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This subject is from the Black Mesa Incident era.This subject is from the Combine era.This is a good article.

The Colt Python (or .357 Magnum Revolver) is a powerful handgun, which is more accurate and powerful than the USP Match or the Glock 17, featured in most of the Half-Life series titles.

Overview[]

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The Colt Python's first appearance, in Half-Life.

Tactics[]

  • The Colt Python can kill anything weaker than a Bullsquid and Overwatch Soldier (in Easy mode) in one shot. While this may sound tempting, it is better to conserve its ammo for foes that require multiple shots to take down, such as the Alien Grunt, Alien Controller, Poison Zombie, and Overwatch Elite.
    • All of the enemies that can be killed with one Colt Python shot can also be killed with a double SPAS-12 shot (in Half-Life) or with a single blast (in Half-Life 2 and its episodes) if all pellets hit the target. As ammo for the SPAS-12 shotguns in both games is more common, it may be more forgiving to use it over the Colt in these situations.
  • With its accuracy and power, the Colt Python is the best sniper weapon in the game, which is counterintuitive with the Colt being a handgun rather than a rifle-role weapon. Therefore, using the Python in situations where sniping is appropriate, such as to pick off HECU marines who are at a distance but not moving can prove viable.
  • In Half-Life multiplayer, the secondary fire button triggers a zoom which can assist in long-range sniper shots.
  • Since it has no built-in scope in Half-Life 2, the HEV Suit zoom can be used to aim for long distance shots. The player should zoom into the target and have the desired target in the center of their crosshair, then the zoom must be quickly released and the player must fire. Alternatively, a player may hold down the primary fire button while the zoom is being released to instantly fire a round and to diminish jolting. This allows the Colt Python to be used as a makeshift sniping weapon until obtaining the Crossbow.
    • As the Colt Python fires hitscan projectiles, HEV Suit zoom-sniping with the revolver may still be viable even when the Crossbow has been picked up.
  • Ammunition for this weapon is very rare in all of the games, so one should use this weapon only when its pinpoint accuracy and stopping power is required, such as against Alien Grunts, Overwatch Elites, and Hunters standing far away. Its ammunition value increases in Half Life 2 and its Episodes by only allowing the player to carry 12 shots outside of the cylinder, instead of the reserve 36 rounds like in Half-Life.
  • Be sure to reload this weapon when not in combat as the Colt Python has a moderate reload time. If forced during combat, either switch to suitable firearm or retreat and take cover while reloading.
  • Using this gun in the deathmatch modes can result in many easy kills at any range as long as one aims for the head.
  • Assuming ammunition is plentiful for other weapons, the Colt is strong to use against Poison Headcrabs, as it will kill them in one hit at any range.
  • This is the most effective firearm against Hunters. The source code states that this is because players perceive the weapon as the strongest in the game.[2]

Behind the scenes[]

357 scope

Half-Life viewmodel, multiplayer version, with the attachment under the barrel.

  • As heard in the Half-Life sound file get_44pistol.wav and as seen on the cut ammo box model, the Half-Life Python was originally to be a .44 Magnum revolver.
  • The Half-Life Deathmatch Python model features an attachment under the barrel that resembles a laser pointer, although it acts similar to a scope and emits a cosmetic laser. While that scope is not visible in Half-Life Deathmatch: Source or Half-Life: Source, its function remains.
    • This attachment was originally to appear in Half-Life's singleplayer mode as well.
  • The Half-Life High Definition Pack remodels the Python into a Colt Anaconda, though it still uses .357 Magnum ammunition, whereas the real Anaconda is chambered in .44 Magnum.
    • This may refer to an earlier concept where it was actually chambered in .44 Magnum.

Trivia[]

  • In the Half-Life 2 series, all six rounds in the Python's cylinder are reloaded together, but there is no speedloader (the cartridges just float in mid-air as a circular group). The animation is instead more suited for the application of a moon clip. Overall this is merely a design oversight.
  • The Half-Life 2 worldmodel hasn't changed since the non-HD Half-Life version, aside from a slight quality upgrade.
  • At the end of the reload animation, Gordon spins the cylinder after putting it back in place. While possible, this is not supposed to be done in real life, as it can damage the locking pin.
  • In Half-Life 2, the Colt viewmodel's crane (the component in a revolver that is connected to the ejector rod and cylinder and swings out while reloading) is stuck in the frame and the cylinder appears to be floating while it flips out.
    • This is also present on both versions of the revolver in Half-Life.
    • Gordon will also push an invisible ejector rod to push out the empty casings from the cylinder of the Half-Life 2 Colt revolver.
  • The Half-Life 2 viewmodel more closely resembles a Colt Anaconda (albeit with incorrect screw placements), but has "Python Elite .357 Magnum" written on the barrel. Conversely, the worldmodel correctly has the words "Colt Anaconda", as well as more accurately placed screws.
  • In Half-Life, the reload time is actually shorter than the reload animation. The player can hold down the trigger, and Gordon will fire the gun as soon as he puts fresh rounds in, even before closing the cylinder.
  • In Half-Life: Source, using the sv_cheats console command allows the player to use the Python's scope function.
  • During the Python's reload animation in Half-Life 2, the casings ejected by the gun will not appear on the ground. This has been fixed in Half-Life 2: Episode Two, however the casings which are dropped appear as .45 Auto casings and not more fittingly, .357 Magnum.
  • In the Half-Life retail version (v1.0.0.5 - v1.1.07) there is a sound played during the reload animation that was, for unknown reasons, absent in later versions (v1.1.0.8+). It was later re-added but the HD pack remains broken.
    • However, the PlayStation 2 port of Half-Life which permanently has the HD pack enabled features the full sound effects for the revolver's reload animation.
  • The Colt Python was not included in the leaked 2003 version of Half-Life 2.
  • The Colt Python cannot be used by NPCs.
  • In Half-Life, Gordon pulls the hammer back with his thumb as an idle animation, which pulls the trigger back and rotates the cylinder. This would be correct if the cylinder didn't lock back in place afterward. In real life, you would have to manually align the cylinder back in place if you were to do this.
  • In Half-Life: Source, it is possible to increase the rate of fire and skip the recoil animation by quickly pressing the quick switch button after each shot.
  • In the original Half-Life, the non-HD Colt Python appears to have a bluish metallic tint to it.
    • The viewmodel for the non-HD Python's barrel assembly is also at a bent angle with the muzzle pointing upwards, in order to give it the gun the perspective of having a long barrel.
  • In both versions of Half-Life, the Colt revolver's cylinder is modeled with the chambers parallel to the external fluting of the cylinder, unlike the real Colt Python.
  • In the real world, Colt Pythons have a reputation for accuracy and power, much like the one in Half-Life.

Gallery[]

Half-Life story arc[]

Half-Life 2 story arc[]

List of appearances[]

References[]

Imagecat The Half-Life Wiki has more images related to Colt Python.

External links[]

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