Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Well, y’all, the space age is here, and EMPIRE is bringing a modern touch to the Colt Python. This exceptional piece of weaponry embodies a perfect blend of classic design and modern improvements, paying homage to the timeless allure of revolvers while integrating cutting-edge features. Meet the COTTONMOUTH, a revolver that not only attracts with its striking aesthetics, featuring a full-length top rail, a compact bottom rail, a sleek stonewashed finish, and carefully Cerakoted controls but also proves its worth in practicality.
Table of contents
With its recoil-reducing capabilities and versatile rails for optics and weapon light attachments, the COTTONMOUTH delivers both style and substance, improving accuracy and adaptability in low-light scenarios. The COTTONMOUTH is available in 3″, 4.25″, and 6″ versions.
EMPIRE COTTONMOUTH Features:
- Colt Python base pistol
- Stonewashed frame & deburred internals
- Stonewashed Python Finish
- Cerakote Elite Blackout Controls
- Hand-polished & fitted action
- 2 Tone Milspec Hard Anodized & Stonewashed KAGE billet Rail & Compensator System
- Goon Tape wrapped grip
- Range Bag
What is the COTTONMOUTH?
So what is the COTTONMOUTH? It is EMPIRE’s spin on what a modern revolver should be. They add their own custom parts to enhance performance, aesthetics, and corrosion resistance. While the COTTONMOUTH is only available as a completely decked out Colt Python, they offer individual components for upgrading your post-2020 manufactured Colt Pythons as well. One of these kits is their KAGE system which adds a full-length top rail, compact bottom rail, and compensator securely to your Colt Python manufactured in 2020 or later. However, while including the KAGE kit, the COTTONMOUTH goes above and beyond by hand polishing and fitting the action, Cerakoting the controls, and providing a stonewashed finish.
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Out of the Box
When purchased from EMPIRE’s website, the COTTONMOUTH comes with a Savior Equipment range bag, the Colt Python with all factor included contents, and then the upgraded features integral to the revolver itself.
Muzzle Brake
Of all the great upgrades coming with the COTTONMOUTH, I have got to say I like the compensator the most. The contour fits seamlessly with the rail system, the raw aluminum looks great next to the stainless steel barrel, and obviously, it reduces the recoil of the revolver. It functions as it should, and it adds something not often seen on revolvers.
Picatinny Rails
The most practical upgrade is the inclusion of a top Picatinny rail. This allows for mounting whatever optic your heart desires. To prove this point I made the video below:
While some of the options in the video above may not be practical, that is beside the point. I do things because I can, and the COTTONMOUTH gives me plenty of options. It looks good and adds a lot of flexibility to the Colt Python.
The COTTONMOUTH also comes with a bottom Picatinny rail. This allows for mounting lasers, weapon lights, or whatever else you may want. For the 6″ version which I have the bottom rail isn’t as useful as it would be on the shorter versions. It positions my weapon lights too far out to effectively reach the toggle switches. I have seen some people run pressure pads which is a valid solution, but that is more trouble hassle than I want to deal with.
Fit & Finish
EMPIRE also puts in the extra work to provide a stonewashed finish and deburred internals. They hand polish and fit the action. The overall fit and finish of the COTTONMOUTH is impressive, to say the least.
Cerakote
In a bid to give both style and corrosion resistance, the COTTONMOUTH adorns key components, including the trigger, hammer, cylinder, cylinder release, and ejector rod, with a sleek black Cerakote finish. These carefully crafted accents contribute to the COTTONMOUTH’s distinctive appearance, setting it apart as a revolver unlike any other in the market.
COTTONMOUTH Performance
While at its heart the COTTONMOUTH is still a Colt Python, this upgraded revolver is much more effective. I used a variety of Hornady 357 Magnum ammunition that varied from 125gr to 140gr without issue. The compensator reduces recoil to help tame the most powerful of .357 magnum cartridges. The Picatinny rail allowed me to use a variety of optics, but for the most part, I used a Vortex Defender-CCW red dot. This is a fairly minimalist configuration that helped me reach out to nearly 100 yards. Throughout my testing, everything worked flawlessly and no components worked themselves loose.
Summary
For those looking for a revolver that not only stands out in appearance but in performance as well, look no further, for the COTTONMOUTH is here. While adding custom parts to improve the performance of the Colt Python, EMPIRE crafted a stand-out piece that is sure to make all your friends jealous. The COTTONMOUTH has an MSRP of $1999.99 which adds just $500 to the sticker price of the Colt Python. While this includes hand-polishing, a stonewashed finish, and Cerakote, the compensator and Picatinny rails are sold as the KAGE kit for $249 which could be purchased all on their own. For those looking for a Colt Python, I think the COTTONMOUTH is a well-justified upgrade that adds a lot of versatility to the system.
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Just because you can does’t mean you should.
Looks like it’s out of Mad Max
Not impressed. Just looks like something a Mexican cartel member would conjure up, sort of like those dingleberry balls they put in car interiors! Won’t be spending my money on one. You can get pretty much the same arrangement in a better caliber made by Taurus for half the money and not trash a beautiful classic.
Kinda along the same lines of the abortion of the POF Tombstone lever gun.
Ruined a perfectly good revolver. No thanks.
We waited a long time for Colt to bring it back AS IS.
Sorry guys, that stuff belongs on somebody’s 1911.
Ruined.
It will fail and be discontinued.
In 30 years crazy Colt collectors will pay insane money for it.
You sound bitter.
I have come in to possession of a Colt Anaconda 6 inch. Not sure if I am going to keep it, but if I can get it modified by Empire I might. I have not been able to find Empire’s website or contact information. Any advice?
Not my bag. A revolver needs a rear sight.
Gerald gives my opinion to the letter. Let’s take a nice gun and jazz it up with ‘necessities’ for new U.S Space Force.
Wow! I want one. Dont need the silly bottom rail- looks removable. I can just see me and my new Cottonmouth crawling within woodchuck range next June. Y’all just jealous as I dangle a freshly dressed whistle pig under your nose. Into the catcetori it goes.
Buy a Korth NXS or a Performance center Smith if you want a purpose built revolver with a rail and they will function well. Why ruin an iconic handgun. That think is butt ugly! I would take it for free and still try to sell to someone with really poor taste.
Why??? Should have called it the freakazoid. Two thumbs down 👎 👎
Yuck. Sorry, guys, but this is a lot of unnecessary “stuff” on a perfectly good revolver.
What it looks like is someone is trying to make a revolver look like a semi-auto by adding parts usually seen on one of those.
If I wanted a gun with an RDS and the ability to add a gunlight, I sure wouldn’t pay $1500 for a Python plus the cost of the “extras” shown here to get it.
I dunno, it might sell to some new guy who’s trying to shed his soyboy reputation and wants to look like Rambo. But for real gun people, this misses the mark. Boy does it miss the mark!
Dang, tough crowd, I shoot the hell out of that, to be fair I like gaudy guns. YMMV
So, what is the trigger like? Is the SA pull creepy and heavy, like the factory trigger often is?
Definitely the ugliest thing on the planet. One has to ask why?
Not impressed. There are other platforms in better calibers to dress up with all that junk. This is just taking a beautiful classic gun and afro-ing it up. Looks like hooptie from some ghetto in Mexico.
Lipstick on a pig. Try it on a Smith 629.
What a waste of a good Python. “The Space Age is here”? More like: the stupid age is here. If you doubt that, just read the news. Follow politics. Listen to a libtard.
EMPIRE needs to rethink and rework this concept. The Python is a great looking revolver. Adding a compensator and a mount for an optical sight certainly enhance the functionality. Mr. Graf writes about the compensator, “The contour fits seamlessly with the rail system, the raw aluminum looks great next to the stainless steel barrel…” I disagree, the contour is bulky, clumsy, ugly and unfinished aluminum is never a good idea – it will corrode with time and use and will become dirty and pitted. In this application a black hardcoat anodized finish would be a much better choice.
The full length picatinny rail is just overkill, way too long and too bulky. All that’s needed is a small, low-profile mounting plate on the top of the frame for a mini red-dot sight. The tape wrapped around the grip is ugly and unnecessary.
The author writes, “In a bid to give both style and corrosion resistance, the COTTONMOUTH adorns key components, including the trigger, hammer, cylinder, cylinder release, and ejector rod, with a sleek black Cerakote finish.” The revolver is stainless steel, it’s already very corrosion resistant and doesn’t need a Cerakote finish.
Maybe EMPIRE needs a lesson in materials science: they’re adding a corrosion resistant finish to parts that are already corrosion resistant and putting no finish on an aluminum component that is very susceptible to corrosion.
Smith Wesson has had a revolver out for years from their performance shop. It is optic ready, will accept a light or laser under barrel just like this one. Only thing is it holds EIGHT rds of 357 not 6 like this one and more importantly it doesn’t look this stupid. This looks like spare parts slapped together from a mad max movie. 👎
The muzzle brake looks like something that fell off a 1979 Datsun 210 hatchback, WTF.
I get where they’re going but damn!
Instead of looking like it was drug through an accessory parts bin…. how about a cohesive and deliberate look?
Cotton mouth. How to take a classic and destroy it! Just buy a Glock and leave the Colts alone. A lover of the pure snake guns.
Heresy! Doing this to the most beautiful handgun ever? With all the revolvers out there to make into a “comp. gun” and you do this. Think ’67 ‘Vette split rear window with 20″ slicks, racing stripes, jacked up rear end and a Superbird style airfoil????????
’63 was the only Vette coupe with the split window. But I get your point.
So how did it group at 25, 50 and 100 yards. Only accurate guns are interesting.
“the raw aluminum looks great next to the stainless steel barrel”
I would disagree, I would want the muzzle brake also in stainless steel.