No need to carry my Pythons.
But nothing wrong with it if you choose to.

I do carry a soulless 32 Glock in .357 sig
Because 13 rounds of 125gr ammo going 1500fps is just more.

 

When I was a LEO and at the time restricted to revolvers, I would occasionally carry either of these Pythons when off-duty...but only occasionally. A 4-inch e-nickel and a blue snubby...I installed tritium night sights on both but after 25+ years they're pretty dim now.

I far more often carried one of these...an e-nickel Detective Special or a blued Cobra...the Cobra more often.

 

Gorgeous guns!! What kind of grips are on the 2.5 inch Python? Are those standard wood grips and a Tyler T grip adapter? Looks good!!

 

OP where is the pic of your 1971 Python?

 

It is actually with my father right now! I am 2 hours away in Boston. I will show her off this weekend for sure.

 

Sometimes I wear a double Galco shoulder holster system, with a 2 1/2" bbl. Colt Python for my strong hand, and a Colt Cobra for my weak hand. That rig disappears under a sports jacket or suit jacket.

 

I carried it to the range a few times.

 

I carry my ‘67 four inch hiking in the summer but when it’s wet I go with a stainless 10mm instead.

 

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I carry this 1977 in a Safariland 29. Hard chrome finish is good in the woods.

 

I carry this 1977 in a Safariland 29. Hard chrome finish is good in the woods.

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I carry mine from time to time. It's comfortable with a proper holster. Here's a quickie picture of mine in a holster made for me by the Steel Hide Leather Company. I asked them to alter one of their designs for an extra high ride for better concealment. The were exceedingly helpful and their turn around time was excellent. Their pricing is more than reasonable too.

It's super comfortable and the pistol retention is excellent. I highly recommend Steel Hide Leather Company. It's becoming harder and harder to find a leather company that will make a good revolver holster anymore.
Check out: thesteelhideleathercompany.com They're from a family of firemen and they make knives too, for those of you who are allowed to have sharp objects.

 

Here's a better photo of the rig...

I don't know why it keeps posting a double image, but it's worth repeating.☺

 

Long ago, back in the 80s, I carried a blued '63 6" Python deep in the Adirondacks, upstate NY. Barely a trail. Wild. My friend carried a S&W .38. Of course, we never needed it, but glad to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

 

Back in the '80s, preparing for a narcotics raid, I decided to take my 6" stainless Python, which was definitely not my usual carry gun. The next day in court, I heard one defendant who was staring at me say to another defendant, "there's the guy with the big gun".

 

Mine is a 78 gun, six inch, not so perfect finish, so I would be up for carrying mine, but only if there's a zombie apocalypse.

 

Mine is a 78 gun, six inch, not so perfect finish, so I would be up for carrying mine, but only if there's a zombie apocalypse. Well we all know that 6 inches is the proper zombie-killing length! View attachment 714338

Well we all know 6 inches is the proper zombie-killing length!

 

Well, the problem is that Pythons have priced themselves out of the carry business cuz if they accrue too much wear, they go down in value.
I still shoot two of mine (4" Blue and 6" Stainless) but I still have never fired my Halliburton Hunter that I bought new in '81 (not shooting it for obvious reasons).
But I don't carry them and won't.

 

Well, the problem is that Pythons have priced themselves out of the carry business cuz if they accrue too much wear, they go down in value.
I still shoot two of mine (4" Blue and 6" Stainless) but I still have never fired my Halliburton Hunter that I bought new in '81 (not shooting it for obvious reasons).
But I don't carry them and won't.

That's why you buy a nice worn blue one, get it a helluva lot cheaper- tho still not cheap- and unless you friggin' drop it on cement it generally won't decrease any more...

 

My carry thought is to not conceal carry a very expensive gun. If, heaven forbid, you have to draw it and use it , a law investigation will ensue and your gun likely confiscated and will not be treated like the collectable it may be. Might rattle around in a drawer in some weapons room and marr it up. I shoulder holster carried a 2” diamond like Steve McQueen then a buddy and I discussed that scenario. I carry a soulless gun now too from now on that I won’t care if it got confiscated.


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While I did occasionally carry my Pythons I have to admit that Kraaaken is correct. Any potential defensive need for a concealed carry handgun is likely to be fast and at close range. The idea of adjustable sights and a finely blued finish are completely lost in those scenarios. That's why I carried either a Detective Special or Cobra...less weight...equally effective if restricted to .38 Special (I was at the time)...more easily concealed and carried...probably quicker into action.

While I don't carry concealed anymore (thanks Maryland!)...today if I did I would not shy away from a revolver at all but would probably prefer either my Colt Defender .45, Glock 30 .45 or just as likely my Kimber Carry Solo 9mm...much smaller and easier to carry and still effective.

If you wanted to carry something you wouldn't miss and was "soulless"...get a Glock, Ruger or even a S&W M&P.

 

While I did occasionally carry my Pythons I have to admit that Kraaaken is correct. Any potential defensive need for a concealed carry handgun is likely to be fast and at close range. The idea of adjustable sights and a finely blued finish are completely lost in those scenarios. That's why I carried either a Detective Special or Cobra...less weight...equally effective if restricted to .38 Special (I was at the time)...more easily concealed and carried...probably quicker into action.

While I don't carry concealed anymore (thanks Maryland!)...today if I did I would not shy away from a revolver at all but would probably prefer either my Colt Defender .45, Glock 30 .45 or just as likely my Kimber Carry Solo 9mm...much smaller and easier to carry and still effective.

If you wanted to carry something you wouldn't miss and was "soulless"...get a Glock, Ruger or even a S&W M&P.

Agreed..... how's this for a console gun, 1950 M&P snub. A little worse for wear but mechanically 100%

 

Maryland pretty much takes a hard line to carrying...I haven't tried to push it. Part of it due to the federal government having differences in classifications of law enforcement...and Maryland will use those differences to deny legal carry. Before I was a fed I had a state carry permit due to carrying large sums of money for the business I was in plus the Sheriff back then was a family friend and went to bat for me.

 

Favor a well used 2.5” Python with stags
for CC or OC.

6-8” blued in the hinterlands, and/or a Colt or HK rifle there.

 

Just took delivery of my 4.5”. Now I have to wait 2 months for the holster to show up. But it’s going to get some weekend carry for sure.

 

She goes with me in the woods. 4” 67. Before me, she was a Chicago PD officers carry gun, it’s only fair to pull her out of the safe every once in a while and put more miles on her.

 

I own two pythons. A Nickle 2 1/2" I bought new in 1971 on a wild unbelievable half off sale and later a 4" blue used as new made in the 1980`s. Truth is I probably shot them the least of most my guns. My main activity has been trail riding on our RZR and quad. I always carried mostly cheaper smiths that I would rather dust up. If I get my health back I decided to start enjoying them least some unworthy gets them when I pass. What was I thinking?

 

They get carried to the range and back in nice padded bags. For daily carry I use a Colt/Talo Clapp Commander in 45ACP with the Aluminum alloy frame. When I boony bang down here in the SW I carry a Ruger Blackhawk in 45Colt. For part of the year the first two rounds are shot shells for snakes and the rest 45Colt loaded hot which the Ruger will tolerate for bear or maybe two legged nasties.

 

The 2 1/2" python and 3" S&W 66-3 shown above are my top safe queens. Seldom see the light of day. My smallest belt gun outside of a couple pocket pistols is a s&w 3" model 36 with the pencil barrel. What little I have carried the python and 66 I likely stuffed them with .38 special. Ok, both weigh a LOT more than the 3" 36. All have a 2 1/2 or 3" barrel. I snubbed the hammer spur on the 36 after it somehow busted the spur. Same velocity, lighter weight, one round less. Probably a $300 loss if police take it for evidence if the unlikely happens opposed to losing my $3,000 python!
That said I am pushing 80, in bad shape and starting to rethink my values.
I have a safe full of to me very valuable collector fine guns that haven't seen day light and been packing my cheapest. I am starting to think I have been crazy.

 

Back in 1981 I bought a brand new 4" blued Python and carried it for about 3 years on duty. I then switched to a 1911. I bought a 6" Anaconda 44 Mag in the second year of production and have carried that gun pretty much whenever I'm out in the desert here in NM and in AZ ever since, loaded with shot shells. We have a bit of a diamondback rattler problem here and that Anaconda has dispatched two of them over the years. I have a 1972 6" blued Python with some wear that gets carried occasionally and I just got an open carry holster for my 2020 4.25" Python and will be carrying it occasionally. I've never owned a gun that didn't get used, safe queens just aren't my thing.

 

I carry my 67 2 1/2 inch barrel most of the time