel without being too obvious.

 

[Blankshooter]

Is anyone currently building Smolts or Smythons? MacPelto mentioned Davis. Would that be Bill Davis in upstate California?

 

[Jim March]

Wait until you run across a Cruger. Sheesh. (And yeah, it's been done. "Why" is another question...)

 

[JoeHatley]

Would that be Bill Davis in upstate California?

I'm pretty sure he has be retired for several years.

You might try contacting www.cylinder-slide.com and ask if they could do another one.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[ryan b]

i have a friend that has a smython he want more accuracy from his smith and purchasing a python was out of the question heliked the action of a smith and the accuracy of a colt so he made what he thought was the best answer to a problem he had but i have to admit its is some kind of accurate so that it will outshoot my custom target 66