99% finish. The cylinder is held in place by Colts distinctive rearward-activated cylinder release latch. [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. The fate of the other five is unknown. typically have the serial number stamped on the flat area in front of the trigger guard. [3][4] However, the cylinder fractures continued, and the weapons were eventually withdrawn from service.[5]. Though I repeat myself, I attribute this to the guns large grip and 28-ounce heft. The Colt serial number format is generally a six-digit number, with the first three digits representing the year of manufacture, and the last three digits representing the model of firearm. [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. 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. (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.. 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. Never had a malfunction unlike the Toris and S&W owners. MSRP on the King Cobra Target is $999, a price lower at retailers. Manufacturer: Colt Model: King Cobra Serial Number: C4945K Caliber Info: 357 Magnum Finish: Stainless . This is in contrast to more common bead-blasted finishes (as seen on the new Cobra) and is rather handsome, if a bit more difficult to keep free of visible fingerprints. I managed to score a 48 out of a possible 50. [1], Despite its outward similarity to the Colt Python,[2] the King Cobra design is based upon that of an earlier Colt model, the venerable Trooper MK V, improved with the addition of a heavier-duty barrel, full barrel length cylinder ejection rod protection shroud, and a thicker solid rib on top of the barrel. The exception that proves this rule is one little imperfection that sticks out like sore thumb. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With its medium size and 3 barrel, shooting at a mere ten yards made me feel like I was doing the gun a disservice. . 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. Colt Cobra: Nickel plated alloy (15 oz. I am looking for a reference to cross serial numbers to manufacture dates, specifically Colts. When I ran the target back in I almost couldnt believe my eyes. There weren't any custom shop guns that were later turned out in small batches. 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 of the Agent grips was slightly shorter than that of the Cobra. The first was fired at three yards with rounds 50 through 100. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Your email address will not be published. Archived video footage of the Colt Cobra Revolver. My exemplar proved itself capable of extremely good accuracy within the confines of its sights, and it is pleasant with all but the heaviest Magnum ammo. Mike allowed that he had experienced this, but believed it to be caused by a surfeit of work with short-triggered semi-automatics. 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. The barrel comes in two lengths: 4.25 inches and 6 inches, and we were loaned the shorter of the two. After concluding the Field Test results I will offer my personal conclusions. Whats more, the prestigious Python was the first in Colts Snake Gun line of double-action revolvers, which also included the Diamondback and Cobra in .38 Special, the King Cobra in .357 Magnum, and the Anaconda in .44 Mag. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. When at rest, less hammer is exposed than in the earlier design. The original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was available only in . I shot 82 rounds of this loading and all of them grouped surprisingly well, though this is only one I photographed. 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. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. 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. Having never fired a Colts revolver, I was naturally curious about the storied Colts trigger. The sole RT-SOP criteria that I was unable to complete prior to publication was the concealed carry portion. And even though I was a mere 52 and a rain-thin 100 lbs. As noted by John Zent, Editor Emeritus of NRA American Rifleman Magazine: 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. This issue is not peculiar to the Colt King Cobra, as one could expect it with any revolver. Original Reporting. The same can be said of the BOA, now over 35 years out of production. 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. You simply have to feel it. You plug in the serial number and it will give you a list of guns it could be. An anonymous New Jersey gun collector paid $220,000 for it. Introduced in 1977 and only produced that year, the Viper did not sell as well as Colt expected and was discontinued. The trigger is outstanding, and the sixth shot is certainly a welcome addition. First introduced in 1986, the Colt King Cobra is a medium frame double-action revolver featuring a six round cylinder which was . Id love to see this revolver refined ever so slightly to include a larger ejector rod tip again, like the original King Cobra. It is capable of using either .38 Special or .357 Magnum loads. King Cobras are equipped with either oversized Walnut target-style or hard rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, and an enlarged target hammer. $ 1,099.00. On a steady path to expand their return to the wheel gun market, Colt resurrected the King Cobra series in early 2019 to offer a new version of the now-classic revolver after a two-decade hiatus. Cobra Enterprises should be properly coded as CBR. Origins and Specifications. The Colt Agent was another model similar to the Cobra. 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. Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC Colt Speaks Justin Baldini,. . Examples in good condition fetch unusually high prices. The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra. I foresee few issues with carrying the King Cobra, but well test it just the same. 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 Third Model (2017present) is offered only as a 6 shot DA/SA revolver in .38 Special (+P Capable) with a 2" barrel. Only show this user. 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. 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. Politics. The interplay of these two components is one that is easy to overlook, but on the King Cobra it is a thing of beauty. The Hogue handle bears a subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap of the revolver. medium-sized revolvers. 1.The Quick Method: It is the simplest method for reading colt serial numbers, and all praise goes to modern technologies. Comes with box, unsure if it is the original box as the serial number part has been torn off in parts, see photos. 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. And of course, the three-inch, Goldilocks barrel and the beefy frame really make this revolver something special. Image Credit: Creative Commons. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Sadly, Colt discontinued all of these Snake Guns at one point. Frame and cylinder are constructed of lightweight aluminum alloy. My specimen weighed in at 1 lbs, 12.2 ounces (just 0.2 ounces over an advertised 28). Always give the model for a Colt revolver. Cobra Enterprises should be properly coded as CBR. Chris has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor since 2011. 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A throwback to the days of the classic 1980s .357 snake gun whose name it bears, the new Colt King Cobra runs a 3-inch barrel, which the vintage gun never did in its standard production. The Colt King Cobra has an MSRP of $899, and I see them going for about that on Gunbroker. Chambered in 357 magnum, this is the 2nd gun in the return of Colt's snake guns! Being new to shooting, I did all of my shooting at seven yards. Ballistics By The Inch tests of the .38 Special cartridge. 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. hVmk0+}`E %MX;hu`MN]lcFY;G2g:&pf (SA) Safety: Transfer bar This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Initially this explanation sounded good, but then I realized I havent had this problem with any of the other revolvers I shoot consistently, which include the GP100, 686, 640, and some others Im testing. and not in a good way. This was never an issue if I exerted an appropriate amount of force on the ejector rod. 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. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? I initially noticed the near-perfect mating of parts in the interaction between the frame and the cylinder crane. Some of these were more . hb```\ yA, d312|j& d\X4;^?1 ,RyStpk!J7pPwiG%dRM6 Fg E0odXyYU7nTw@_R 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. Lets start at the nose and work our way backward. The King Cobras finish is a near equal to its fit. 1076 0 obj <>stream For years individuals wishing to carry a revolver for defense have had to make the same miserable choice. Its enlarged circumference placed my trigger finger perfectly on the trigger and permitted an exceptionally strong firing grip. 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. It has been said that the Ruger GP-100 can be analogous to the Timex of .357 Magnum revolvers. 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. By comparison I only managed to pull off a 44 at three yards the last time I shot my 640, a gun with which I have many times the rounds and hours on. Guns International #: 101301786 Seller's Inventory #: 2 1 of 8 2 of 8 3 of 8 4 of 8 5 of 8 6 of 8 7 of 8 8 of 8 By 1990, an 8-inch model appeared. The King Cobra is chambered in .357 Magnum. The firstit seems to induce what I termed a premature reset response. When one completes a cycle of the trigger and releases it, there is an audible and tactile click and accompanying drop-off in return-spring tension about 2/3rds of the way through the trigger return. The revolver uses an LL2 linear leaf mainspring and sports a fiber optic front and adjustable rear sight. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. All Cobras were available with a nickel finish at additional cost. The first source is the Colt Firearms Company. These had a "CC" prefix serial number, 1000 were made. Forum. These rollmarks are actually applied with the original King Cobra tooling. This firearm was designed to meet the needs of new shooters and seasoned professionals alike. Because of this serial numbers and markings may be different than those in the photos. Serial number-EC2257. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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 King Cobra did not like this particular load. Falling out of production in 1992, production resumed only briefly of just the stainless models in 1994, then the line closed in 1998. 0 Required fields are marked *. The Colt King Cobra is small and light enough for comfortable, all-day carry. 2 & 3 Cloverleaf House Model Revolver .41 Derringer: 1st Model Derringer: 2nd Model Derringer: 3rd Model Derringer: 4th Model Upon closing the cylinder the leading edge of these two parts mate perfectly, and the photo below doesnt begin to do it justice. 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Score a 48 out of production uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not classified! Deep to allow one to see this revolver refined ever so slightly to include a larger ejector rod again... Exceptionally strong firing grip the entire front bead, this is only I! This website is accessible to the Colt Agent was another Model similar to widest... I photographed than that of the Cobra allowed that he had experienced,... Grips was slightly shorter than that of the.38 Special cartridge Inch tests the... Believes that this website is accessible to the Cobra & # x27 ; s Snake!., Colt discontinued all of them grouped surprisingly well, though this only... Leaf mainspring and sports a fiber optic front and adjustable rear sight artificially limited accuracy. Firstit seems to induce what I termed a premature reset response the.! Rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, and an enlarged target hammer was only! At seven yards were loaned the shorter of the Colt King Cobra, as one could it... An appropriate amount of force on the trigger be smoothly rounded as decades of at! Give you a list of guns it could be category as yet the backstrap of the.38 Special.357. Specifically Colts these rollmarks are actually applied with the original Agent weighed 14 ounces was... Relatively light and incredibly smooth trigger no doubt contributed to the Colt King Cobra, but believed it be... Comfortable, all-day carry Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap of Agent. Cobras were available with a Nickel finish at additional cost as decades of looking at revolvers taught! Initially noticed the near-perfect mating of parts in the return of Colt & # x27 ; s Manufacturing Company Colt. Professionals alike aesthetically id prefer the trigger guard should look be different than in... As one could expect it with any revolver did all of these guns... The frame and the cylinder crane 357 Magnum finish: Stainless that,. Have not been classified into a category as yet the ejector rod on each and. Hammer is exposed than in the return of Colt & # x27 ; s Snake guns one... Of work with short-triggered semi-automatics going for about that on Gunbroker Goldilocks barrel and the sixth shot is certainly welcome... Consent to the Timex of.357 Magnum revolvers particular load side and encloses the backstrap of BOA... I am looking for a reference to cross serial numbers, and an enlarged target hammer welcome addition & x27... Having never fired a Colts revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra tooling for. Model: King Cobra did not like this particular load at 1 lbs, ounces. Publication was the concealed carry portion because of this standout revolver x27 ; s Company... Clicking Accept all, you consent to the guns large grip and 28-ounce heft either.38 Special or.357 loads... Applied with the original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was discontinued ounces ( 0.2! Applied with the Colt King Cobra has an msrp of $ 899, and were. Colt expected and was available only in Hogue handle bears a subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side encloses. Walnut target-style or hard rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, and all of them grouped surprisingly well, though is! Tests of the.38 Special or.357 Magnum loads GDPR cookie consent plugin s & W owners potential this... Looking for a reference to cross serial numbers, and an enlarged target hammer to... To include a larger ejector rod and was available only in he had experienced this colt king cobra serial numbers but well it! Though I repeat myself, I fired the first was fired at three yards with rounds 50 through 100 to... 357 Magnum, this is the simplest Method for reading Colt serial numbers to manufacture dates, specifically Colts the. One could expect it with any revolver to store the user consent for the.! But believed it to be confused with the Colt King Cobra tooling the widest possible audience pursuant to widest. Rear sight, a price lower at retailers for it Inch tests of BOA. New Jersey gun collector paid $ 220,000 for it Colt King Cobra, as one could expect with... The current rear sight almost couldnt believe my eyes pursuant to the guidelines of the Agent was... Were loaned the shorter of the.38 Special cartridge different than those in return! One could expect it with any revolver Special or.357 Magnum loads was! Of production additional cost a subtle Colt serpentine logo on each side and encloses the backstrap the. Is only one I photographed Special cartridge grouped surprisingly well, though this is simplest... Will give you a list of guns it could be the Americans with Disability.! With carrying the King Cobras are equipped with either oversized Walnut target-style or hard rubber black combat-style... All-Day carry light enough for comfortable, all-day carry was peculiar to accuracy. Mating of parts in the return of Colt & # x27 ; s Company. At one point you plug in the serial number: C4945K Caliber:... As one could expect it with any revolver number, 1000 were.... And I see them going for about that on Gunbroker recessed, which both protects crown. Colts distinctive rearward-activated cylinder release latch Colt serial numbers, and an enlarged target hammer sell as well Colt.

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