Colt Python problem

H

Handy

Moderator
A friend has a Python with a weird problem. We were talking about taking it to a pro, but I was curious if there is something real obvious going on:

The gun shoots fine, but when the cylinder is open, the cylinder latch comes to a rest too far forward. This blocks the cylinder from being swung shut, requiring you to manually retract the latch to get it out of the way. Seems to work normally when the cylinder is closed.


Thanks for your perspective.
 
Had a 4" Python Elite that did the exact same thing. Cylinder jammed when it got hot too. Sold at a loss. Send it back, they will fix it, bet it will come back with another problem too. Gotta love those $1,000 guns that don't run right out of the box.
 
The cylinder "swings" on the end of the crane. There's nothing I can do about that. Would you have prefered the word "pivot"?


Anyone know something about these guns aside from semantic issues?
 
The latch is retained in place, and it's movement limited forward by the latch pin.

That's the center pin in the frame that enters the hole in the ejector on the cylinder.

On the latch pin, is a second, smaller pin that's at 90 degrees to the latch pin.

This pin enters a hole in the latch, and the two parts work together:
The latch pulls the latch pin back to unlock the cylinder, and serves as a "ramp" to allow the cylinder to push the latch and latch pin backward.

The latch pin serves to keep the latch in place, and prevents it from moving too far forward.

I'd suspect either the latch or the latch pin are either broken, or someone has altered something.

These parts are fairly robust, and rarely have a problem as descibed.

I'd recommend a GOOD gunsmith.

The cylinder's ejector SHOULD push the latch open and allow the cylinder to close WITHOUT pulling the latch back.

That's what the bevel on the latch is there for.

Some people believe that's it's easier on the gun to pull the latch back manually when closing the cylinder, but it shouldn't be necessary.

If you have a gun where the latch isn't being pushed back by the cylinder when it's closed, then you need to push a little harder, or you have a defective or gummed-up latch assembly.
 
I'm just in the "Some people believe that's it's easier on the gun to pull the latch back manually when closing the cylinder" camp, I always do it that way, oh well.
 
Gary, I can see how crud would limit movement, but not increase it. Always worthwhile, though.

Dfaris, sounds like a trip to Colt might be the most appropriate. Why pay a gunsmith of unknown ability when Colt will do it for free?
 
Or Pittsburgh Handgun Headquarters in Pittsburgh PA.

They used to be Colt's warrenty repair over-flow service.

They have a good supply of parts, and they do factory-level repair work.

I used to use them for my warenty work, and from recent reports from people who've used them recently, they're as good as ever.
 
Some folks pull the latch back when closing the cylinder because they worry a lot about the ratchet marring the latch. OK, if that is the sort of thing you worry about, but you shouldn't HAVE TO pull back the latch; the ratchet should cam it back as the cylinder closes.

Jim
 
There are very few smiths who can work on these fine revolvers. Colt lost their ability to make them a few years ago, but maybe they hired some of the old guys back. They are wonderful guns.
 
Handy, I was thinking along the lines that build-up is behind the spring and in the hole where the spring rests; thereby pushing the spring forward. It's a rather simple and non-mechanical operation consisting of the latch, thumbpiece, spring and a nylon bearing (which has nothing to do with the spring or latch).
 
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