The new .38 Special Colt Cobra delivers a new take on a classic snub-nosed revolver. Served me well for many years. Ive shot Pythons and Anacondas galore. It is a shame they caved and stopped making civilian firearms, revolvers. The Detective Special was closer to what this new Cobra revolver is, and I have no idea why Colt marketing decided to muddy the waters with a name re-assignment like this. I was just looking at an Enhanced Internal Diagram of the new Cobra. Why are stories like these, involving Colt revolvers, so prevalent? 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. Dont need 357 magnum. Good review. It stood alone not only in Colts line at that time, but in American mass-production gunmaking at that time. Glad to see the come back! Posts: 307. It is my choice for EDC for my own unique needs. *After 7 months of ownership the new Colt Cobra was in my hand and operational for only 4 of those months. Next post: An Israeli .308 AK? Some of their best now work at Standard Mfg./Connecticut Shotgun. . I ran the gun both strong hand and weak hand. Trigger pull is rated from the factory between 7- and 9-pounds in double-action, and 3- to 4-pounds in single-action. I had to leave it there when I rotated as this type of thing, along with ammo, disarmed hand grenades, M16s and disassembled M60s were sneaking out of country on a regular basis. I personally Believe The Colt 1851 is the most beautiful firearm ever produced. Rabbit and squirrel are easily taken with this loading. The IWI Galil ACE Full Review, Previous post: US Responds to Russians After Shooting Down Syrian Fighter Jet: We will not hesitate to defend ourselves, Your email address will not be published. Its there, but we all know it wont look like polished steel. Big deal. Havent seen any in my area yet! 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. After the release of a YouTube video where the The 2020 Colt Python was seen to malfunction, people have made claims that Colt is recalling the firearm. Glad to see a come back by Colt but the only problem is that the price is a little high compared to Smith& Wessons new ultra light 38 at 499 that makes the Colt 200 more and consumers look at or for brand name bargains. groups within a 2-inch circle at defense distances with no problem in single-action. grip helps. The Nighthawk, hands down. I would sell the Ruger in a second if I found the early shrouded Cobra. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com). This trigger is worthy of the name Colt, and honestly, it is every bit as good as that of the last Python I shot. The Cobra features a transfer bar safety that ensures the revolver will only fire when the trigger is pulled. Carried it a tour and a 1/2 and it came in quite handy on several occasions. To address these problems and to create a stronger and more durable revolver than the original, one of the first things Colt did when it redesigned the .357 Magnum-chambered Python was to beef up the frame. Related Tags: That Cobra was purchased for $220,000 at an auction in 1991. 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. 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. In fact, that last conglomeration resembles a sentence only because it has period at the end. Interesting reading, I dont believe any of it. I own a Diamondback and a detective, both are good quality revolvers. If this is a .38 Special load, check to see if the bullet will fall through the throat. Youre going to have to charge more money because of the Gunsmithing and hand fitting that is required to build a quality revolver but thats the way of life. Smith & Wesson Model 586: Reviewing A .357 Revolver With Class. I almost slapped down my credit card right then and there, but Im married so Ive been saving up for it. Im no exception; in fact, the very first handgun I purchased with my own money was a Colt Lawman. Sure a beat up enough that many shoot .38 special anyway. I have been a Colt fan all my life. Im a woman and I love this revolver. Demand was so strong upon its release, the Cobra was often difficult to find. Nightwood Guns 9.57K subscribers Subscribe 60K views 2 years ago Keep the content flowing on Patreon!. I made a mistake on taking ammunition to the range and only had two brands to test with the Cobra. Of course, this revolver has a rampant Colt on its barrel. Very very smooth revolver. I can believe its two pounds on single action. Back in the mid 90s they couldnt give the King Cobras away. COLT (In Stock) 3.0 (3) 642 .38 SPECIAL+P REVOLVER. I was encouraged by the pull experience you had but yours must have been worked on to get the pull weights you claim. All Rights Reserved, Original Cobras were produced from 1950 to 1981. Posts: 787. Out on the range the gun shoots just fine, but apparently theres still some bugs to be worked out since one of the test models they had jammed shortly before 11 AM and refused to work for the rest of the day. I suspect the new Cobra will be about the same. Orrin M. Knutson S&W 617 vs. Colt King Cobra Target .22. The IWI Galil ACE Full Review, US Responds to Russians After Shooting Down Syrian Fighter Jet: We will not hesitate to defend ourselves. Self-Defense. Discontinued in 2005, it remains one of the highest requested line of firearms to be brought back from the graveyard. Youve got to be out of your mind if you think theyre going to come out with a super-fancy, high-end revolver right off the bat, after filing bankruptcy. Or is this their last-ditch effort at trying to make a buck off of something that seems to be poorly put together with a finish that you can get on a Taurus. It was like an afterthought for Colt to do something like that. Leave the .357s to longer barrels where they belong. The S&Ws rotate out of the window. These have the same general size of frame and the same size cylinder as the older small frame models. An all steel 38sp works for me because I can still hang on to the gun. I was hoping for better reviews. To me it sounds like Colt just released the Mustang II of the gun world. 1.The Quick Method: It is the simplest method for reading colt serial numbers, and all praise goes to modern technologies. Regardless, the MSRP is $670, which means the gun will actually settle in at around $525 retail. Colt also offers a tritium front sight as an upgrade. Aside from that, very satisfied with the weight balance, look, feel, functionality and fit. The real next question about this gun: When do we get the New Model Diamondback? The cylinder is going to get worn to shit because Colt didn't take the effort to have it drop in the recesses. is beyond me ? As far as Im concerned Night Hawk might as well be make believe. Fans of Colt revolvers have been clamoring for a new model for years, and the Colt Cobra addresses that desire. The grouping opened up only slightly in double-action. It was my backup and off-duty weapon since I bought it used in the 1960s and it has never failed me or jammed. I always practice with 38s, but when I carry it is 357 or 38+P, ususally 357. Its great to see that Colt and Kimber are offering 6-shot revolvers in concealable sizes; wish S&W would return the 6-shot K-frame snubby. Clearly, I am a fan of moon clips! Colt is the Premiere Firearm maker in the History. 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. Muzzle jump and flip, commonly associated with small revolvers, is nonexistent on the Cobra. For how long we will see. Problem 1 (after one month of ownership) = Broken firing pin (sent to colt, one month to be returned) Problem 2 (after one more month) = Broken hammer exactly like sikov's (sent to colt, one month to return) 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. The finger-tip on that cylinder advance lever looks a bit DAINTY. With its small frame, 2-inch barrel, an unloaded weight of 25-ounces, it makes for an ideal carry or backup gun. 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 had one, and fired several other pythons that belonged to an uncle. The double/single-action Cobra is the baby in Colts wheelgun lineup. Is there any talk from Colt to bring back the other lines of revolver will guns?? There still are some jigs that survive at the East Hartford plant in the testfire area but they look rusted beyond salvation. Colt Python 4.25 Problems Early reviews of the Python had a few guns that appeared to fail. To make the guns royal blue and perfect is not a hard thing to do its simply tumbling the parts until you get the finished you need to apply the bluing. Great informative post, thank you. I personally would like to see Colt revive the big old New Service in .45 Colt. I also prefer a .38+P to a .357 for a carry gun this size, and dont fault Colt for the caliber. Nobody has cried about price yet though i may have to scroll down more. Im looking forward to some range time with it but, frankly, the trigger is not that good nor is the fit and finish. Posted: 1/16/2021 8:03:21 PM EST. Took a chance on it, because I love the balance and handling. The Colt Cobra holds six rounds of .38 Special ammunition, despite its compact dimensions. A target load of a 148-grain wadcutter at 700 fps offers excellent accuracy. Truly a local historical site, and missed by all who knew it. Gist of what I heard: It made a solid click when I press the cylinder into the gun and I rocked the cylinder left and right to make sure that it was locked up previous to shooting. While manipulating the trigger on the gun, I was impressed by just how nice the trigger felt. The second version was produced from 1972 to 1981 and can be identified by its shrouded ejector rod. Most of Colts Institutional Memory is long gone through either retirement or lay-offs. Still waitn. Once I learned where the sights needed to be pointed to deliver the shot where I wanted it to be, it was dead on. Colt didnt quite get the SF stainless series trigger right- I have a DS-II thats no better than okay, and the Magnum Carry I had was better but not sensational. Definitely worth checking out. i mean, what the hell were you expecting? The new Colt Cobras are a little more affordable for people who just need a new Pony. I agree with you that would have been a much better plan of attack. 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. Q. It works one time, and then the cylinder doesn't rotate on subsequent shots (double action or single action). You really shouldnt have built these pistols if you actually hope to stay in the gun industry without total failure. Colt made the right call on the finish, anyway. That's on purpose, as it is not proofed for the higher .357 Magnum pressures. The New Cobra seems like an updated Detective Special. I dont think I ever saw one in a big gun store unless, again, I had no idea I was looking at one. I am not happy with sharp edges on trigger guard. The Cobra name is actually a little misleading here this will be a steel framed gun, not aluminum like the original Cobra. The problem with that was a sharp contrast of the polished muzzle and the blued barrel. He didnt say it, but I expect larger revolvers are coming. I believe that they were never cataloged. The rear is a groove milled into the topstrap of the frame. I have seen Glocks fail to fire on the first shot out of the box. Where are they? 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. Buy At Auction. YES WHY DONT THAY MAKE THE COLT 38 LEFT HANDED?????? Thats far more than what most average income gun owners can afford. Well, after reading all this, I know now why the older S&W and Colts are demanding higher prices than the new models. GRIN. This is a natural change in climate sort of speak. I. I wish Colt & Smith&wesson would revamp and reintroduce a 100th Anniversary Model 1917, in .45 ACP. The MSRP is a bit rich for my bank account but in line with what others charge. The new models are updated small frames like the old Detective Special and Diamondback. Colts made a big business decision and its their dough tahtst risk. 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. I have had several of the lightweight Smith-Wesson revolvers. The fit and finish was outstanding and the trigger pull (SA and DA) was a glass-rod dream. And Colt still missed the mark with the design. 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 Cobra was made infamous when Jack Ruby used a Colt Cobra .38 to kill Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963. Why is the finish matte, why didnt they use an aluminum frame, why didnt they issue it in .357 magnum??? The new Colt Cobra and King Cobra models are not medium frame revolvers like the old King Cobra. They should make it again . Like a dummy I sold it years ago. I have been looking to add a Colt Revolver to my collection for a few years. Dont like, dont buy it. Colts rotate into the window. I wonder if Colt will decide to sell this in California. The Cobra holds 6-rounds, one more than many revolvers the same size. As close to time travel as you could find in Faulkner County. Running a hit piece like this because a demo gun jammed up during range demo day is silly and irresponsible. The cylinder release is still old-school original; it is pulled rearward to unlock the cylinder. Colt a message from a customer that youve had since the early 1980s please hire some gunsmith and have a revolver line that was made exactly the same way youre early guns were. A big part of the DA revolver market is small frame, and that market is full of high-powered, lightweight models. Ill probably be investing my money in a kimber k6s. Ordered it in June of 2017 took 10 months. These two revolvers are chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special. Though Ive owned only S&Ws, Im a revolver guy and definitely will look at the Cobra. I may even carry it with some Underwood slugs. They should have been making the Magnum Carry, Detective Special, and the Cobra (light weight) right along. When they were making revolvers 40 years ago, labor was cheap and technology was expensive. Theyre the only Gun Company besides Caltech that you you have a constant supply of firearms being shipped back to the manufacturer because of design problems and just poor quality parts. Why cant the mfgs. Just my $0.10 worth. Is there any word on when these will be released? There is a definite market. A. COLT (In Stock) 0.0. Keep them coming Colt! Disregard.more comments popped up as I was writing the above. As a wheelgun fan, Im also very interested in an indepth hands on review of the Korth offerings from Nighthawk. III has a finer finish than this new one. Colt didn't stray far from the original King Cobra design with its first new .357 Mag. Colt Viper 38 Special Revolver (Like New in Box) Notify Me When Available; Brand: Colt; Item Number: VIPER USED; Colt Cobra 38 Special +P Double-Action Revolver $769.99; . 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. Had my dear ol grey haired Mother ship it to me as soon as I had an firm address. I dont see anyone reducing the price of Colts. I heard an interview by one of their guys. It is the perfect frontal fanny pack gun. I think they missed the boat. The way Ive heard it, there are two easily defined camps: Sig people and Glock people; every manufacturer and their mother is trying to be the next Glock, but the Sig people have far fewer options. And this one froze so bad it was rendered a paperweight on one of the brands most important days of the year? RE: Mustang II that was my exact thought! I agree with the writer of this story on what the quality of these guns is probably going to be or their lack of. The new Kimber revolver at least looks great for the money. It may not be the people in Miami who have the communication problem. After a 36-year hiatus, and to much fanfare, Colt brought back the Cobra in 2017. We spend a day shooting and comparing it to S&W K frames and J Frames. Stay in the know. 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. As the article says Id love to be wrong about that, but indications seem otherwise. Your email address will not be published. and sometimes thats a little much for non-belt carry. I wish you could show them too, I dont understand revolver timing at all nor the colt difference. The Colt Cobra is a snubnose revolver, and is a lighter version of the Colt Detective Special. If you criticize the company because you have legitimate concerns about the quality of its product, fine. 3 Revolvers are Pure Sex. or when cocking to fire? Here's what it's like to shoot this classic scattergun. I hope it turns out to be a commercial success for Colt they need one. The problem was that she used jacketed round nose, because that was all she had at the moment. I read you Email every time I receive it, I enjoyed your Stories and reviews and look forward to them. I stopped buying 38s years ago and Ill tell you why. I can recommend this gun without reservation, something I cant say about all compact revolvers. Too bad you will be under-armed in a life or death gun fight with a .38. I know Colt is a weird company when it comes to selling Firearms they want to only deal with authorized Colt dealers only. Was a lot easier to conceal than the S&W model 10 with 5 barrel. Think they wasted a lot of effort on a gun that probably wont sell good. Ever since they announced a six-shot Cobra Ive been scratching my head. Upon inspection of the insides of the Cobra, it became apparent that this was a complete redesign. Reminds of the giant software companies and their vaporware products. Items you may find in this auction include 500 firearms to include modern & collectible rifles, shotguns, muzzle loaders, revolvers and pistols. Not too light nor too heavy. Acting like a spoiled brat if you ask me. Not so great for my ex-large hand. The new Cobra is pricey, too, just like any other Colt. Someone else said if Darth Vader had a 38 snub, this would be it. Fits my hands perfectly and is light weight enough to carry, but Ive been looking at Kimber Micros to replace it for carrying because they are so much lighter and slimmer, but just cant make the switch. Revolvers, Was that from closing the loaded cyl. Optic Ready Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0. I recently handled a new Colt King Cobra at my LGS. I see that the extractor rod is still a bit short with the 2 brl. Holy CrapI read the whole article and all the comments so far and the word Python only came up once. Colt, much like many other gun companies, has gone with MIM parts. That was a non-answer to why its not aluminum. You guys are slipping. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Would it have killed them to polish the thing? Its just a drag when a company comes out with something new, particularly an icon, and its nothing but complaining for the most part. My experience with these parts is that they are a little gritty and not as smooth as solid metal parts. EVEN BETTER THAN THE COLT COBRA is the original DETECTIVE SPECIAL with a 3 barrel Better balance and longer sight radius. I own a Taurus 605 and the Colt is head and shoulders above it. The Ruger SP101 was made for a concealment purpose a little brother to the GP100.