Python vs. S&W

American Handgunner, March-April, 2006 by Tom Sailers

Thanks for the memories, but I have to disagree with you on this article (Cop Talk, July/Aug 2005). I was a street cop for years (1963-1985), and the S&W Model 19 was not " ... the ultimate service revolver," and the Bianchi B27 breakfront wasn't " ... state of the art ..."

Sure, the 19 was carried by a lot of cops, but if you wanted the best tool for the job, you bought a Colt Python. The 19 couldn't be stoned to smooth the action as all the parts were case hardened, and you didn't need to smooth the action on a Python; smooth as butter right from the box. I remember when I started I was carrying a 6" Trooper, but that 6"-barrel was a pain in a squad car, so I bit the bullet and purchased a new Python. Boy, did my wife scream: "You spent $148 on a gun?" Still got it, and it's still smooth and accurate. Ya gotta admit those Pythons had the best blue job on the market.

The Bianchi break-front was okay, but it had its problems. When they first came out the strap went in front of the holster (they later made an adapter so you could strap it over the hammer, like the one you show), but in a scuffle the weapons could be cocked while still in the holster--not a pleasant sight. It was also bad because you couldn't get a proper grip when you drew the weapon; too much leather in the back wouldn't allow for a proper grip and you'd have to pitch the pistol after drawing to get the right grip.

On the other hand, the best break front, in my opinion, was the Hoyt break-front. You could get the proper grip when drawing, and the safety strap went over the hammer with a thumb break release. Hoyt would also make it anyway you wanted it: Hi-rise with jacket slot, with or without bullet loops, pivoting and when snapped, they would make it at any angle you wanted. I still have two of them; one I wore with my Python, and one for the 6" Trooper which is still new.

Now, cop to cop, wasn't the Python the Rolls Royce of cop wheel guns, and wasn't the Hoyt superior to the Bianchi?

Enjoy your writing, even with the disagreements.

Tom Sailers

Via e-mail

This, from Mas:

I personally preferred the Python also, and won a few State Shoots with mine. It was a 4" tuned by Jerry Moran. Despite the holster barking the middle knuckle a bit, I did carry it in the B27 (the later one with strap over hammer), which I found more snatch-resistant than the Hoyt, if not quite as fast. I think it was a regional thing: I saw the Hoyt a lot on the West Coast, but the Bianchi seemed to dominate on the East Coast. I went to the Model 66 when my department got a new chief who wanted us all to carry the same gun. Thanks for the flashback to decades gone by! Mas Ayoob