Like they say about changing the oil and washing your car, clean your weapon, and oil it, and it will return in its work. Another modification has been made, this one to trigger geometry. It may not be the people in Miami who have the communication problem. We are building all Cobras right here in our factory in West Hartford, Connecticut.. owned by my Uncle Pete, a small- town deputy sheriff in the 1940s. How about a Smith and Wesson level of fit and finish, guys? Is it produced by Colt 100%, or has Colt partnered with anyone else? Dont jump right in and try to replicate the Python, just come out with the King in an excellent polish/blue 6 barrel configuration. Optic Ready Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0. I have had several of the lightweight Smith-Wesson revolvers. I spoke with customer service rep at Colt. It holds 6-rounds of .38 Special and is capable of firing the hotter +P ammunition as well. Great to carry brutal to shoot when using the +P loads. Then when theyd gotten a feel for those, then do a test run of Pythons. Holy CrapI read the whole article and all the comments so far and the word Python only came up once. Specifications: Colt King Cobra. Add some Icing, Strengthen the cylinder & ream the chambers slightly so we can fire 38 Super +Ps to get a 125 JHP up to 1,000fps! Its something new to them and to anyone whos never shot a revolver. They kept the same good looks but modernized the internals. They finally got semi automatic handguns that would reliably fire right out of the box to be sold for less than $600. Colt also offers a tritium front sight as an upgrade. Alberts achieved six-shot. And Colt still missed the mark with the design. The machinists who made the guns what they were have moved on and Colt in the post-bankruptcy worldmight not have the cash to invest in restarting the line properly. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. And they still turn out excellent Gold Cup 1911s. This is Colts first time wading into DA/SA revolver market in over a decade. Good review. The problem here is that many of the writers at TTAG havent been around enough guns that arent made from injection-molded cheez-whiz in their lives. The author was impressed by the design, operation and performance of the new Colt Cobra. They hold their value better than 38s and are heavier, plus the heavier gun creates a lesser kick. I agree with the writer of this story on what the quality of these guns is probably going to be or their lack of. Before they stopped making revolvers they made a Lawman (.357 mag) with a 2 barrel. Ordered it in June of 2017 took 10 months. Mine too! If youre short a demonstration gun, perhaps RF could beg, borrow, or swipe an example he could slide your way for that video ? It was marketed as, and was, a PREMIUM revolver. I can recommend this gun without reservation, something I cant say about all compact revolvers. Not true, the Cobra target is a 357 magnum revolver. They are located in the Peoples republic of Connecticut and buckled to the political pressure of the anti-gun crowd, concern for class action lawsuits on gun manufacturers, thanks to Clinton. It is the perfect frontal fanny pack gun. At $699 MSRP, that type of blued finish just isnt possible these days. They Python, yes, hand polished, hand-fitted parts that worked like lubricated glass. I personally would like to see Colt revive the big old New Service in .45 Colt. It was quite a pleasant surprise to open the cardboard box up and see the familiar blue plastic Colt box inside, securing the new Colt Cobra revolver. Hogue overmolded grips come standard and a red fiber optic front sight comes factory installed. Is there any talk from Colt to bring back the other lines of revolver will guns?? Sporting a heavy-duty frame, and brushed stainless steel construction, the King Cobra secures a new place in the legendary heritage that makes Colt double-action revolvers some of the hottest collectible firearms today. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its nice to see Colt woke up and is back in the game. There was a huge difference. Accuracy was impressive. Im a woman and I love this revolver. see fit to give us a longer ejection rod in atleast a 2 1/2 barrel shroud thatll positively shuck out the cases (better even than my K. Cobra)? A Cold War era classic with smooth lines, a legendary back story, and an exotic-sounding name, Beretta's Model 71 was definitely a mouse that roared. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sort of, I suffer from MD and am slowly loosing the use of my hands (legs, arms, ect.) Yea, we need it! However, it showed my lack of skill with revolver reloads using speed loaders or strips. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com), The fixed rear sight and front red fiber optic. Some of their best now work at Standard Mfg./Connecticut Shotgun. Peace Officer Retired Also they should make a Centennial type concealed hammer as the exposed hammer is a huge disadvantage in concealed carry draw, prevents it from being able to reliably fire through a pocket or purse and a liability in a self defense situation when the perp claims you cocked the hammer on him before you fired. Some of these vintage gems can be found in the Guns.com Vault. Will you give an in-depth review of the Nighthawk, please? Q. Seems as though you are a Colt fan boy! One of the earlier versions of the snake line to be retired (1981 to be exact) the Colt Cobra is a revolver designed for the concealed carry and law enforcement market. I always practice with 38s, but when I carry it is 357 or 38+P, ususally 357. Additionally Colt isnt even accepting old Pythons back to the factory for repair because A) They are out of most of the partsand more importantly B) Most if not all of the Colt employees who could actually time them are gone. Right hand drive The new Cobra, like the Colts that came before it, has a cylinder that rotates clockwise (or to the right), as viewed from the rear. I get the sneaky feeling that this is a desperate cash grab attempt from a company on the brink of insolvency and I just hope they dont ruin what was an amazing line of firearms. This seems to be SOP for any new gun these days regardless of manufacturer. The second shot entered at the base of the skull and ended in the soft palate in the mouth. I used to have a colt cobra back in the day as a backup gun and it was a very accurate gun and very reliable. My dad has a story of his own, which he is quick to tell. I would expect a gun brought in by Colt as representative example of their work would have been gone over by them with by a fine-tooth comb before it was displayed. The original Cobra had numerous options/variations; will we see these or similar guns coming? If you want a small revolver in 44, the Charter Arms Bulldog doesnt seem to have much competition right now. Epic 22 Pocket Pistol: The Beretta 71 Jaguar. Hell, TAURUSs stainless looks better than that. In 2017 the costs are totally reversed, and hand-fitting would make the new Cobra a $2,000.00+ gun instead of a $699.00 gun. The Colt Cobra holds six rounds of .38 Special ammunition, despite its compact dimensions. I would love to see a stainless king cobra high polish gloss stainless steel with a two and a half two and three quarter inch barrel offer with original Pachmayr grips. In that era, Colts Python was, in many ways, the last hurrah of the excellence that once used to be available in American gunmaking. mainspring gives the trigger its characteristic Colt "stacking" feel, in homage to the original D-Frames that the new Cobra traces its roots to. Second of all, why not increase the barrel to 2.5 inches and get just a little bit more muzzle velocity and slightly better balance? Colt has made it clear that this is the First offering. I dont care for j-frames because of capacity and weight there arent enough bullets and the j is just 15 oz. Should he have kept it a secret? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. A. The original snake guns from Colt were high-polish, hand fitted masterpieces. So who will see it? COLT (In Stock) 0.0. Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it "better". We fed a mix of ammo to the test Cobra with decent accuracy. And it's not just for defense against four-legged attackers. Have you ever heard of the term the past repeats itself well this is exactly whats going on people have been Auto crazy for the last 30 years now we want something else a little different and a lot of these new automatic handgun Shooters have not spent any or very little time behind the trigger of a big bore revolver. Whaaa, they named it something that was better OK, well get this, probably 90% of the firearm crowd has never seen an original or if they did they didnt know what it was. Still waitn. Ive lost count of the Colt, Rugers, and S&Ws Ive owned over the years. colt, Lower the cylinder release a bit. Self-Defense. Following your click, you would see an option labeled "Serial Number Lookup.". That $200-$300 will buy a lot of ammo. The above posters that wondered why Colt couldnt come out with a polished, blued finish like the old ones maybe dont understand what it takes for skilled craftsmen to get that finish. Ive had a SP 101 since it came out Very fine gun BUTTT its made for a small-med. Wondering if you could comment on grips for this gun. Of course, this revolver has a rampant Colt on its barrel. I wish you could show them too, I dont understand revolver timing at all nor the colt difference. As far as Im concerned Night Hawk might as well be make believe. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Also, I always liked the looks of the Detective Special (my first gun), and Python (my third gun a Colt Combat Commander was my second gun) but by changing the grip length and barrel, they made it real ugly it now looks just like a Taurus. New Colt King Cobra Target Doesn't Work. Colt was not happy with their original CNC shop and switched after finding a machine shop with state of the art machines and equipment that could fit their needs better. I have Dreamed of owing one. Jim crewhead05 The new Colt Cobra is in that same vein, and while it bears the same name and specs as the original it falls short on a few key features. This is not John Waynes revolver it is a modern work of art! Come on Colt with the Pythons already We want new Pythons. Just got my Colt Cobra 38. The revolver features a generous ejector rod despite its short barrel as well as a full underlug. And this was refinished and repaired in 2007 so its been 10 years but I had sent another Colt back just recently and had the same bluing done they call it royal blue finish and it looks just as good as my 6 inch python thats never even been shot. I hope the Cobra fares better. This revolver is of the same quality as a Taurus 85. This new Colt Cobra looks like a nice piece and wears the name well. The trigger is excellent right out of the box and the sights work, not something that is true of many snub-nosed revolvers. Hardly bigger than a S&W 640-1 but has a little more barrel and 6 rounds instead of 5. Just what I thought ,a .38 Really ?? Lets hope Colt ups the finish quality a bit, too. Buy a Smith & Wesson. The new models are updated small frames like the old Detective Special and Diamondback. The new Pythons are definitely the sort of guns that will go with you to the range every time you head out this year, and probably also next year and the year after that But they're also serious shooters. 20 ounces loaded with 158s, a scant three ounces heavier than a loaded 642. He is right about the Bulldog having no competition at the moment. Thanks , Bob. Get ready for a new generation of stories, because Colt is bringing back the Cobra. Like the 6 rounds. The good news is that the trigger is great. The grips do not stick to clothes. I cant think of any other gun from any other manufacture that got the level of attention and finish that the Python did in its heyday. I wish Colt & Smith&wesson would revamp and reintroduce a 100th Anniversary Model 1917, in .45 ACP. But what were seeing today is that when a new shooter goes to a gun shop and selects a small-frame revolver thats lightweight and chambered in .357, they might buy a box of ammo and take it to the range once and lose their taste for it after just a few rounds. Though Ive owned only S&Ws, Im a revolver guy and definitely will look at the Cobra. Am I an expert on trigger pull? Hoping this is the start of the return of the Colt snake guns to the market. Much nicer than my airlite J-frames. The new Colt Cobra is in that same vein, and while it bears the same name and specs as the original it falls short on a few key features. I went back and forth between Nighthawk and Colt booths comparing the Cobra and the Skyhawk. sure he ended up dead, but it took a long time for that to happen. The smooth feel of the trigger pull was matched only by the exquisite exterior finish. You could choose between 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-inch barrels. Why are Colt Pythons so Expensive? New for 2017 Colt has heard the peoples request and is giving them what they want. It was my backup and off-duty weapon since I bought it used in the 1960s and it has never failed me or jammed. (My 53 Colt Cobra is about 15oz, spec sheet for the new model lists 25oz). The Cobra was designed to be a family name. I think one would fit nicely between my S&W 638 Airweight Bodyguard and my old school S&W M-13, 3 RB, .357. You have entered an incorrect email address! The Python 6 and 4.25 revolvers the Cobra and King Cobra in the Colt stables. New Colt King Cobra speedloader update Well I picked up one of these bad boys last night and ran a few hundred rounds through her. The cylinder is going to get worn to shit because Colt didn't take the effort to have it drop in the recesses. You may as well tell us youd prefer a Nighthawk 1911 over a Colt 1911. I like revolvers as they have personality HOWEVER, most of my handguns are pistols (14 total). The Cobra was a version of the Colt Detective Special, and both were made on Colts D frame. Colt is the Premiere Firearm maker in the History. Same for my little S&W mod 60 38 five shot. Springfield XP-9 Cal 9MMX19 in Case, Colt Python 357 Magnum Revolver, Winchester Model 12 12 Ga., Winchester Model 70, 30Gov't06 Cal., Browning Over/Under Citori, 12 Ga., 1871 Remington Rolling Block Rifle, Eclipse Double Barrel 12 Ga., Marlin 30-30 Cal. Colt King Cobra - Problems, Malfunctions, and Failures OH MY! When US Patent/US Firearms went out of business it all went to the scrapper. Colt can produce the old style pistols if they actually want to put a couple bucks at it but apparently from your review it seems that there CNC Machining all the parts and assembling them on assembly lines buy gun techs not gunsmith theres your freaking problem Colt. Required fields are marked *. This new design appears to be more where it should be. Firearms dont get much more iconic than John Moses Brownings legendary Auto-5 semi-auto shotgun, affectionately called the Humpback for its distinctive drop at the rear of the receiver. As they have more time, I would expect to see versions with a myriad of options. , rifling 1/14 LH twist. I believe that they were never cataloged. Hogue overmolded grips come standard and a red fiber optic front sight comes factory installed. Great way to show reliability and quality of craftsmanship the day they released the gun so that people can get a side at it and actually shoot it one of their seven test guns takes a dump. The Colt Cobra holds six rounds of .38 Special ammunition, despite its compact dimensions. Not meant to disparage, but to point out that the downgrade Troopr looks a lot nicer than the new Cobra. Substantial recoil but not uncomfortable recoil. . The latest Cobra also features a redesigned leaf mainspring that . First, the cylinder stop will drop before it even hits the recesses in the cylinder. I would sell the Ruger in a second if I found the early shrouded Cobra. The only thing that keeps me from buying that gun is the dull matte finish. You could shrink the height and width a. This describes what I believe to be the perfect concealed carry revolver. We simply have not had a large selection of revolvers to choose from when it comes to full size revolvers. Then come out with the Detective Specials again. Colt claims it is as smooth or smoother than the original cobra's. They also said that the metal was stronger and a .357 might be in the future. Not hardly. Related Tags: Posts: 787. The problem with repairing these revolvers, is a strong tendency to decide to alter a part so that it will work instead of replacing it as intended. Disregard.more comments popped up as I was writing the above. Reminds of the giant software companies and their vaporware products. The one concern I experienced was the cylinder latch button lever is loose, it works fine but shakes when I touch it. The front sight pops into view immediately. These two revolvers are chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special. I can shoot my K. Cobra much better & am hoping the new Cobra is a good compromise & hoping them to upgrade it. After WWII, the quality of American gunmaking took the first big step down, with Remington leading the way, and Winchester following them down the chute into the crapper. I own a Taurus 605 and the Colt is head and shoulders above it. Remington's Nylon 66 semi-automatic .22 LR rifles have grown from 1950s bargain buys to 21st century collectors darlings. Heck, my old Trooper Mk. Ill be buying 2 of these for my sweetie the wheelgun gal. I wish Colt would come back with their snake guns but lets bring them back the way they were originally created instead of this mass-produced mumbo-jumbo garbage crap. The cylinder revolves clockwise, like a Colt should. Survival Trainer and Author. Im not sure how many are planned to be released, but according to the rep it is a special low quantity release.. Email me and I can forward pictures,,, I was looking to buy a Colt Cobra any information would be helpful. Although he wasnt entirely clear, I took his comments to mean that they would have more Cobra options soon. The aqua blast finish isnt my favorite, but looks pretty nice in person. 38 is a bit light for a defensive caliber. Back in the mid 90s they couldnt give the King Cobras away. i mean, what the hell were you expecting? Leather, nylon, or Kydex holsters, it doest matter; youre going to get finish wear. The pain on the hand is prominent after practicing. Too bad you will be under-armed in a life or death gun fight with a .38. there are more models coming. However it is not cheap to refinish my original Detective Special in the royal blue bluing was $600 and they had to fix a small problem in the spring. A well place bullet (even a pellet gun) will kill you if the round finds vitals. Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. In double action mode the trigger is smooth, and in single action mode the break is crisp and clean. I suspect the new Cobra will be about the same. Keep up the good work. A Colt king cobra with a high gloss polish stainless steel finish two and a quarter maybe two and a half inch barrel I cant remember Ill have to open the safe and look at the Box but I have to agree with you its only a six shot 357 Magnum but it is sexy with original Pachmayr grips. The pace slowed, but not nearly to the degree that some revolvers I have run required to score accurate hits. Very very smooth revolver. Maybe reintroducing their Snake gun line will keep them above water. These guns are now held to extremely tight tolerances and Colt isnt shy about rejecting even the smallest flaws. The Cobra holds 6-rounds, one more than many revolvers the same size. The revolver points easily and the fiber optic red front sight is quick to acquire. Something isnt right in Colt-Land with either the design, manufacture or QA of that gun. In 2022, Colt chose to expand its King Cobra lineup with a rimfire chambering, and the new King Cobra Target packs 10 rounds of .22 LR inside its classically styled frame. The Cobra features a transfer bar safety that ensures the revolver will only fire when the trigger is pulled. A Little History According to our friends at Revolvy, the first model of Cobra was made from 1950 to 1971 with a 2-inch barrel. Give us a grip option with more meat in the web area just behind the hammer (like my K.Cobra). Regardless, the MSRP is $670, which means the gun will actually settle in at around $525 retail. The second version was produced from 1972 to 1981 and can be identified by its shrouded ejector rod. To purchase on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?Keyword=Colt%20cobra. He bought it for his father, who was stationed in the Philippines while serving in the Veterans Administration. Folks expect a certain fit and finish from a Cobra, and by failing to achieve that, Colt is hurting their image much more than if theyd released the gun under a less auspicious title. The Cobras frame was constructed of aluminum alloy rather than the all-steel construction of the Detective Special. Posts: 307. Well, after reading all this, I know now why the older S&W and Colts are demanding higher prices than the new models. Yeah I would suppose they are changing some things I was there the day at Shot Show when they revealed that when it broke at the shooting range there was a bunch of chatter that I overheard people were not impressed. This should steer some of you towards the new Colts. A. I read a story of a woman in Ohio (as I recall) who shot a home invader who had chased her and her children up to the attic. Dont make them generally available. All Colts locked up tighter than S&Ws or Rugers, if done correctly at the factory. As a new Police Officer back in 1969 after graduation one of the first things was the purchase of an off duty gun. Once people would see that, youd see why just saying Oh, were going to make them on CNC machines! isnt going to quite cut it with the original Colt lockwork design. I guess Im just too dumb to understand the brilliance of someone in marketing. Im pretty sure that particular model has been out for quite a few years. I was at Shot Show when they released that turd. I own a Diamondback and a detective, both are good quality revolvers. But I suppose there would be a much bigger market for .38 (and .357). I almost slapped down my credit card right then and there, but Im married so Ive been saving up for it. We fed a mix of ammo to the test Cobra with decent accuracy. Accurate? They should have been making the Magnum Carry, Detective Special, and the Cobra (light weight) right along. I know every reviewer uses this stupid line, but it shoots like a dream. I agree with the comment above regarding the answer from Colt as to why they didnt make this in .357 magnum is utter nonsense. People are getting over the polymer Plastic Fantastic guns now and were reverting back to a cold piece of Steel a hog leg if you will. Has the shrouded ejector (making it the 2nd edition). I am about the same age as Mr. Hodoway and I too remember the 60s / 70s when the Colt D frame and their Smith & Wesson brethren K frames were the Glocks of their time. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com). So I carry a Charter Arms Police Undercover because its over 20 oz and holds SIX rounds. And they are RARE. The new Colt Cobra and King Cobra models are not medium frame revolvers like the old King Cobra. Wow too bad you cant read and comprehend. K-Mart Classics: Remingtons Nylon Rimfires Engineered To Last. A target load of a 148-grain wadcutter at 700 fps offers excellent accuracy. I heard an interview by one of their guys. Tauruss biggest thing going for it is that they are affordable. I was thinking .44 spl. deep Colt blue and Ill take it. So I get it. In any case, Im optimistic for Colt. As for the old Detective Specials: An astute study of the new Cobras internals reveals several Metal Injection Molded (MIM) parts, including the hammer and trigger. This Area is for Discussions on All Breeds of Colt Made Revolvers. Otherwise well proportioned revolver. That was a non-answer to why its not aluminum. I mean, look at how successful Henry is in a market thats saturated with ARs. They seem to really like the gun with its special new grip design & larger trigger & trigger guard. The original DetSpecs in stainless were a bead-blasted finish, very similar to this Cobra. The blued DSs were pretty nice, but not the Royal Blue of the Python. My 1974 Cobra is my usual carry. It will fit in a box 7.2 inches x 4.9 inches x 1.4 inches. In these later Colt's repairs are done, not by refitting parts as in the old action, but by simply replacing worn or damaged parts with new parts. I just replaced it with the Ruger LCR 9 when the Colt made it in steel . For starters, parts were built from 410-series steel, which is stronger than what was used on previous versions. The New Cobra seems like an updated Detective Special. According to our friends at Revolvy, the first model of Cobra was made from 1950 to 1971 with a 2-inch barrel. This gun is a winner. Many other guns in the same size category hold only five rounds. Many other guns in the same size category hold only five rounds. I dont think I ever saw one in a big gun store unless, again, I had no idea I was looking at one. Last Edit: Nov 5, 2022 at 2:37pm by WAYNO. A. The Truth About Guns just did Colt a *huge* favor. Concealed Carry, As for the finish, I carry concealed. Colt Cobra TT 38 Special +P Rated Double Action Revolver with Black DLC Cylinder $749.00 $619.99; Notify Me When Available; Brand: Colt; Defender 45 ACP 3IN BBL Matte Stainless Cerakote Handgun. Also, 2 of her 5 shots were in non-lethal areas. I have pictures of handgun. The new Colt Cobras are a little more affordable for people who just need a new Pony. In any event, I like the DA pull weight, and it is a nice looking gun, but Id like to see it with a bit more barrel, say somewhere between 3 and 4 inches. The finish looks like a car in primer. First, I buy 357 magnums because they are heavier, but most important they will shoot 38s, 38+P, plus 357. But if you criticize the company for its perceived poor communication skills, perhaps you should sweep off your own porch before commenting on anothers mess., Im disabled combat veteran that was blinded in Afghanistan by an IED I use voice text and I cant check my spelling very well or my sentence structure and I live in Florida so I think I know about the people in Miami a little bit better than you. I served on a jury many years ago that involved a fellow who was shot twice by the lowly .25ACP. I dont have high hopes for the return of the Colt snake line. I had a Colt King Cobra in 357 Magnum a Colt Anaconda in 45 Long Colt and a couple of Colt pythons 1 in 4 inch 1 in 6 inch. The other snake revolvers had OK-to-nice finishes, but they were not the Royal Blue of the Python. Havent seen any in my area yet!