Rick's Colt Python
Six shots. One leader. The iron resolve that refused to let civilization fall without a fight.
Manufactured in the pre-apocalypse world, this six-shot revolver became Rick's primary sidearm after he acquired it in Season 1, Episode 3, and remained with him until the bridge explosion that severed his connection to the group. While other weapons were lost or discarded, the Python was a constant companion through countless battles and losses, tracking Rick's evolution from a small-town sheriff's deputy into the reluctant savior of humanity—though he ultimately dropped it before the bridge detonation, and it was later recovered and passed to Judith.
- Last Known Status
- In use by Judith Grimes in later seasons
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Colt Python was prominently featured in AMC's The Walking Dead (2010–2022), carried by protagonist Rick Grimes from Season 1, Episode 3 through Season 9, Episode 5 (2018). Rick lost the Python just before the bridge explosion, but it was later recovered and given to Judith Grimes, who continued to use it in later seasons. The popularity of the show contributed to increased market demand, which played a role in Colt's decision to reintroduce the model in 2020. The Python has also been featured in numerous films, television series, video games, and literature, including The Walking Dead, Resident Evil, Dirty Harry (1971), Magnum Force (1973), Fight Club (1999), American Gangster (2007), John Wick (2014), and television series such as Starsky and Hutch, The X-Files, Hawaii Five-O, and Burn Notice.
In Their Own Story
Rain lashed against the steel bridge, masking the groans of the approaching herd. Rick Grimes stood in the shadows, his hand resting on the worn grip of his Colt Python. The metal was cold, familiar—a weight he had carried through hell and back. He watched walkers shuffling toward the barricade, their hunger rising above the thunder. With a breath that tasted of ash and rain, Rick drew the revolver. The cylinder spun with a soft click, promising silence to the chaos around them. He didn't aim for the heart; he aimed for the brain, as he had done a thousand times before. One shot cracked through the storm, dropping the lead walker instantly. The gun felt heavy in his hand, not with steel, but with the burden of every life it had taken to keep others alive.
Reader's Guide
Unlike semi-automatics that may jam without perfect maintenance, the revolver's design ensures reliable operation despite dust, rain, or grime. It requires manual cocking of the hammer in single-action mode, demanding steady aim and trigger discipline. The weapon delivers a devastating blow capable of destroying a walker’s brain instantly. Its heavy caliber is equally effective against human threats, though recoil management is critical for follow-up shots. Rick mastered this balance, using the gun for precise takedowns during stealth operations or desperate standoffs. Wielding it demands more strength than it requires the mental fortitude to take a life when absolutely necessary.
Did You Know?
- The Colt Python was first introduced in 1955 by Colt's Manufacturing Company.
- The Python was the first time Colt used the Royal Blue finish.
- The Python has been featured in numerous films, television series, video games, and literature, including The Walking Dead, Resident Evil, Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, Fight Club, American Gangster, John Wick, Starsky and
- The popularity of The Walking Dead contributed to increased market demand, which played a role in Colt's decision to reintroduce the model in 2020.
- The Colt Python is a double action/single action revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge.
More in powers
Elsewhere in the The Walking Dead universe
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