[Karate]

I have a chance to buy a Colt Agent for a great price...what are the opinions of this little wheelgun...will J frame holsters work for it...how hard is it to find grips...someone has put pearl grips on it and I personally do not like them...thanks

[Old Fuff]

The Agent is a Cobra with a (pardon the expression) short butt. The revolver has an aluminum frame but is otherwise constructed of high-carbon steel. It is slightly larger then a S&W J-frame, so a holster for one of those is unlikely to fit. On the plus side the cylinder holds 6 rounds. If the price is right I'd jump on it. Finding stocks could be a problem, although those made for a Detective Special or Cobra will fit.

[dfariswheel]

Grips will be no problem, as many current makers offer grips to fit.

Among them:
Hogue makes fancy wood versions, Pachmayr makes the rubber "Compac" that is more or less the "standard" grip for the Colt's, Eagle, and Ajax all make Colt grips.

[lawboy]

buy, buy, buy! These are great guns and for carry are superior to the J frames in some respects. As has been said grips are no problem and you will find factory wood grips popping up on ebay on a regular basis. If you own a s&w J frame, you owe it to yourself to buy the Agent if for no other reason than to have examples of both makers' pocket guns and compare and contrast them for carry and shooting over the next 10 years! You will learn a lot from doing so and studying the history of the two designs, which duked it out for the law enforcement and civilian dollar for many years. The Colt D frame lightweights are a whole different breed from the J frames and yet, they are also very similar. Buy it!

[golden]

KARATE,

I bought a COLT COBRA and found that some of the older models may not be able to use the grips offered by HOGUE and PACHMAYR.

These older COLT revolvers are really nice guns as long as you avoid the parkerized ones that COLT tried to pawn off on gun owners in the 1980's. Those guns are very ruff.
If your gun is an early agent with the exposed cylinder rod or the later version with the enclosed rod in blue or nickel, I would go for it. I bought mine for $335.00.
It had most of the finish on the grip frame worn off, but is otherwise a great shooter and carry gun.

Jim

[Ala Dan]

Best deal I ever got was on a polished blued COLT AGENT from late '72 (or
early '73), with the enclosed ejector rod; and in 'bout 95-97% condition,
judging from the NRA standards of grading. Price was $120, OTD~! :cool: ;)

[cocojo]

They are great handguns. The model your looking at is it shrouded or unshrouded barrel? I use a Blackhawk CQC for my unshrouded Cobra. The holster is for a J frame but my Cobra fits it nicely. Black leather with elastic front and locks the gun in nicely with no straps. Grips for any d-framed Colt should fit. I prefer the pre 72 Cobra short grip with Tyler grip adapter but the old agent grip will do nicely. As long as the timing is on and the cylinder locks up tight your good to go.

[lindermant]

buy it!

don't be afraid of the parkerized versions, they clean up pretty well ;)

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/colt_agent_2.jpg

[Gordon]

"as long as you avoid the parkerized ones that COLT tried to pawn off on gun owners in the 1980's. Those guns are very ruff.
"


Please send all these bad guns my way, you are entirely correct, I've wornnout 2 and am on my 3rd!:evil:

[lawboy]

I have to agree that the parkerized guns are not poor quality. True, the finish on them is low grade because labor problems left Colt without the skilled manpower to do the polishing so they used a cheap finish that hides surface flaws. BUT I have seen several examples of these guns shoot VERY well and all I have seen have operated without problems. So, as working guns, they seem to me to be equal to the earlier guns if not as nice looking.

[golden]

To those with the parkerized agents. If they work for you, great. Try one of the older models with a smooth action and tell me that you cannot tell the difference.
I really like the COLT D-frame guns like the Detective Special, Cobra, Agent and Police Positive.
What I do not like is the ruff action on the parkerized ones. If they are ok for you, then that is fine. I want smooth, like the ones that I have.

Jim

[Karate]

Everything is really tight on this one and it is a really deeply blued color...really it looks black...and the action is way smooth

[cocojo]

I would go for it. You will love these guns but just remember they are adicting and multiply like rabbits. Love to see a pic when you get it.