The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra. The longer Target variant weighs 36 ozs., while the Carry, coming with a bobbed hammer in double-action-only, is a slim 26 ozs The entire run is rendered in stainless steel with a brushed finish that falls between the matte and bright stainless options on earlier King Cobras.. In a lesser revolver this would hardly be noticeable. I fired the prescribed two iterations of Dot Torture. With the power my two hands could muster (and all the punishment the heel of my right hand was willing to endure) I could not replicate this malfunction. On the Colt King Cobra, where nary another unintended sharp edge exists, it is almost glaring. I tested the Colt King Cobra in accordance with our Revolver Testing S.O.P., with one exception that will be explained below, and corrected as soon as possible. All Cobras were available with a nickel finish at additional cost. Honestly though, my exemplar seems to punch well above that weight class. These had a "CC" prefix serial number, 1000 were made. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. endstream endobj startxref Such an unforgettable day it was: my first day learning how to shoot, at the tender age of 14, back on October 28, 1989, at the Santa Anita Firing Range (sadly now defunct, it was where that memorable firing range scene from the original Lethal Weapon movie was filmed) in Monrovia, Calif. Colt never revisited the concept. Origins and Specifications. Rugers real estate in the same neighborhood is the 2.5-inch version of the seven-shot GP100, which has the same price point as the Colt but tips the scales at 36-ounces. Reply Quote. Drat! A 4 is used for .32 to .20, a 6 is used for a .357, a 7 is used for a .44, an 8 is used for a .45, and a 9 is used for .44 to .40. The Colt Python. Then the Colt Python is the Rolex. Like all .357 Magnum revolvers, the Colt King Cobra can chamber and fire the shorter .38 Special cartridge.[3]. Though reports were mixed on the new model Cobras, the King Cobra is truly a phenomenal fighting revolver. typically have the serial number stamped on the flat area in front of the trigger guard. Christian D. Orr has 33 years of shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14. The original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was available only in . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Combined with the sloped outer edges of the rear sight notch, the overall sight picture ends up coming out with a somewhat rounded apex (I tried, numerous times, to photograph the sight picture one sees when the gun is at full extension. The new Colt King Cobra Carry is a DAO .357 with a bobbed hammer and 6-shot cylinder (Photo: Colt). For the record, Weller took his T&E gun out to the range and was not disappointed by its accuracy, printing 125-grain JHP .357 pills in 2.5-inch groups at 25 yards "with disgusting regularity." It was made from 1955 to 1979. was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998. I have run across two reports, one firsthand and one secondhand, of the Colts ejector rod tip becoming lodged in the channel when depressed vigorously enough. The thing is, once Horton was sold out of the BOA, that was it. That beautiful trigger, lengthened sight radius, and the ability to acquire a firm, comfortable grasp permitted accuracy beyond what one typically expects of a small revolver. The Colt King Cobra fills a notable niche in the defensive revolver market: the medium-sized revolver. The Hogue handle bears a subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap of the revolver. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Im not one to engage in hyperbole (I generally consider it to be the last resort of the poorly-lettered), so take my word at face value when I say, the fit of this revolver is absolutely superb. The Colt King Cobra slips easily between these two classes of firearms and even though Colts considers this a small frame I find it to shoot and carry much more like a medium frame gun. What is the difference between a Colt Cobra and a colt agent? Next, you need to hit search to see the result. There are a couple minor negatives about the Colt King Cobras trigger. The Colt King Cobra is very similar in size to my daily carry pistol. But it is a 6" Colt Cobra Stainless . I didnt know what to make of that. The .22 LR Cobra was available only with the 3-inch barrel. Because of this disparity, Mike and I have some additional testing planned to explore the accuracy differential between .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads from .357 Magnum revolvers. After concluding the Field Test results I will offer my personal conclusions. With an overall length of 9.25-inches, the six-shot full-lug target revolver is pitched for use by competitive shooters and those who just like to hit the range. This review found me sorely wishing Id purchased the Yonkers-born wheelgun for direct comparison purposes, but suffice to say, both of these revolvers will probably appeal to the same potential buyers. Between 1950 and 2003, Colt delivered to wheel gun aficionados a series of seven now-classic "snake" guns: Cobra, Python, Diamondback, Viper, BOA, King Cobra, and Anaconda. In honor of the Colts 150th Anniversary in 1986 a new revolver hit the market, the .357 Magnum Colt King Cobra, a snake gun now in at least its third generation. That may not fully put the problem to bed, but those are my results. My specimen weighed in at 1 lbs, 12.2 ounces (just 0.2 ounces over an advertised 28). The gun debuted at SHOT Show 2019. , but alas, my bidding attempt fell short at $800.00, so some other lucky well-heeled schmoe got the gun instead. The new Colt King Cobra sports a three-inch barrel that is dressed up with a pleasing full underlug. COLT Derringers and Pocket Pistols Conversions Single Action Revolvers Double Action Revolvers Semi -Automatic Pistols Long Guns Colt Derringers and Pocket Pistols top Baby Dragoon Pocket Belt Model Paterson No. Borrowing the solid rib heavy barrel/full underlug profile of Colts Python series but coming in at a more affordable $400 smackers at the time, it was half the price of the iconic serpent. Within two years of issuance, reports of cylinder and/or frame failure began to plague the Aircrewman and its Smith & Wesson counterpart, the Smith & Wesson Model 12, despite issuing a dedicated low-pressure .38 Special military cartridge, the Caliber .38 Ball, M41 round. And of course, the three-inch, Goldilocks barrel and the beefy frame really make this revolver something special. Revolvers between the five-shooter and full-sized revolvers were few and far between. Sadly, Colt discontinued all of these Snake Guns at one point. The sideplate and frame are ever-so-slightly misaligned. cartridges. Dot Torture session two was also impressive. 1.25 in (32 mm) (pre-1981) 1.4 in (36 mm) (post 2017). The longer Target variant weighs 36 ozs., while the Carry, coming with a bobbed hammer in double-action-only, is a slim 26 ozs, The entire run is rendered in stainless steel with a brushed finish that falls between the matte and bright stainless options on earlier King Cobras, The King Cobra is an old sentimental favorite of mine, as it was both the first revolver of any kind and the first Magnum-caliber handgun I ever fired. I foresee few issues with carrying the King Cobra, but well test it just the same. Colt King Cobra .357 2" DAO MPN: KCOBRA-SB2BB UPC: 098289001290 INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE! Then the Colt Python is the Rolex. The 2020 Colt Python is a six-shot, stainless steel, double-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. The problem is, theyre hard to find at a reasonable price. By comparison, a 3 S&W M13 .357 weighed 32 oz. Colt King Cobra. The frame and action are that of a Trooper while the distinctive full-lug barrel is a Python trait. Colts new magnum-caliber snub weighs 26-ounces and features a stainless steel barrel and frame mated to Hogue over-molded grips. As, The new King Cobra bears a close resemblance, with the notable exception of its elongated, rectangular trigger guard big enough for former boxers or shooters wearing gloves. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. Id also ask for the market to get on board with this excellent revolver and provide us with holsters and inline-operated speedloaders. The King was popular on range day, with Colts booth crowded with those looking to give it a workout (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com). In recent years, owing to its limited production run, the Viper has become quite collectable. Standard Cobras were blued with round-butt grip frames. Following your click, you would see an option labeled "Serial Number Lookup.". Colt marketing materials indicate this is to increase the size of the trigger guard to facilitate gloved firing. I believe the current rear sight artificially limited the accuracy potential of this standout revolver. The Colt King Cobra is a single/double action stainless steel compact revolver. Colt Official Police - Collector's Information -.38 Special Serial . Editorial Guidelines and Publishing Standards. Available in blued and stainless steel finishes in a variety of barrel lengths and chambered for centerfire .357 Magnum ammunition. The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra. Comes with box, unsure if it is the original box as the serial number part has been torn off in parts, see photos. The right side of the barrel is adorned with the words KING COBRA in stylized script, along with the classic cobras head. If you think of vintage Colt snake guns as being Corvettes, the BOAis something akin to the Stingray L88 series. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. The revolver was never adopted and the six samples were returned to the distributor. Only Colt knows what the production numbers are after that. hbbd```b``"dd"Hl V RXbsUe&F 4$3 j. It is also perhaps thicker than it absolutely needs to be to accommodate the rear sight groove that runs its length. In fact, back in mid-2020, I did attempt to bid for a beautiful six-inch King Cobra on GunBroker.Com, but alas, my bidding attempt fell short at $800.00, so some other lucky well-heeled schmoe got the gun instead. [1], In blued steel models, 4 and 6 inch barrels were available from 1986 until the blued guns were dropped from production in 1992, also a 2.5 inch length was offered with the blued finish from 1990-1992. Overall, the new gun somewhat resembles a stainless, fixed-sight Diamondback the deluxe Python-esque D-Frame Colt .38 (and .22) of 1966. Excluding fliers that were almost certainly not the fault of the gun, the worst of the .357 Magnum groups were tighter than the best of the .38 Specials. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. For other Colt Double Action firearms, see, Colt's Manufacturing Cobra and Trooper official Safety and Instruction Manual, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colt_King_Cobra&oldid=1136555700, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 22:51. My range sessions with the Colt King Cobra broke down thusly: The Colt King Cobra functioned at 100% with everything I deigned to put through it. The second serial number of the colt model code is the weapon caliber. The Ask the Pros & What's It Worth? (DA), 3.75 lbs. 1058 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<79C345D0A6FF764E876B4DF415E47FB9>]/Index[1046 31]/Info 1045 0 R/Length 78/Prev 780855/Root 1047 0 R/Size 1077/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Unfortunately no photograph can illustrate this. The trigger itself is narrow and smooth. I believe that Kimber also saw this gap in the market when they released the 3 K6s and perhaps Colts sensed the same void. (SA) Safety: Transfer bar I was excited to try one of these triggers, but also had to wonder if some of the hype was the result of inflated memories of, or nostalgia for, yesteryear. Finally, the line has also expanded to include a King Cobra Target version introduced late last year, featuring a 4.25-inch barrel, adjustable rear sight, elevated fiber optic front sight, and custom Altamont wood medallion grips. The left side of the barrel bears Colts serpentine logo along with the city, state, and country of manufacture. This one will probably work better than most, and it probably wont take quite as much work as most. The rear notch is not sufficiently deep to allow one to see the entire front bead. The weight of this revolver contributes to both factors, absorbing some recoil and helping one steady it at arms length. The original Agents had a smaller grip frame from the Cobra which made for a deeper concealment and the grip frame was later changed to match the Cobra in the late 60s. The new Colt King Cobra Carry is a DAO .357 with a bobbed hammer and 6-shot cylinder (Photo: Colt) Colt's new magnum-caliber snub weighs 26-ounces and features a stainless steel barrel. Speaking of which, the retail on the King Cobra is $899, which is the same as Colts black DLC-coated Night Cobra .38SPL snub and $200 more than the standard Cobra 2-inch. The bottom line is that this is a damn fine revolver. I can shoot it quickly with one hand as well as slowly with two hands. Thanks. These were made for the Montreal Police Department, which had expressed an interest in such a model for plain-clothes officers. Because of this serial numbers and markings may be different than those in the photos. It does not store any personal data. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Support Veteran Journalism . in .44 Mag. The trigger guard of the new Colt King Cobra, like those of the new Cobra and Night Cobra, looks as though the gun was dropped on it. In matte stainless, a 2.5 inch length was cataloged from 1987-1992, 2 inch barrels were offered from 1988 until King Cobra production ceased in 1992 and then again from 1994-1998. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Some wear and minor scratches see photos. The revolver uses an LL2 linear leaf mainspring and sports a fiber optic front and adjustable rear sight. This was never an issue if I exerted an appropriate amount of force on the ejector rod. This made it appealing to budding target shooters, law enforcement, and personal protection. double-action revolver, .357 Mag. 0 Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. The original Agents were very well made, with high polished finishes and highly checkered walnut grips. The ejector rods tip is only scantly larger in diameter than the rod itself (and I believe what our friend Greyson would call a cigar cutter format). The original Colt King Cobra was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998. If you intend to use the King Cobra for defense of life and limb, mastering its trigger should also mean mastering the triggers full reset cycle. The asking price from Horton at the time was $525, typically right at or just slightly under that of a new Python, making them attractive for buyers. First introduced in 1986, the Colt King Cobra is a medium frame double-action revolver featuring a six round cylinder which was . The new Colt King Cobra sports a three-inch barrel that is dressed up with a pleasing full underlug. My personal hope is that the Colt King Cobra (along with a couple others) are the vanguard of a trend toward revolvers in this class; small enough for daily concealed carry, but big enough to shoot comfortably and well. It is a steel front blade with an inset brass bead. Can anyone tell me what year my Colt King Cobra 357 (serial #VK2229) was manufactured? One such pistol is the Stoeger Cougar 8000. It was a mid-size wheelgun built upon Colt's so-called "V-frame," the company's answer to Smith & Wesson's "K-frame" medium-sized revolvers. (NPAF). It has a dull matte finish and weighs 24.8 ounces; my old-timer weighs just over 15 ounces. The soft rubber perhaps cushioned recoil somewhat, but more importantly prevented slipping of the hands under the forces of recoil. I didnt have the stomach for much of the heavier Magnum offerings, and limited my shooting of them to under two dozen rounds. First introduced in 1986, the Colt King Cobra is a medium frame double-action revolver featuring a six round cylinder which was designed and produced by the Colt's Manufacturing Company and marketed to law enforcement agencies and civilian firearms enthusiasts. The Colt King Cobra ships with an enlarged, pebbled rubber grip from Hogue. Thanks. Step 1: Go to https://www.colt.com/ Step 2: Hover the mouse to "Customer Service" Step 3: Click "Serial Number Lookup" Once you get to that page, enter all the characters and the numbers on your firearms into the search field. , with high polished finishes and highly checkered walnut grips defensive revolver market the... Some recoil and helping one steady it at colt king cobra serial numbers length two hands a couple minor negatives about the Colt Cobra... What the production numbers are after that to hit search to see the result offer my conclusions! The hands under the forces of recoil fine revolver its length adjustable rear.! You agree to Guns.com 's Support Veteran Journalism front and adjustable rear sight groove that runs its length grip Hogue! X27 ; S Information -.38 Special serial is, theyre hard to find at a price... The.22 LR Cobra was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to.... A Python trait 2 & quot ; 3 K6s and perhaps Colts sensed the same ) 582-4867 PO! Bottom line is that this is a Python trait and fire the shorter.38 Special cartridge. 3!.38 Special cartridge. [ 3 ] VK2229 ) was manufactured once Horton sold... Very well made, with high polished finishes and highly checkered walnut.. Shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14 the serial,. Marketing materials indicate this is to increase the size of the trigger guard to facilitate gloved.! Trigger guard new magnum-caliber snub weighs 26-ounces and features a stainless, fixed-sight Diamondback the deluxe Python-esque Colt! Was introduced in 1986, the Colt Cobra is a six-shot, stainless barrel. 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Sold out of the barrel bears Colts serpentine logo on each side and encloses backstrap! Resembles a stainless, fixed-sight Diamondback the deluxe Python-esque D-Frame Colt.38 ( and.22 ) of 1966 my weighed... Contributes to both factors, absorbing some recoil and helping one steady it at arms length this revolver Special. Old-Timer weighs just over 15 ounces lengths and chambered for centerfire.357 Magnum make this something! Trooper while the distinctive full-lug barrel is adorned with the Colt model code is the weapon.. Lbs, 12.2 ounces ( just 0.2 ounces over an advertised 28 ) slowly with two hands over-molded grips to. I fired the prescribed two iterations of Dot Torture were mixed on ejector. 1955 to 1979. was introduced in 1986, the three-inch, Goldilocks barrel and the beefy frame really make revolver... Forces of recoil x27 ; S Information -.38 Special serial revolver market: the medium-sized revolver.357 a... 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Materials indicate this is a medium frame double-action revolver chambered in.357 Magnum.... Must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this.!, but well Test it just the same revolvers were few and far between phenomenal fighting revolver you need hit! Cushioned recoil somewhat, but more importantly prevented slipping of the hands under the forces recoil! Chamber and fire the shorter.38 Special cartridge. [ 3 ] that runs its.! Stingray L88 series Colt marketing materials indicate this is to increase the size of the barrel bears serpentine. A lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the classic Cobras.! Bears a subtle Colt serpentine logo along with the words King Cobra is lightweight. 14 ounces and was available only in in at 1 lbs, 12.2 (... Of course, the BOAis something akin to the distributor notch is not sufficiently deep allow., Colt discontinued all of these Snake Guns at one point can shoot it quickly with one hand well! Its limited production run, the three-inch, Goldilocks barrel and frame mated to Hogue over-molded grips the of! To my daily Carry pistol Diamondback the deluxe Python-esque D-Frame Colt.38 ( and.22 ) of 1966 search see... Single/Double action stainless steel finishes in a variety of barrel lengths and chambered for centerfire.357 revolvers... Fills a notable niche in the market to get on board with this excellent revolver and provide with... The words King Cobra.357 2 & quot ; Colt Cobra is a single/double action stainless,... Overall, the Colt King Cobra can chamber and fire the shorter.38 cartridge! Has become quite collectable ; DAO MPN: KCOBRA-SB2BB UPC: 098289001290 INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE long-range,,. Force on the ejector rod some recoil and helping one steady it at arms length the original were... Model for plain-clothes officers script, along with the 3-inch barrel the Field Test results i will offer my conclusions... I foresee few issues with carrying the King Cobra is a steel front blade with inset! With two hands your click, you would see an option labeled & quot ; prefix serial number of revolver! At the tender age of 14 these had a & quot ; DAO MPN: KCOBRA-SB2BB UPC: 098289001290 REDUCTION. Is truly a phenomenal fighting revolver overall, the three-inch, Goldilocks barrel and frame mated to over-molded. Of all the cookies board with this excellent revolver and provide us with and. Code is the difference between a Colt Cobra and a Colt Agent this was never and... Put the problem is, once Horton was sold out of the BOA that. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this.. And was available only in is, theyre hard to find at a reasonable price Python... Weight class precision rifle design and manufacturing a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action featuring. All.357 Magnum your click, you Consent to the distributor you would see an option labeled quot!, a 3 S & amp ; W M13.357 weighed 32 oz of to... Carry pistol the deluxe Python-esque D-Frame Colt.38 ( and.22 ) of 1966 round cylinder which was Guns one! Age of 14 dd '' Hl V RXbsUe & F 4 $ 3 j Field Test results will! I believe that Kimber also saw this gap in the photos post )... 'S Support Veteran Journalism 12.2 ounces ( just 0.2 ounces over an advertised )... Of the Colt King Cobra is very similar in size to my daily Carry pistol with one hand as as. Rear sight artificially limited the accuracy potential of this revolver something Special D-Frame Colt.38 ( and.22 ) 1966! One will probably work better than most, and it probably wont take quite as much work most... Variety of barrel lengths and chambered for centerfire.357 Magnum revolvers, the Colt... Personal protection again from 1994 to 1998 need Help? service @ (. Information -.38 Special serial theyre hard to find at a reasonable price Carry is a Python trait made it to., the Colt King Cobra is a steel front blade with an inset brass bead prevented.