This makeover involves more than just basic bling. [ [Custom & Collectable Firearms] If you want a wheelgun and you wouldn’t be caught dead carrying the same revolver as anyone else you know, you have two choices: Get down to Rock Island Auction and buy some relic of the California Gold Rush, or stay in the modern era and buy some limited-edition piece. And if you’ve got the dough to play that game, Custom & Collectible Firearms wants to talk—or even better, they want to sell you the Sidewinder. Rare revolvers @ TFB:Wheelgun Wednesday: Good News, Everyone - The Manurhin MR88 Is Back Experimental Auto Revolver Wheelgun Wednesday: Buy Darth Vader's Shootin' Iron Wheelgun Wednesday: A Stealthy Hideout Revolver For America’s Birthday What’s the Sidewinder?Custom & Collectible Firearms isn’t in the business of making their own firearms—they take other manufacturers’ designs and embellish and otherwise improve them. In this case, they’ve gotten their hands on a Colt Python and given it a makeover.Some of you might think that’s heresy, that the Colt Python is just fine as it is. First manufactured all the way back in 1955, the Python has delivered hard-hitting .357 Magnum power in a reliable single-and-double-action package ever since. The original first-generation model ran all the way through 2005, when Colt shut down production. They’re back in business now with the second-generation version, in production since 2020. That WML will help you figure out what went bump in the night. [Custom & Collectable Firearms] The modern, second-generation Python is packed with carefully designed, CNC-machined parts, whereas the first-generation model required significant hand-fitting to get its internals properly tuned. The new model’s lockwork is supposed to be stronger and less likely to go out of time after a long-term diet of heavy loads. There are fewer internal parts to begin with, which means there are fewer parts to break, and the trigger on the new Python is supposed to be smoother, with a more linear pull in double-action, which should aid accuracy. There is also more steel in areas like the revolver’s top strap, which helps keep the frame straight and true.There are other external differences between the old Pythons and the new ones—enough that some shooters don’t consider the new revolvers as Pythons at all—but many of those don’t matter when we consider the Custom & Collectible Firearms version. The Sidewinder comes with a blued finish, not stainless (like most modern Pythons). Hogue grips are standard instead of wooden grips. Barrel length is only 3 inches, which some shooters might expect would make it more difficult to shoot. Custom & Collectibles installed a KAGE compensator at the muzzle, though, to help keep this hand cannon under control (but the additional perceived noise from the shot, due to that porting, might be another question …). That compensator is going to make the gun easier, but louder, to shoot. [Custom & Collectable Firearms] A practical pieceYou might think that Custom & Collectible Firearms mostly does its work by blinging up guns, but the changes above are functional, and there’s more to boot. They actually installed a Vortex Venom red dot optic on the revolver, along with a SureFire X300 weapon-mounted light for after-dark work. They also put a flat trigger on the revolver (with 24-carat gold plating, naturally).And here’s the rub: They’re only making a few of these. As per their website:With production limited to just 300 consecutively numbered revolvers, the Sidewinder stands out as more than just a collectible, providing shooters with the timeless appeal of the Colt Python and the modern edge of a tactical sidearm.Every piece comes with a Custom & Collectable Firearms challenge coin and a certificate of authenticity signed by the owner of Custom & Collectable Firearms. Is it for you?Maybe you think this is totally lame, buying a low-production customized revolver, or maybe you think it’s totally cool. There certainly is a market for custom work like this, as the company has a long list of other firearms they’ve done similar modifications to, with a similarly high price tag. In the case of the Sidewinder revolver, they’re priced at $2,999.99. Their website lists dealerships that carry the Custom & Collectable Firearms line, so you can find one that you can see and maybe even handle in person, if you want to check it out before dropping big bucks. Another take from the same company, on the same revolver. The spec sheet for this revolver on the Custom & Collectable Firearms website (see at the end of the story) doesn’t list one important piece of information: The weight. Chances are nobody’s buying this for a carry piece, but it would still be good to know.If this one isn’t for you, but you do like the idea, a run through the company’s website shows they’ve done similar work to other Colt revolvers like the King Cobra, and of course the Single Action Army (aka the Peacemaker). They even have a less-tactical, more-embellished version of the Colt Python, with trick grips and lots of engraving (and the same $2,999.99 price tag—see here). Specifications Caliber.357 MagnumFinishBluedAccessoriesVortex Venom Red Dot, KAGE Compensator, Gold-plated Flat Trigger, Surefire X300Barrel Length3"GripsBlack HogueSeries1 of 300 If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.