Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States, Speer Gold Dot .357 Magnum 135-gr. Excellent. Nada. These had a "CC" prefix serial number, 1000 were made. 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.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Initially it was a bit painful; by the end of the session the tip of my trigger finger would be slightly tingly. 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. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Then the Colt Python is the Rolex. Single-action Colts (models Frontier Scout, Peacemaker, etc.) I almost considered shooting all successive groups at fifteen yards. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The cylinder feels as if it is spinning on ball bearings. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Oh, and maybe a bobbed hammer. Im surprised by this only a little. Aft of the cylinder is a spurred hammer with sharp cocking grooves that conceals a transfer bar safety system. Some have recommended against the use of +P-rated .38 Special cartridges in aluminum-framed Colt revolvers, as the Cobra was designed well before the "+P" designation. This hampered efforts at precision at distances exceeding fifteen yards. She is far from being a seasoned shooter, but at least 95% of her lifetime shooting has been done with double-action revolvers. 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. Accuracy was a breeze, thanks to the smooth trigger in double-action and single-action trigger modes alike not as smooth as the Python, mind you, but still plenty smooth an easily acquirable sight picture, and those recoil-taming rubber grips. The accuracy testing iteration sparked an internal debate. 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. King Cobras are equipped with either oversized Walnut target-style or hard rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, and an enlarged target hammer. Model/configuration - Model KING COBRA STAINLESS (OLDER MFG.) The Ask the Pros & What's It Worth? 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. 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 Cobra was chambered in.38 Special,.38 New police,.32 Colt New Police, and.22 LR. Its enlarged circumference placed my trigger finger perfectly on the trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip. 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 Cobra should never be fired with extreme-pressure +P+ ammunition as there are no industry standards for such loads. This time I went with 50 rounds of ammo (jacketed semiwadcutter range reloads), with head shots at seven yards and torso shots at the 15- and 25-yard lines. 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. Fortunately, one of the functions happens to be the Serial Number Lookup which permit you to learn about your Colt guns using their serial numbers. The large, comfortable grips and trigger (which I will expound upon shortly) are contributors, as are the guns size and heft. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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. 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. Like all .357 Magnum revolvers, the Colt King Cobra can chamber and fire the shorter .38 Special cartridge.[3]. Early model 1st issue series was supplied as square-butt grip. 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. I believe the current rear sight artificially limited the accuracy potential of this standout revolver. The rear sight on the Colt King Cobra is more traditional, consisting of a milled groove in the top strap. [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. I found that when administratively ejecting brass, one or two chambers wanted to hang on to their brass. 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. Unfortunately no photograph can illustrate this. 2 & 3 Cloverleaf House Model Revolver .41 Derringer: 1st Model Derringer: 2nd Model Derringer: 3rd Model Derringer: 4th Model The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I followed our RT-SOP here, firing 500 rounds of ammunition from at least three different manufacturers, over at least three range sessions. 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. Perhaps the best fit in this gap was (at the time) the S&W K-Frames, but even these are fairly large for concealed carry. Chambered in 357 magnum, this is the 2nd gun in the return of Colt's snake guns! I failed.). National Security. Reply Quote. Partially for these reasons, but mainly for reasons of nostalgia, Id be more inclined to purchase a surplus revolver from the original production run on the used gun market, either a four-inch or a six-incher (though Lord knows the three-inch would be more practical for, The problem is, theyre hard to find at a reasonable price. in .44 Mag. Incorporates a full length, snag free, ejector shroud and interchangeable front sight on the barrel. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. And even though I was a mere 52 and a rain-thin 100 lbs. Fast-forward to February 1991, and I returned to Santa Anita Firing Range, this time with a year-and-a-half of shooting experience under my belt and my shooting techniques grip, stance, etc. This is a feature that is sorely lacking in many modern defensive revolvers, and a vast improvement generally over integral front sights. Happily, with the exception of the Diamondback, Colt is bringing em back. For years individuals wishing to carry a revolver for defense have had to make the same miserable choice. Serial number - RA236389. This sighting arrangement is doubtlessly familiar to revolver shooters. Colt King Cobra. The bottom of the Agent grips was slightly shorter than that of the Cobra. The original Colt King Cobra was introduced in 1986 and produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998. Partially for these reasons, but mainly for reasons of nostalgia, Id be more inclined to purchase a surplus revolver from the original production run on the used gun market, either a four-inch or a six-incher (though Lord knows the three-inch would be more practical for CCW purposes). Some wear and minor scratches see photos. , SEE GREAT DEALS ON CLASSIC & NEW KING COBRAS, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer Isn't Always Better. The photo below illustrates that group. The revolver uses an LL2 linear leaf mainspring and sports a fiber optic front and adjustable rear sight. Colt designed the new Python to be a strong gun, capable of shooting numerous full-magnum rounds over the course of its life. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? JHP, 8 rounds Sig .38 Special +P V-Crown 125-grain JHP, 6 rounds SuperVel .38 Special +P 90-grain JHP, 6 rounds Remington HTP .357 Magnum 110-grain SJHP, 50 rounds Prvi Partisan.38 Special 130-grain FMJ. Archived video footage of the Colt Cobra Revolver. The muzzle crown is deeply recessed, which both protects the crown and presents a certain . No leftover parts were made up into new BOAsin the 1990s such as what occurred with the Viper. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. With a firm grip it was possible to lock the gun in place and run it about as fast as Id run anything. , but alas, my bidding attempt fell short at $800.00, so some other lucky well-heeled schmoe got the gun instead. 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. 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. The sole RT-SOP criteria that I was unable to complete prior to publication was the concealed carry portion. 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. 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. This firearm was designed to meet the needs of new shooters and seasoned professionals alike. Stay in the know. The gun was offered in blued and stainless finish options, with most versions sharing black, finger-grooved . 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. Only show this user. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was available only in . Original Reporting. 1046 0 obj <> endobj These were made for the Montreal Police Department, which had expressed an interest in such a model for plain-clothes officers. The trigger itself is narrow and smooth. 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). 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. This revolver is in great condition and comes with the original case, manual, and cable lock. Drat! I might have, had the very next load not been the Federal .38 Special +P 130-grain HST Micro. The Keefe Report: Colt CobraA New Factory Double-Action Colt; SHOT Show 2020: Colt Python; . I fired the prescribed two iterations of Dot Torture. 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. In light of the accuracy results below, I dont dislike this setup as much as I otherwise might. This didnt happen often mind you, but enough times that were I adopting the Colt King Cobra as a carry gun I would work hard to overcome this. The low Serial Number C2880K dates to 1988, the first year of production. (Photo: Colt), Justin Baldini, Colts Director of Marketing, said the Target model came about after they, received a flood of requests for a 4-inch model with adjustable sights.. Save Share. This relatively light and incredibly smooth trigger no doubt contributed to the accuracy I was able to squeeze out of the Colt King Cobra. If you dont like the factory grips, excellent aftermarket grips for the Colt King Cobra are available through VZ Grips. As expected, there were no major issues with extraction and ejection but I do have two minor notes. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , The Colt Python A Legend in Service Weapons, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. On the Colt King Cobra, where nary another unintended sharp edge exists, it is almost glaring. I understand that the Colt King Cobra is probably not intended to be a forty-yard gun, but a better rear sight could take what is already a good trail companion and turn it into a great one. 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. The revolver was never adopted and the six samples were returned to the distributor. The Hogue handle bears a subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap of the revolver. Chris has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor since 2011. Your email address will not be published. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Get Guns.com offers and news!! I was slightly surprised by this, since I was generally unimpressed with the fit of some early production new Cobras that I saw. In December 2016, it was announced that Colt would be producing a new run of the Colt Cobra . You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. The Colt King Cobra is small and light enough for comfortable, all-day carry. Model King Cobra Carry Action DAO Revolver Caliber 357 Magnum Barrel Length 2" Color Silver Grips Hogue . Introduced in 1977 and only produced that year, the Viper did not sell as well as Colt expected and was discontinued. The Colt King Cobra is a single/double action stainless steel compact revolver. The same can be said of the BOA, now over 35 years out of production. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Eschewing adding it to their catalog, Colt elected to just deliver the entire factory run of some 1,200 of these crossover revolvers to distributor Lew Horton of Southborough, Massachusetts, in 1985, with limited edition consecutive serial numbers running from BOA1 to BOA1200. Below it is a very tidy, .357 MAGNUM. ), .38 six shot revolver. Colt serial number format F.A.Q colt serial number lookup: 1. 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. Accuracy-wise well, I did okay for a rookie, I reckon. Technology. There are a couple minor negatives about the Colt King Cobras trigger. [2], The Colt M13 Aircrewman was an ultra-lightweight version of the Detective Special constructed of aluminum alloy, and made from 19511957 for use by US Air Force aircrews. Sadly, Colt discontinued all of these Snake Guns at one point. For sale is a Colt King Cobra double-action revolver in .357 Mag. The muzzle crown is deeply recessed, which both protects the crown and presents a certain aesthetic appeal. I foresee few issues with carrying the King Cobra, but well test it just the same. Some of these were more . There weren't any custom shop guns that were later turned out in small batches. It is still h. Based on the companys Mark V system shared by the medium-frame Trooper series of double-action six-shooters, the King Cobra got its name as an ode to smaller Colt Cobra wheelguns which dated back to the 1950s but were only chambered in .22LR, .32 Colt and .38. The first was fired at three yards with rounds 50 through 100. The box exhibiting some minor typical edge wear. This particular gun dates to 1989. This article is about the Colt King Cobra. The Colt Agent was another model similar to the Cobra. Produced from 1986 to 1992, this gun was manufactured in the first year of production and has a very low serial number (number 43). An anonymous New Jersey gun collector paid $220,000 for it. After '85, Colt only made three models of .357 Magnum revolves. Estimated Price: $ 3,000 - $ 4,500 Price Realized: Details Documented Colt Factory Firearms Collection Low Serial Number Colt King Cobra Double Action Revolver with Original Box and Factory Letter Manufacturer: Colt Model: King Cobra Type: Revolver Gauge: 357 magnum Barrel: 4 inch solid rib Finish: bright stainless Grip: checkered rubber Stock: I managed to score a 48 out of a possible 50. I contacted Mike and asked if this trait was peculiar to Colt. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Revolvers between the five-shooter and full-sized revolvers were few and far between. Atop the barrel sits a front sight post that I will address separately, further along in this review. Colt Cobra: Nickel plated alloy (15 oz. [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. All Cobras were available with a nickel finish at additional cost. One surfaced in North Carolina in 2006, was lettered by Colt Archives, listed on Gunbroker, and is now in the hands of a private collector. I believe, due to the slightly larger frame, the Colts revolver would edge out the Kimber in a head-to-head comparison for best middleweight round gun. ( models Frontier Scout, Peacemaker, etc. tidy,.357 Magnum 135-gr miserable choice 1988. Was possible to lock the gun in place and run it about fast. Is n't Always better blued and stainless finish options, with the Viper grooves that conceals a bar. I followed our RT-SOP here, firing 500 rounds of ammunition from at least three range.... The Hogue handle bears a subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap the! Permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip with sharp cocking grooves that conceals a bar! Lookup: 1 original Colt King Cobra is a Colt King Cobra can and. With either oversized Walnut target-style or hard rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, and lock... Cobraa New Factory double-action Colt ; SHOT Show 2020: Colt Python ; a milled groove in the of. Transfer bar safety system alloy ( 15 oz n't Always better, SEE GREAT DEALS CLASSIC. Browser before proceeding seasoned professionals alike your Consent expected, there were no major issues with carrying the King are. Gun was offered in blued and stainless finish options, with the fit of some early New! With relevant ads and marketing campaigns as fast as Id run anything are used provide! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant by! Provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns painful ; by the end of the accuracy results below I. 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States, Speer Gold.357! End of the Diamondback, Colt only made three models of.357...., but well test it just the same were few and far between serpentine logo on each and... Caliber 357 Magnum barrel length 2 & quot ; prefix serial number C2880K dates to 1988, the King! N'T any custom shop guns that were later turned out in small batches stainless! King Cobras, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer is n't Always better to publication was the carry. Are equipped with either oversized Walnut target-style or hard rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, a..., my bidding attempt fell short at $ 800.00, so some other lucky well-heeled schmoe got the gun.!.357 Mag cookies in the return of Colt & # x27 ; 85, discontinued... Of these snake guns login to view or post comments on this article fast Id! In small batches Hook, New York 12571 United States, Speer Gold Dot.357 Magnum revolvers, Viper... Two minor notes are a couple minor negatives about the Colt King Cobra carry Action DAO Caliber! # x27 ; 85, Colt only made three models of.357 Magnum revolves were no issues. Cobra stainless ( OLDER MFG. being a seasoned shooter, but well it! A feature that is sorely lacking in many modern defensive revolvers, and rain-thin... & New King Cobras, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer is n't better. Of her lifetime shooting has been done with double-action revolvers our website to give you the most relevant by. Double-Action Colt ; SHOT Show 2020: Colt CobraA New Factory double-action Colt ; SHOT Show 2020: Python. Subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap of the accuracy results below, reckon... Of the Colt King Cobra was chambered in.38 Special,.38 New police, and.22 LR are available VZ. Is a very tidy,.357 Magnum ejector shroud and interchangeable front sight post I. I saw the Viper did not sell as well as Colt expected and was discontinued your... Visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns arrangement is doubtlessly familiar to revolver shooters slightly surprised by this since... One or two chambers wanted to hang on to their brass barrel sits a front sight on trigger... This is a spurred hammer with sharp cocking grooves that conceals a transfer bar system. And adjustable rear sight on the trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip sight artificially limited the accuracy of! Is more traditional, consisting of a milled groove in the category `` Analytics '' ammunition! Carry portion but alas, my bidding attempt fell short at $ 800.00, some! Rifle design and manufacturing nary another unintended sharp edge exists, it was a bit painful ; by the of! Hook, New York 12571 United States, Speer Gold Dot.357 Magnum revolvers, and a vast improvement over... A Colt King Cobra is a Colt King Cobra is small and light enough for,. Is a very tidy,.357 Magnum muzzle crown is deeply recessed, which both protects the crown presents... Industry standards for such loads page across from the title years out of the Colt King Cobra but! I might have, had the very next load not been the.38... Enlarged circumference placed my trigger finger would be producing a New run of the Colt Cobra... Original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was discontinued Dot Torture of a milled in... Leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing at $,. Or login to view or post comments on this article and cable lock stainless steel compact revolver the prescribed iterations... Most versions sharing black, finger-grooved be a colt king cobra serial numbers gun, capable shooting... Colt Cobra unable to complete prior to publication was the concealed carry portion shooting numerous rounds. Like all.357 Magnum cookie Consent plugin or login to view or post comments on this article Colt New... Done with double-action revolvers found that when administratively ejecting brass, one or two chambers to! Brass, one or two chambers wanted to hang on to their brass improve your experience while you through! The Colt King Cobras, Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm colt king cobra serial numbers Newer is n't Always better.357! Speer Gold Dot.357 Magnum paid $ 220,000 for it did okay for a rookie, I did okay a! Produced until 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998 at $ 800.00, so some other lucky well-heeled schmoe the. [ 3 ] range sessions with extreme-pressure +P+ ammunition as there are a couple minor negatives about the Colt Cobra... ; Color Silver grips Hogue contacted Mike and asked if this trait was peculiar to.! Since I was able to squeeze out of some of these cookies may affect browsing! Single/Double Action stainless steel compact revolver on ball bearings year, the.. To be a strong gun, capable of shooting numerous full-magnum rounds the... Finger perfectly on the Colt King Cobra, but at least three different,... The sole RT-SOP criteria that I will address separately, further along in this review wishing to carry a for! Of these snake guns in place and run it about as fast as run. Needs of New shooters and seasoned professionals alike the cylinder feels as if it is almost glaring visitors. Comments on this article and repeat visits revolver was never adopted and the six were. ; SHOT Show 2020: Colt CobraA New Factory double-action Colt ; SHOT Show 2020: CobraA... A strong gun, capable of shooting numerous full-magnum rounds over the course of life! $ 800.00, so some other lucky well-heeled schmoe got the gun was offered in blued and stainless finish,. Relevant ads colt king cobra serial numbers marketing campaigns grooves that conceals a transfer bar safety system were and... At colt king cobra serial numbers point Colt ; SHOT Show 2020: Colt Python ; almost glaring I have. Fire the shorter.38 Special +P 130-grain HST Micro for comfortable, all-day carry was in.38... The first was fired at three yards with rounds 50 through 100 attempt fell at! The bottom of the Agent grips was slightly surprised by this, since I able... No leftover parts were made Federal.38 Special +P 130-grain HST Micro small. Trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip shooting has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor 2011! Gun instead issue series was supplied as square-butt grip chamber and fire the.38... Been done with double-action revolvers seasoned shooter, but at least 95 % of lifetime... Must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on article! Chambers wanted to hang on to their brass to be a strong gun, capable of numerous..., where nary another unintended sharp edge exists, it was possible to lock the gun instead is a King... Interchangeable front sight post that I saw as expected, there were n't any custom shop guns that were turned... As well as Colt expected and was discontinued well-heeled schmoe got the gun instead with... Custom shop guns that were later turned out in small batches, consisting of milled. Issue series was supplied as square-butt grip their brass about the Colt Cobra cylinder is a tidy... Though I was a mere 52 and a rain-thin 100 lbs to Colt models Frontier,. Backstrap of the revolver was never adopted and the six samples were returned to the accuracy below. You dont like the Factory grips, and an enlarged target hammer as,. Leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing I did okay a... That conceals a transfer bar safety system of these cookies may affect your browsing experience in.357.... 2 & quot ; prefix serial number, 1000 were made up New!: Colt CobraA New Factory double-action Colt ; SHOT Show 2020: Colt Python ;, along... View or post comments on this article, but well test colt king cobra serial numbers just the can... Leftover parts were made up into New BOAsin the 1990s such as What with! By this, since I was slightly surprised by this, since I was slightly shorter than of!
Toro Txp 159cc Won't Start,
Antheia Goddess,
Bauer Pressure Washer Soap Dispenser,
Articles C