Bill Davis Custom Smith & Wesson S&W Smolt Smython Python .357 Magnum 8″
SOLD FOR: $3019
LSB#: 230317BB008
Make: Smith & Wesson Frame with Colt Barrel.
Model: Bill Davis Custom Model 28-2 with Colt Python barrel, referred to as “Smolt” or “Smython”
Serial Number: N552430
Year of Manufacture: 1978-1980. The pistol was customized by Bill Davis in 1981.
Caliber: .375 Magnum
Action Type: 6-Shot, Double Action / Single Action, Fluted Swing-Out Cylinder Hand Ejector Revolver.
Markings: The right of the frame is marked with the four line Marcas Registradas address and the sideplate has the S&W monogram logo. The yoke cut is marked “N552430 / MOD.28-2”, the butt is marked with the serial number. The yoke and the sides of the grip frame have inspection marks. The rear face of the cylinder is hand-marked “X7”. The left side of the barrel is marked “PYTHON 357 / *357 MAGNUM CTG*”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”.
Barrel Length: 8?, Vent-Rib & Mag-Na-Port
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade with an orange insert, it is double-pinned to a rise in the barrel’s ventilated rib. The rear sight is a flat top, square notched, leaf in a base that is micrometer-click adjustable for windage and elevation, slotted, and screw-secured onto the top of the frame.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth Goncalo Alves Target stocks with a football cut and medallions. There are some scattered light handling marks, there are no major defects. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip is in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Hard Chrome
Finish Originality: Refinished, Original to Custom Build.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In my opinion, this bore is a 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are no major defects, just light handling marks. There is a light turn line on the cylinder. The sideplate screws have been replaced with hex head screws. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The single-action trigger is crisp and the double-action is smooth. The cylinder lockup is good on all chambers with light side-to-side play. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Davis Company claim check with a brief description of work and matching serial number and the original Smith & Wesson serial matching model 28-2 box.
Our Assessment: Why settle for just a Smith & Wesson or just a Colt when you could have the best of both worlds? That was the question on some shooters’ minds in the 60s and 70s. For several years between the introduction of the Python and the Smith & Wesson 586/686, this mixture made sense, especially in the stiff competition of PPC matches. The Colt barrels were perceived as more accurate and had a full lug to help tame recoil, but the Smith actions were easier to work on and required less hand-fitting of parts. The obvious answer? Take the barrel off a Python and mount it on a Smith! Thus was born the Smython, or Smolt as it is also known. This was a procedure that took no small amount of skill to accomplish due to the different threads of the Colt barrels and Smith frames, but when done properly, they were considered the cat’s-meow for competitive revolver shooting. Firearms customization was very popular among law-enforcement and competitive shooters in the late 70s and 1980s, but for many officers, a Python was beyond their means. A Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman, however, was designed and marketed to be an easily attainable revolver while being no less effective than the more ornate Model 27. Enter the late Bill Davis, a former police officer and gunsmith. He would order barrels from Colt and take a Smith & Wesson supplied by a customer and make what is sometimes referred to as a “Smython”, “Smolt”, or “PPC” revolver. The sturdy and reliable S&W N-Frame mated with a Colt made for a firearm with better weight distribution and a twist rate that shooter’s found more satisfactory. Plus, they look really cool. With the advent of the Smith & Wesson 586 and 686, the customization market saw its end—the 586 and 686 were factory guns that met the needs of most shooters that would go out of their way to customize a revolver. This example is chambered for the powerful .357 Magnum and has very little wear. It features an 8″ Python barrel, trigger overtravel stop, and hard chrome finish. It doesn’t stop there, it also has a ball detent triple lock action! Smith & Wesson dropped the lock on the Hand Ejector 2nd Model and never replaced it, although their later magnum models all had underlugs that shrouded the ejector rod. A ball detent triple lock would only be brought back on their high-end Performance Center models. With a keen eye for what was important to serious shooters, Mr. Davis offered the Triple Lock almost a decade before the Performance Center was even started! With top-notch quality and an array of the most desired features, these are exceedingly rare, and the most notable man who made them is no longer with us. This would make a great addition to any revolver or custom handgun collection and would likely still serve as a wonderful hunting or competition revolver today. Please see our photos and good luck!
Some are hot, some are not, but thankfully most can be shot!
-Red
