Forgot about "The Score" threads here on the Forum when I picked up this first-year-of-production 1953 vintage Colt 3 5 7 back at the end of March so, since May also begins with "M", will just stick it up here. Been working on the acquisition of this particular revolver for a couple of years before it finally came to pass.
Unimaginatively named simply the 3 5 7 and so roll-marked on the barrel, this was the premium Colt .357 Magnum revolver for less than two years before the fabulous Python was introduced in 1955. The 3 5 7, knocked off it's perch, clung on in the Colt Catalog, sandwiched between the Python and the (relatively) plebeian Trooper before fading away after an 8-year production run with relatively few ever produced. Only the 3 5 7 and Python ever shared the Colt I-Frame design which only differed from Colt's very popular E-Frame in that the firing pin is frame-mounted rather than hammer mounted.
Shown below with a garden variety 6-inch blued Python from 1978. Internals are the same. Personally, I prefer the 3 5 7 over the Python. I don't care for the front-heavy feel of the Python in 6-inch guise, preferring the balance of the 3 5 7 and don't prefer the look of the full-lugged barrel or the vent rib, a styling feature that affects me the same way as tail fins on a '59 Cadillac. Mind you I'd drive a '59 Cadillac around on a Sunday afternoon if I had it and I'll shoot the Python on occasion.
Need better photos. That's not excessive wear down the sides of the barrels but only my white pickup being used as a reflector.
Unimaginatively named simply the 3 5 7 and so roll-marked on the barrel, this was the premium Colt .357 Magnum revolver for less than two years before the fabulous Python was introduced in 1955. The 3 5 7, knocked off it's perch, clung on in the Colt Catalog, sandwiched between the Python and the (relatively) plebeian Trooper before fading away after an 8-year production run with relatively few ever produced. Only the 3 5 7 and Python ever shared the Colt I-Frame design which only differed from Colt's very popular E-Frame in that the firing pin is frame-mounted rather than hammer mounted.
Shown below with a garden variety 6-inch blued Python from 1978. Internals are the same. Personally, I prefer the 3 5 7 over the Python. I don't care for the front-heavy feel of the Python in 6-inch guise, preferring the balance of the 3 5 7 and don't prefer the look of the full-lugged barrel or the vent rib, a styling feature that affects me the same way as tail fins on a '59 Cadillac. Mind you I'd drive a '59 Cadillac around on a Sunday afternoon if I had it and I'll shoot the Python on occasion.
Need better photos. That's not excessive wear down the sides of the barrels but only my white pickup being used as a reflector.
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Its nice having a center-fire pistol again.
