Help me find my holy grail...if it exists...41 mag python

[BobR]

I understand that pythons came in many different flavors over the years, I seem to remember that is was chambered in .41mag at one time.
That is my holy grail, I am searching high and low for a Python in .41mag, if you have ever seen one, or have any comments, please let me know. I sure don't want to be chasing the end of the rainbow here.
thanks
bob

[Alaska Roy]

No such animal came from Colt, there was a custom smith some years back the rebored and remarked a small number of them that actually look like genuine Colts.

[BobR]

Thanks for the info Roy, back to plan "b", now to find a *&* M57
in .41 mag, with a 4" barrel. should be a sight easier than the python search.

bob

[lonegunman]

According to Fjestad's Blue Book, Pythons were made in 41 mag, and also .256, 38 special, and 44 special.

Never seen one though, but I do believe they exist.

If you ever find one, be prepared to trade your house for it.

[Good Guy]

I've seen mention of the 41 Python, but it would truly be a custom affair. There isn't enough meat to the Python's 357 cylinder to chamber the 41 safely.

[C.R.Sam]

Good grief.....production python all the way out to .44special.....Fjestad.

You made me look it up Good Guy.:D

Sam

[dewey]

Bob-
There's a S&W M57 4" on either gunbroker or auctionarms right now.Best....dewey---:cool:

[Ala Dan]

If one truly does exist, I imagne it would be stuck
back in the old' Colt archieve's?:eek: :D

Best Wishes For The Season,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Jbar4Ranch]

I'll be damned! Here's (http://www.sixgunner.com/guests/41python.htm) an article on the "Bubba .41 mag Pythons"!

[C.R.Sam]

J-4 Ranch. Wow ! Good diggin sir.

Now we need a tale to explain the .44 special Python that is booked.

If TFLers can't find it, it never happened.

Sam

[Jbar4Ranch]

I can't find any legitimate reference to a .256 or .44 spl version although there is mention of a .256 Python and a .44 Python in fiction novels that come up when keywording a search.
If the article on the .41 mag Pythons is true, there should be something around 80? of them still in circulation. What a prize that would be to find!
I know the .38 spl only version exists because I've laid hands on one before.

[revolvergeek]

Hey, i found this on guntrade.com with a google search. It is about 1/3 the way down the page :

Rare 1961 small brochure titled "Great Guns" at Col's since 1936" along with Colt's logo and the Colt 125th medallion. Inside Colt's new .256 Magnum guns are featured (Single Action Army, Buntline Special, Python and Two-Fifty-Six. On the back is a .256 Winchester Magnum cartridge and Colt's address.......................................................$35


Here is the url : http://www.guntrade.com/wilkerso/memor.htm


No luck finding anything on a .41 or .44 Python though.....

[Gunslinger45]

Cool project......I would think if a smith can make a 5 shot 50AE cylinder and rebore the bbl for a Blackhawk, he could make a 5 shot 41 mag cyl and rebore the bbl for a Python........ Wonder if I can change my order with Gary Reeder ?

[larkworthy]

There was a Nickel Colt Python chambered in 41 Mag on Auction Arms over a year ago. The seller was from somewhere in Texas. I bid $1200, but it went for $1800. I did a search for the auction link, but it is too old to display.

I also talked to a guy several years ago who purchased an estate that had several python variations. I was trying to purchase a Combat Python (3") from him, but it was too high for me at the time: $400. He claimed he had 41 Mag as well.... asking price $10,000.00. I guess I should have bought the last one a saw. Regards, Lyle

[Dfariswheel]

According to Colt historians, exactly ONE .256 Python was built. The first test round was fired, and it locked up tight. After they got the cylinder unjammed and open, the gun was, "Tossed into Colt's historical vault and the project was canceled".

In the mid 80's I got a new Colt catalog with a .22LR Python on the cover. I immediately called Colt to order one, and was told that project was canceled also.

As for the .41 Mag Pythons: Colt apparently never made even an experimental, since the frame is just too small to safely handle the pressures of the .41. The reason the "Bubba" .41's were nickel plated, is that he welded the hell out of the cylinders and frames, and the nickel covered the welds up.

The story I have about the Colt lawyers visit to "Bubba" is that it never happened. "Bubba's" customers got rather irate when his guns started to come apart, sometimes violently. They sicked the lawyers.

[lonegunman]

Don't know how reliable the source is, but I will post the link anyway... it indicates the 41 mag python was made by Colt.

http://www.m1911.org/revolver.htm

[Good Guy]

Thanks for the link JBAR, hillarious! :D

All was going well until one genius had a malfunction of some sort with his. Instead of bringing it to Bubba, he sent it to Colt for warranty repair! The scene at Colt can only be imagined. The repair dept. gets this Python, and immediately calls upstairs, complaining bitterly that it would be nice if you guys would inform us when you release a new product, since after all, we have to fix the damned things. Upstairs would then asked the man what he had been drinking for lunch, since there was no such thing as a .41 Mag Python....

I'd love to have a 41 Python if Colt ever made such a beast. Hell, I got real excited when I first heard the news of the introduction of the Anaconda, thinking it would be a bigger Python in 44 cal. My bubble was burst as soon as I handled one.

[Catdog]

Colt never made a python in a 41 cal. I don't know if anyone had converted one since but back in the late 70's and early 80's Peebles gunshop (no longer in business) in Arlington Tx. was the first one to convert the colt python into a 41 mag. He mostly used the python 38 target because back then no one wanted them so they were cheap compared to the 357. The python shroud is silver soldered to the barrel so the barrel was removed and replaced with a 41 barrel and the cylinder was reamed but the last few 1000th was honed (Jerry (Peebles) ) told me that the cylinder was so hard he used 1 reamer per cylinder and yes the cylinder was strong enough for full power 41 mag loads. Jerry had a under ground 100 yd range at his shop and with a Ransom rest the python 41 was so accurate all 6 rounds would touch each other at that 100 yds. Jerry even had a stamp made saying PYTHON 41 and stamped the shroud. The guns had E-Nichol finish with a very slick trigger job and timing was perfect. He didn't like to but he would blue the gun if the customer wanted because the silver solder ring would show around the end of the barrel where the shroud was reinstalled. Colt contacted Jerry when they found out people were saying the guns came from the Colt Custom Shop. Colt did not want to be responsible. They told Jerry they would not suggest he stop converting the gun but to make sure his customers did not say the guns CAME FROM COLT. They were great guns wish I still had one. Note: For just a very few of Jerry's close friends he even rebarreled and reamed a few in 44 special with a promise to only use light to medium loads. These were never offered to the public and yes the cylinder was strong enough for medium 44 special loads. Jerry told me he never had a failure. Hope this clears up some of the mystery.

[Blue Grass]

Check with the folks on Colt Forum. According to them, Colt made the Python in .357 mag and,IIRC, in 1968 made a limited run of .38spl Pythons with 8" barrels. They never made a .41 mag Python. I've seen and handled one of these Bubbaed Pythons. When I compared it to my .357 Python, I could see the word COLT stamped on the barrel looked different.But,like I said, check with the guys on Colt Forum. They know a LOT more about snake guns than I ever will.

[22-rimfire]

That is interesting information Catdog. I knew that Colt never made any regular production Pythons in 41 mag, but you do see one pop up on one of the gun auctions from time to time. This topic gets hit on at the Colt forum just about every time one comes up for sale and there aren't many. They are kind of like the fabled 22LR Pythons which was made from a Officers Model Match.

[SVO]

There is a gentleman in Houston who has a .41 Magnum marked Python. If you have ever been to the gun show at Reliant Center, you may have seen it on display. His story is that he picked it up somewhere as a curiousity. It may very well be one of Bubba's or Pebble's gun, as it was nickled plated. Cylinder is really thin on it and he admitted to being afraid to fire the thing. The Python markings on the barrel were very nicely done. if someone ever got a serial number off of one, a call to Colt would turn up what caliber it was shipped as.

I think if Colt had ever done a Python in a caliber other than 38 Special or 357 Magnum, people would have been all over them and there would more than just rumors circulating around.

[EdInk]

The link to the Bubbba pythons won't work. Could somebody cut&paste the article or fix the link?

[laytonj1]

The link to the Bubbba pythons won't work.
That's because this is a 9 year old thread....
Another case of a noob digging up the dead.

Jim

[EdInk]

:rolleyes: D@mn it. This is like the 3rd one I've gotten suckered into this week. I guess I need to pay attention to the OP date! Maybe threads older than X-amount of time could be made read-only files or
something.

[natman]

Colt thought about making a 256 Python and even printed some sales literature. They were never actually put into production.

There were some 38 Special only models made. When they were released nobody wanted one, which of course means they are worth big $ now. :rolleyes:

There might have been some tool room 41 mags, but they too were never produced. I don't think a 6 shot 44 special is possible on a Python cylinder.

[GUNKWAZY]

This is a thread that has some serious dust on it. However....
Colt recently auctioned off the prototype 22 hornet, 22 magnum and .40 cal Python revolvers. They were one of a kind proto's and went for serious money. they were used, worn and some were missing parts, some had the barrel still in the white.
The 41 magnums that exist out in the real world today look like they are factory done, but are Frankenconversions. Even the 357 markings are converted to .41 on the side of the barrel. That too is nicely done, but a closer look tells the real story. One of these after market conversions sold recently for $5,000 and was advertized as factory done. It was NOT however.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

[Mike Irwin]

Guys!

NINE YEAR OLD THREAD.

This subject has been discussed numerous times since December 2001.

Closed before the stale infects the rest of the board.