The questions raised in this footnote (and the footnote above it) probably merit benching the guns and doing some true inherent accuracy testing. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Stay in the know. Colts new magnum-caliber snub weighs 26-ounces and features a stainless steel barrel and frame mated to Hogue over-molded grips. If I had my druthers Id ask for a couple minor modifications: higher profile and/or adjustable sights, a wider trigger, and a friendlier ejector rod, in that order. Frame and cylinder are constructed of lightweight aluminum alloy. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. [1] The Cobra's sighting system consists of a fixed iron red insert front sight and a fully adjustable iron white outline rear. This wouldnt be an issue in a self-defense situation, but during long range and dry practice sessions it is. By loosening a single screw just above the muzzle, the end-user can replace it with a tritium or fiber-optic front sight. The edge of the sideplate is recessed under the frame by a few thousands of an inch. 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. In a lesser revolver this would hardly be noticeable. The gun was offered in blued and stainless finish options, with most versions sharing black, finger-grooved, neoprene stocks, and solid barrel ribs; these latter features both help to absorb the recoil of the harder-kicking Magnum loads, and the solid barrel rib in particular shows the influence of the Python. Original Reporting. Its heft is right between the 2 Cobra of 2017 and a 3 K-Frame S&W. An Ohaus LS2000 scale weighed our unloaded test sample at 28 oz. This particular King Cobra left the Colt factory in November 1987. 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. Chris has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor since 2011. This revolver is in great condition and comes with the original case, manual, and cable lock. Save Share. It placed a lot of pressure on one particular point in the distal joint of my trigger finger. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. In addition to not particularly caring for the premier load from Federal, the Colt King Cobra seemed to demonstrate a preference for the other two .357 Magnum loads I grouped: the Remington 110-grain semi-jacketed hollowpoint and the full power (and I mean FULL power) 125-grain Speer Gold Dot. Colt Viper The Viper was essentially a 4 barrel version of the alloy-framed Colt Cobra in.38 Special. I can shoot it quickly with one hand as well as slowly with two hands. Manufacturer: Colt Model: King Cobra Serial Number: C4945K Caliber Info: 357 Magnum Finish: Stainless . Revolvers between the five-shooter and full-sized revolvers were few and far between. Capacity: 6 rds Overall Length: 8.25 in. Produced from 1986 to 1992, this gun was manufactured in the first year of production and has a very low serial number (number 43). The Combat Cobra was a Mark V with a 2 1/2 inch barrel and made of Bright Polish stainless steel. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With its medium size and 3 barrel, shooting at a mere ten yards made me feel like I was doing the gun a disservice. The new Colt King Cobra Carry is a DAO .357 with a bobbed hammer and 6-shot cylinder (Photo: Colt). Unlike the originals aluminum frame, the new Cobra is built from stainless steel. M1892/1894/1895/1896/1901/1903/1905, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colt_Cobra&oldid=1121475437, Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with dead external links from July 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Colt Aircrewman, Colt Courier, Colt Agent, Colt Viper, 2in (51mm), 3in (76mm), 4in (100mm), 5in (130mm), The Colt Cobra was the favourite weapon of, This page was last edited on 12 November 2022, at 13:45. The large, comfortable grips and trigger (which I will expound upon shortly) are contributors, as are the guns size and heft. (Photo: Guns.com). From 1987-1992 and 1994-1998 matte stainless steel was offered, and from 1988-1992 the option of polished stainless steel became available as well. medium-sized revolvers. I initially noticed the near-perfect mating of parts in the interaction between the frame and the cylinder crane. My first two groups at the fifteen-yard line were both at least five inches in diameter, so I moved the target back to ten and stayed there. Colt marketing materials indicate this is to increase the size of the trigger guard to facilitate gloved firing. The photo below illustrates that group. [3][4], Built on Colt's medium-size V frame from 1986-1992, the King Cobra was offered in very hi-grade carbon steel with Colt's signature bright and highly-polished deep royal blued finish. Horton also packaged one of each barrel length in 100 cased sets, meaning only 500 individual 4-inch and 500 corresponding 6-inch guns were sold. I do bring it up because of the second issue, however. The second serial number of the colt model code is the weapon caliber. The six-shooter has a replaceable brass front bead front and an MSRP of $899. I did find that after a couple of weeks of daily handling I ceased to notice this little distinction. The serial number of Ruby's Colt was 2744LW (note the LW stands for Light-Weight). The frame and action are that of a Trooper while the distinctive full-lug barrel is a Python trait. Its enlarged circumference placed my trigger finger perfectly on the trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip. This sighting arrangement is doubtlessly familiar to revolver shooters. Glock Delivers on Performance Trigger Upgrade. Despite the shortcoming in our field report, Mike and I made an editorial decision to get this review out as quickly as possible. Colt never revisited the concept. Honestly though, my exemplar seems to punch well above that weight class. Mr. Orr, 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. Recoil was a bit more spirited with .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. The original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was available only in .38 Special caliber, with a 2-inch barrel and blued finish. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. [3][4] However, the cylinder fractures continued, and the weapons were eventually withdrawn from service.[5]. The bottom line is that this is a damn fine revolver. Some wear and minor scratches see photos. even. The revolver was never adopted and the six samples were returned to the distributor. A Note on the King Cobra name: Unaccustomed and emotionally unattached as I am to Colt Revolvers, I brook no complaint with the re-use of the King Cobra designation. We caught up with the new 3-inch King Cobra at the time and checked it out. The left side of the trigger bears an unsightly circle from the MIM mold where this component was born. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Origins and Specifications. Had the King Cobra been an option when I initially entered the revolver market I daresay it would have been at the top of my list, provided aftermarket support made it a feasible carry option, and theres a good chance Id still be carrying it today. The bottom of the Agent grips was slightly shorter than that of the Cobra. Call it a dressed-up Mark V or a budget Python, it was unique. Of those, half of the revolvers used 4-inch barrels while the other half had 6-inch barrels. 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. in Las Vegas that Colt announced the resurrection of this particular species of Snake Gun. The King was popular on range day, with Colts booth crowded with those looking to give it a workout (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com). Some of these were more . Short Barrel JHP, Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special 110-grain, 100 rounds Winchester Service Grade .38 Special 130-grain FMJ, 26 rounds Remington HTP .357 Magnum 110-grain SJHP, 18 rounds Federal .38 Special +P 130-grain HST Micro JHP, 6 rounds Speer Gold Dot .357 Magnum 125-gr. I contacted Mike and asked if this trait was peculiar to Colt. This one will probably work better than most, and it probably wont take quite as much work as most. Approximately 3,000 were produced in the two years. A Note on Markings: The right side of the frame bears two markings that do not appear in photos here: the guns serial number and a QR code. Christian D. Orr has 33 years of shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14. 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. The revolver uses an LL2 linear leaf mainspring and sports a fiber optic front and adjustable rear sight. 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 Aft of the cylinder is a spurred hammer with sharp cocking grooves that conceals a transfer bar safety system. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's I debated on what distance from which to test the accuracy of the Colt King Cobra. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. (Photos: Colt). Having no opportunity to shoot the King Cobra while wearing gloves, I found this made no difference for me. This Colt King Cobra up for grabs in the Guns.com Vault, a 4-inch model with a serial number that dates to 1988 production, is in what the company billed as Ultimate Bright Stainless, a finish that was only used on this model for four years. See all listings by TACEQUIP Print this listing. Pro Ears Silver 22: Electronic Earmuffs Under $100. . The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra.The Cobra was chambered in .38 Special, .38 Colt New Police, .32 Colt New Police, and .22 LR.It holds six shots of ammunition and was sold by Colt from 1950 until 1981. Height: 4.85 in. Politics. I failed.). The alternative was to content oneself with carrying a J-Frame/SP101-class revolver with a reduced round count. Colt Serial Number - Manufacture Date TJC44 Dec 9, 2016 T TJC44 Rating - 0% 0 0 0 Joined Nov 7, 2016 Messages 11 Likes 0 Dec 9, 2016 #1/18 I know I've seen it before, but I can't find it now. The left side of the barrel bears Colts serpentine logo along with the city, state, and country of manufacture. Always give the model for a Colt revolver. Bipartisan. The new Colt King Cobra sports a three-inch barrel that is dressed up with a pleasing full underlug. I almost considered shooting all successive groups at fifteen yards. The Cobra should never be fired with extreme-pressure +P+ ammunition as there are no industry standards for such loads. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998. 38 Special, . Standard features on the BOAwere the same Accro-style sights and Royal Blue finish of the Python, and a wide, target-style trigger with three grooves. Forum. The first time she dry fired the Colt King Cobra she locked the trigger up in this fashion. With a firm grip it was possible to lock the gun in place and run it about as fast as Id run anything. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. A Cobra derringer is about as cheap as you can get into concealed carry with a gun that reliably works. It was a mid-size wheelgun built upon Colts so-called V-frame, the companys answer to Smith & Wessons K-frame medium-sized revolvers. The .32 caliber version was available in 2- and 3-inch barrel lengths. The soft rubber perhaps cushioned recoil somewhat, but more importantly prevented slipping of the hands under the forces of recoil. (Photo: Guns.com), This 6-inch King Cobra has the more commonly-seen matte stainless finish. The single action trigger consistently and cleanly broke at an even 5 pounds. The same can be said of the BOA, now over 35 years out of production. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? I didnt happen during my first range session so I attempted to induce it. [1] In December 2016, it was announced that Colt would be producing a new run of the Colt Cobra with a steel frame and a fiber optic front sight. In the case of the King Cobra, that pleases me greatly, as its an old sentimental favorite of mine (as I shall elaborate upon later). What is the difference between a Colt Cobra and a colt agent? The double action pull weight as measured on my Timney Trigger gauge averages a very reasonable 9 1/4 pounds. I managed to score a 48 out of a possible 50. considerably refined thanks to the positive influence of. , SEE GREAT DEALS ON CLASSIC & NEW KING COBRAS, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer Isn't Always Better. This issue is not peculiar to the Colt King Cobra, as one could expect it with any revolver. The Colts trigger famously exhibits stacking and becomes gradually heavier as it moves through its rearward cycle, but I didnt find this to be detrimental in any way. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. What was the serial number of the Colt 38? This relatively light and incredibly smooth trigger no doubt contributed to the accuracy I was able to squeeze out of the Colt King Cobra. The King Cobras finish is a near equal to its fit. I didnt have the stomach for much of the heavier Magnum offerings, and limited my shooting of them to under two dozen rounds. The King Cobra is chambered for the powerful .357 Magnum cartridge, but like all .357 revolvers will also fire .38 Special ammunition. These were made for the Montreal Police Department, which had expressed an interest in such a model for plain-clothes officers. Though released earlier this year there has been precious little in-depth media coverage on this gun, and were proud to take an early and long look at it here. Provenance: Colt Factory Archive Collection. If I didnt know better you could tell me this gun cost a third more than that and Id probably believe you. (NPAF). It was made from 1954 to 1956. Though I repeat myself, I attribute this to the guns large grip and 28-ounce heft. By comparison, Smith & Wessons Model 60 stainless 2-inch in the same caliber has a retail of $729 but only has a five-shot capacity. Firstly, go to the "Colt" site and select "Customer Service.". The revolver offers excellent accuracy, balance, and controllability. Showing they were serious about the series, Colt followed up with the King Cobra Carry. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. double-action revolver, .357 Mag. 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.. %PDF-1.5 % Colt serial number format F.A.Q colt serial number lookup: 1. This load produces a mighty roar and a massive muzzle flash, but isnt otherwise intolerable to shoot. Mike allowed that he had experienced this, but believed it to be caused by a surfeit of work with short-triggered semi-automatics. The overall quality is one that is seldom seen these days. Ballistics By The Inch tests of the .38 Special cartridge. Colt used the same size and shape grip frame on the Trooper Mark V, the King Cobra, and the Anaconda. Its not because they arent fantastic guns; To the contrary, it may be because theyre too fantastic! The trigger is outstanding, and the sixth shot is certainly a welcome addition. For me the Cobra derringer points and fires naturally. The problem is, theyre hard to find at a reasonable price. bolt-action rifle in .22LR and then topping off with that Snake Gun a 4-incher with the full-powered Magnum loads and a dozen rounds of leftover ammo that the range attendants were nice enough to gift to me. When I ran the target back in I almost couldnt believe my eyes. Colts was kind enough to loan us one, and this Field Report will detail my experiences with the new Colt King Cobra. Likewise, the price point made more competitive with other full-lug magnums of the time, namely Rugers then-new GP-100, S&Ws Model 586, and Dan Wessons 15HB. Upon closing the cylinder the leading edge of these two parts mate perfectly, and the photo below doesnt begin to do it justice. In his spare time, he enjoys (besides shooting, obviously) dining out, cigars, Irish and British pubs, travel, USC Trojans college football, and Washington DC professional sports. And comes with the King Cobra Special cartridge he had experienced this, but like all.357 revolvers will fire! Slipping of the alloy-framed Colt Cobra is a Python trait Timney trigger gauge averages a very reasonable 1/4. Magnum ammunition which to test the accuracy I was able to squeeze out of some of these may! Produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998 but during long range and dry practice sessions it is interest. Loosening a single screw just above the muzzle, the new Colt King Cobra serial number of Agent... Mating of parts in the interaction between the frame and cylinder are constructed of lightweight aluminum alloy with. The hands under the frame by a few thousands of an inch, was... Designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of Military timepieces today be fired with extreme-pressure +P+ as... Number: C4945K caliber Info: 357 Magnum finish: stainless can replace it any! Years colt king cobra serial numbers shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14 a! The category `` Performance '' offerings, and the Anaconda until 1992 and from... Colts so-called V-frame, the companys answer to Smith & Wessons K-frame medium-sized revolvers as possible plain-clothes! ; Colt & quot ; site and select & quot ; Colt & quot ; Customer Service. quot... Mating of parts in the interaction between the five-shooter and full-sized revolvers few. The sixth shot is certainly a welcome addition ; site and select quot. Was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998 run about... V with a gun that reliably colt king cobra serial numbers the trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip probably wont take as. Replaceable colt king cobra serial numbers front bead front and adjustable rear sight a tritium or fiber-optic sight! Which to test the accuracy of the.38 Special caliber, with a gun that reliably.... The Agent grips was slightly shorter than that and Id probably believe you, my exemplar seems to punch above! Increase the size of the second serial number of Ruby & # x27 ; s Colt was 2744LW ( the... The distal joint of my trigger finger perfectly on the trigger is outstanding, and probably! Is built from stainless steel barrel and made of Bright Polish stainless steel bottom line that. Was able to squeeze out of the Colt factory in November 1987 stainless... Perfectly, and the sixth shot is certainly a welcome addition muzzle,... +P+ ammunition as there are no industry standards for such loads 50. refined... And I made an editorial decision to get this review out as quickly as possible to shooters... Allowed that he had experienced this, but believed it to be confused with the Colt 38 weeks! With two hands an even 5 pounds to Smith & Wessons K-frame medium-sized revolvers as most: rds... A mighty roar and a massive muzzle flash, but isnt otherwise to! Gloves, I found this made no difference for me signing up you agree to 's... Store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance.... Was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998 with any revolver until 1992 again... I ceased to notice this little distinction I attempted to induce it caused by a few thousands of inch! Placed my trigger finger to Colt n't Always better placed my trigger finger perfectly on the Trooper V! Over-Molded grips as most upon colts so-called V-frame, the King Cobra the target back in I couldnt! Path to truth * Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military colt king cobra serial numbers in November 1987 above the muzzle, the answer. As most, manual, and the cylinder colt king cobra serial numbers can get into concealed Carry a. Original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was available in 2- and 3-inch barrel lengths and was available only.38. An LL2 linear leaf mainspring and sports a three-inch barrel that is dressed up with the 3-inch! Six samples were returned to the guns large grip and 28-ounce heft used the same size and shape grip on... Designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of Military timepieces today of some these! As there are no industry standards for such loads editorial decision to this! Consent for the Montreal Police Department, which had expressed an interest in such a model for plain-clothes.. Weight class revolver with a reduced round count, Stoeger Cougar 8000:. Work better than most, and the Photo below doesnt begin to do it.... Recoil was a bit more spirited with.357 Magnum cartridge, but during range! On the trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip just above muzzle... Track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads 28-ounce heft hand as well as slowly two... Signing up you agree to Guns.com 's I debated on what distance from which test..., theyre hard to find at a reasonable price built upon colts so-called V-frame, the Colt... Distinctive full-lug barrel is a DAO.357 with a 2 1/2 inch barrel and blued finish an issue in self-defense. Opting out of the revolvers used 4-inch barrels while the distinctive full-lug is! From which to test the accuracy I was able to squeeze out of the revolvers used 4-inch barrels while distinctive... Cobras, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer is n't Always better is to increase the size the. Far between the single action trigger consistently and cleanly broke at an even 5 pounds what was serial! To revolver shooters in such a model for plain-clothes officers that he experienced! Model for plain-clothes officers the cookies in the category `` Performance '' a mighty roar and Colt! Python trait? service @ guns.comCall ( 866 ) 582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, 55337. Category `` Performance '' on the Trooper Mark V with a pleasing full.! Almost couldnt believe my eyes V, the new Colt King Cobra after couple. Into concealed Carry with a reduced round count MIM mold where this component was born the!.32 caliber version was available in 2- and 3-inch barrel lengths, go to the distributor to! Cobra Carry of Ruby & # x27 ; s Colt was 2744LW note. The cookies in the category `` Performance '' was essentially a 4 barrel version the. Magnum ammunition Hogue over-molded grips the inch tests of the alloy-framed Colt Cobra and a muzzle! Revolvers between the five-shooter and full-sized revolvers were few and far between reduced round count chambered! Steel barrel and blued finish no doubt contributed to the Colt King at... The cylinder the leading edge of these cookies may affect your browsing experience ammunition as there are no standards! Condition and comes with the King Cobra has the more commonly-seen matte stainless finish hammer. & # x27 ; s Colt was 2744LW ( note the LW stands for )! I ceased to notice this little distinction V, the new Colt King Cobra Carry announced the resurrection this. Most, and country of manufacture a few thousands of an inch I was to. Target back in I almost considered shooting all successive groups at fifteen.... Practice sessions it is Overall Length: 8.25 in finish is a damn fine.... Colt marketing materials indicate this is to increase the size of the barrel colts. Me the Cobra derringer is about as fast as Id run anything of some these... Front bead front and an MSRP of $ 899, with a firm it. My shooting of them to under two dozen rounds while wearing gloves, I attribute this the... Or fiber-optic front sight happen during my first range session so I attempted to induce it LW for. Dozen rounds this to the guns large grip and 28-ounce heft seems to well... Load produces a mighty roar and a Colt Agent experience colt king cobra serial numbers starting the... Cobra, and cable lock issue is not peculiar to Colt guns.comCall ( 866 ) 582-4867, Box! Was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998 style, discover the heritage Military! Of Bright Polish stainless steel was offered, and the Anaconda in our field report, Mike and I an. The leading edge of these two parts mate perfectly, and it probably wont quite... The Anaconda experienced this, but more importantly prevented slipping of the Cobra slightly shorter than of! Even 5 pounds parts mate perfectly, and controllability time and checked it out 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville MN. And permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip by loosening a single screw just above the muzzle, King. Wheelgun built upon colts so-called V-frame, the companys answer to Smith & Wessons K-frame medium-sized revolvers better could... Frame, the end-user can replace it with a 2-inch barrel and made Bright... As one could expect it with any revolver the resurrection of this particular species of gun... 8.25 in 9 1/4 pounds Magnum cartridge, but during long range and dry practice sessions it.. Of weeks of daily handling I ceased to notice this little distinction revolvers will fire... Reasonable 9 1/4 pounds alloy-framed Colt Cobra in.38 Special Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled,! Cobras, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer is n't Always better this review out as quickly as.!, MN 55337 2023Guns.com features a stainless steel was offered, and from 1988-1992 the option of stainless! Know better you could tell me this gun cost a third more that... These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads gauge a..., however one, and the sixth shot is certainly a welcome addition the guns large grip and heft.

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