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Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Colt Python revolver holds a prestigious position in the history of modern double-action American handguns. Introduced in the mid-1950s, this firearm was developed during a time when the quality of American gunmaking was beginning to decline from its peak in the 1930s and 1940s. Rather than joining the trend of fast, mass-production firearms constructed from stamped and fabricated parts, the Python was designed to be the finest revolver ever manufactured in America, …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Smith & Wesson’s dominance in the .357 Mag. market changed forever in 1955; however, when Colt introduced its first revolver chambered in .357 Mag…the Python. By all accounts, Colt executives also considered this to be the finest revolver the company produced at the time. No expense was spared in the manufacturing process, from the revolver’s timing and lock-up to its Royal Blue finish, this would be the pinnacle of Colt’s manufacturing prowe …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: In the 1950s, High Standard adapted their premium target pistols for use with .22 Short cartridges to compete in Olympic rapid-fire shooting events, which were dominated by European-made pistols at the time. In 1960, American shooter Bill McMillan won the rapid-fire competition at the Rome Olympics using a High Standard pistol, cementing the company's reputation in the sport. To commemorate McMillan's achievement, High Standard released a special edition of their pi …

Bryant Ridge's AnalysisIn the mid-1960s, the .45-70 cartridge had nearly vanished from the American market, and there was no big-bore lever-action rifle cartridge in production to fill the gap. To address this, Marlin decided to develop a new cartridge that would offer comparable power. They designed the .444 Marlin, essentially a longer version of the .44 Magnum, extending the cartridge by nearly an inch to approach the .45-70’s power levels. The .444 Marlin was conceived by Remington at Marlin …

Bryant Ridge's AnalysisSmith & Wesson introduced the first Model 66 in 1970. Labeled as a Combat Magnum, the revolver was chambered for the potent .357 Magnum. Built on the company’s K frame, the guns offered a balance of relatively lightweight and good durability. The gun was very similar to the popular Model 19, though with a stainless steel frame instead of one made of carbon steel. While the Model 19 remained a hot ticket with shooters and police departments, the Model 66 gained its foll …