New to me Colt Cobras

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ak-kev

ak-kev

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Thanks for all who responded to my earlier thread. I was trying to decide between small frame revolvers. I had decided to stick with Colt since I had a few already. Anyway, yesterday at the show, I came across a couple of Cobras I bought on the spot. I came home and checked the serial number at proofhouse, and the Nickel one is a 1976. It freaked me out. It looks so good and to be so old!! She cleaned up nice and I even found the word 'Colt' under the rubber grips, so I assume they were factory. Im so excited, Ive never had a nickel gun before, and I love it!!

The next one ended up being a 1967!!! Another freaked out moment. This thing is even more mint. The blueing is just awesome and it has the original style wood grips. Anyway guys, I just wanted to share my excitement!!! Now I want more!!!:):) Here are a few shots of the new Cobras, and the whole Colt revo family.

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I came home and checked the serial number at proofhouse, and the Nickel one is a 1976. It freaked me out. It looks so good and to be so old!!
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Oh sniff... Now you gone and hurt the OLD Fuff's feelings. Somehow I didn't think that '76 was that far back... :neener: :D
 
Somehow I didn't think that '76 was that far back..


Ain't that the truth!!!!
 
Im sorry, I didnt intend to offend sir. Its just that, I can hardly find a brand new in the box pistol in perfect shape, much less a 33 year old revolver in fantastic shape. I would of thought that in those 33 years it would have been scratched, dropped, scuffed, or marred-up in some degree. I've noticed you have several Colts so I want to ask you if you would shoot the '67. Im leary of it. Also, have you seen a nickel Cobra/Detective Special with wood grips? I am trying to visualize it because I just love wood grips. I especially like the Hogue or the Badger grips. I just dont know how it would look on the nickel version.
 
I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to offend sir.
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And you didn't... :D

Its just that, I can hardly find a brand new in the box pistol in perfect shape, much less a 33 year old revolver in fantastic shape.
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That was super good luck, and two in one day... :cool:

I want to ask you if you would shoot the '67. I’m leery of it. Also, have you seen a nickel Cobra/Detective Special with wood grips?
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There is no reason to not shoot the '67 unless you want to keep it as an investment. There are pro and cons to that, and you'll have to decide.

Nickeled Cobras are much more scarce then blued ones, and at one time came with the same stocks that are on your blued gun. You can switch them onto the nickeled revolver long enough to see what you think. Most of the custom (wood) stock makers offer fancy-grained stocks for the Det. Special/Cobra/Agent short-frame guns, which is what you have. Either Houge or Badger could fix you up.
 
The blue Cobra has the correct stocks. The other one has aftermarket stocks. Colt did not start using rubber till well into the 80s. The corrrect stocks for the nickle gun would be wood with small "thumbrests" on each side.
 
The blue Cobra has the correct stocks. The other one has aftermarket stocks. Colt did not start using rubber till well into the 80s. The corrrect stocks for the nickle gun would be wood with small "thumbrests" on each side. The 67 gun has the short cast frame introduced in 66. Prior to that time the short butt was only offered on the Colt Agent, which was just a Cobra with a shortened butt frame. The word Colt inside the rubber stocks simply indcate what gun they were made for.
 
Jack2427.........thanks for the info. If the grips are not original than that means its time for some nice Hogue's or Badger's. Thanks! Kevin.
 
Old Fuff, I think his nickel Cobra came with later stocks. Note the shrouded rod.
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Yup... I did notice the barrel shroud. :)

My purpose in suggesting a temporary switch of stocks was so that he could see if he liked the "wood look." on the nickeled gun. Some early Cobra and Detectives Specials with the shrouded barrel did come with the older style stocks. I know because I had one.

But anyway, all of the D-frame revolvers shared a common frame at the time they were made, although different materials were used (steel vs. aluminum)

The so-called short frame was introduced on the Agent in 1955 and carried over to other D-frame revolvers such as the Diamondback in 1966 and Detective Special and Cobra in 1973 (dates are approxiamate). All of the various stocks made for the "short frame" revolvers interchange. You can find most of them on the various Internet auctions, and sometimes at gun shows because owners often exchanged the original ones for custom made aftermarket products.

If the grips are not original than that means its time for some nice Hogue's or Badger's.
Click to expand...

While the Colt stocks were not bad, and are still available, their quality was no where near that of Hogue or Badger.

In passing I might say if Kevin want's the ultimate deluxe snubby he should look for a Diamondback .38 Special with the 2" barrel. :cool: ;)
 
How is the Diamondback the ultimate snubby? I was thinking however, about the 2' lawman in 357. What makes the Diamondback so special?
 
The Lawman 2” is a sawed off service revolver, built like a tank (that a compliment by the way :)). But given it’s size and weight it needs at least a 3” barrel to balance right. Since it’s way too big for pocket carry there’s no good reason not to go to a longer barrel length. :scrutiny:

The Diamondback is a junior Python, same lockwork, vent rib barrel, and adjustable rear sight, but scaled down to Detective Special size. For what it is, .38 Special is enough. A tank it is not, but maybe a great sports car. :cool:
 
I see. Thank you for educating me. I just looked at the prices on Gunbroker, and WOW, they are high! I think Ill stick to the Cobras/Detective Specials/Agents. They are just so hard to find. I called every pawn/gun store in town today and got nothing!! Very dissapointing. Oh well, thats half the fun..............the hunt!:)
 
Nice Cobra's I own a 67 cobra almost as nice as yours and I carry it often. The action on the older guns is smoother than the newer guns.
I own a dick special shrouded barrel. I like the older Cobra better. Are you going to shoot them or are they safe queens? I am going to look for an Agent in that conditon, pre 72 at the next gun show. I love D frame Colts. Remember no +p's, at least not in my guns.
 
You are right cocojo, I wont be shooting any +p's in these. Ive ordered some of the newer Buffalo Bore standard pressure 158gr LSWCHP's for it. I would like to shoot them to make sure everything is fine, but I havent decided how much. I would really like to shoot/carry them and enjoy them, but Im leary. I too am looking for an Agent. I have called every place local, and came up with nothing. These were the only 2 Cobras I saw at the show. THere was one Agent in probably 85-90% with box and papers for 350. BUT, it appeared to have a bubba special bobbed hammer. I would have then felt compeled to find an original for it and have it installed. I was still considering it until he growled at my son for eating a hotdog over his glass case, and I told him he just lost a sale. Anyway, there were no other Agents there either. At least the prices were fair, but there still wasnt much to choose from. The Suncoast shows usually have less than this one did. So we might be looking at an up-hill battle searching for these little jewels.

PS Why are looking for a pre 72? Just curious.
 
WOW, thanks for that! So those are the original grips? Nice. Colt must have gone to the larger style grips at some point. They are larger than the original grips on my '67. So you dont carry it huh??
 
Nope, don't carry it. I carry a S&W 642 when I carry a .38, which is a lot. I did put some rubber grips on it and stashed the originals away. I shoot all my guns, so it will get some more rounds through it. It is my only Colt and it was given to me by in-laws, so certainly can't beat the price.
 
The 2-inch Lawman Mark III is just too big and heavy for anything other than carry in a belt holster, and if you do that, why not get another inch or two in barrel length. The longer barrel will shoot much better and you won't notice the difference in carrying.

The Lawman also has a harder trigger pull than any D-frame Colt, including the later Detective Special II versions.

On the plus side, the short Lawman has a round butt shape that makes it feel better in my hands than any other Lawman or Trooper. So my round butt Lawman now has a 4-inch Lawman barrel.

I sorta had to get it rebarreled since the factory short barrel had a crooked front sight machined on it.

Bart Noir
 
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