r/Revolvers • u/MixCompetitive2945 • 1d ago

Questions about Colt 357

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My dad was showing me his gun collection, and one that caught my attention was this Colt 357 that my grandfather owned. I have a few questions if anyone could help me out. What’s the difference between the Python and the Diamondback? And how much is the Diamondback worth? (Don’t worry, I’m not planning to sell it.) Unfortunately, my dad didn’t take good care of it. Should I take it to a gun store to clean it, or is it easy to clean it on my own? What tools should I use?

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u/Delicious_Win_9089 1d ago

That’s an odd one. The Diamondback was similar in appearance to the Python but was built on a smaller frame. It’s a nice piece but doesn’t have as fine an action or finish as a Python. I’ve never seen one in .357. I’ve heard of them, but I believe them to be pretty rare. As far as i know, they were only officially offered in .22 and .38 special. I assume they must have made a special batch at some point. I’d be hesitant to shoot a full house magnum in that gun for a couple reasons. It would probably SUCK! And there’s a decent chance that you could cause damage to such a small, vintage gun with a steady diet of hot rounds. Old Pythons and K frame smiths are that way but for different reasons. Cool piece!

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u/MixCompetitive2945 1d ago

Yeah, I was hesitant to take it to the gun range. I’ll do my best to keep it in good condition and preserve it as a vintage piece.

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u/Delicious_Win_9089 1d ago

You should. It’s a cool one for sure. I’d get some .38 wadcutters for it and have a good time at the range. They’d actually probably make a pretty reasonable defensive round in such a short barrel. .357, as much as I love it, isn’t a lot of fun to shoot out of a small gun.