Colt's Double Action Revolver Market: The Road Ahead

GeoDudeFlorida · Dec 14, 2020

Mr. Mosin said:
Musing over Colt's re-issue of the snake guns, and I'd love to hear what you want Colt to make next. Me *personally*, I'd want a new release of the Trooper Mk III (aesthetics wise), with them not screwing with nothing that didn't need to be screwed with- in other words, leave it just like it was. Modify the guts if you want, copy S&W for all I care. I want that 4" (NOT 4.25") half lug barrel. I want original grips to interchange. I want a high polish stainless or a Royal Blue finish. Not that "blah" looking matte stainless.

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The "New Cobra" mimics the older D-Frame Police Positive Special/Detective Special in size while the new "King Cobra" mimics the old Official Police in size - and of course the Python was always just a better-looking (stylistically) 357/Trooper/Lawman - all with improved metallurgy and internal lock-work. So, what I would really like to see - but will not most likely - is a similarly improved Pocket Positive rebuild. It was a handy, popular, effective pattern for nearly 50 years and with the market constantly looking to smaller, stronger, more effective concealed carry revolvers, it may actually sell. Which is why Colt will never make one. The company's leadership has the combined business acumen of a turnip.

GeoDudeFlorida · Dec 14, 2020

Hmmm.. thinking about another thread on the Revolver forum, would Colt have a market for a six-shot Python in .41Spl? Call it the New Boa (the original Boa was a Lew Horton's exclusive, a cross between a Python and a Trooper Mk V). Assuming Colt could get a SAAMI specification approved which matches or betters the current wildcats, of course.

Kleanbore · Dec 14, 2020

GeoDudeFlorida said:
The "New Cobra" mimics the older D-Frame Police Positive Special/Detective Special in size

Yes.

GeoDudeFlorida said:
while the new "King Cobra" mimics the old Official Police in size

Not really. It's a modernized Police Positive Special siht a thicker top strap and a longer cylinder.

GeoDudeFlorida said:
So, what I would really like to see - but will not most likely - is a similarly improved Pocket Positive rebuild. It was a handy, popular, effective pattern for nearly 50 years

It sold for 35 years.

It went out of production because the demand had been eclipsed by that for the Police Positive Special and the Detective Special.

GeoDudeFlorida said:
It was a handy, popular, effective pattern for nearly 50 years and with the market constantly looking to smaller, stronger, more effective concealed carry revolvers, it may actually sell.

I don't know anyone who would characterize the shorter .32 loads as particularly "effective".

I would never choose one for CCW.

GeoDudeFlorida said:
Which is why Colt will never make one.

The reasons would be (1) lack of commonality with other small Colts and (2)an expectation of a very small market.

GeoDudeFlorida said:
The company's leadership has the combined business acumen of a turnip.

They seem to have done rather well with new revolvers

CraigC · Dec 14, 2020

GeoDudeFlorida said:
...would Colt have a market for a six-shot Python in .41Spl?

I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Kleanbore · Dec 14, 2020

GeoDudeFlorida said:
Hmmm.. thinking about another thread on the Revolver forum, would Colt have a market for a six-shot Python in .41Spl? Call it the New Boa (the original Boa was a Lew Horton's exclusive, a cross between a Python and a Trooper Mk V). Assuming Colt could get a SAAMI specification approved which matches or betters the current wildcats, of course.

The thought has certainly crossed my mind.

P5 Guy · Dec 15, 2020

Kleanbore said:
Why?

Nostalgia

Vern Humphrey · Dec 15, 2020

shoebox1.1 said:
I’d like to see the anaconda come back. I had one as a 20 yr old kid and sold it stupidly. 4 inch. What a dummy

That makes two of us -- in .45 with .452" throats.

Kleanbore · Dec 15, 2020

To make a strategic business decision, one must, after settling upon a strategy,

Assess the market
Analyze the competition
Consider one's strengths and advantages

That led to Colt's abandonment of the DA revolver market and remaining out of it for years..

They have seen changes in the marketplace and decided that thy could compete, with Smith, Ruger, Rossi...

So did Kimber.

Both are now in the DA revolver business.

I do not know enough to assess the market and the competition for a possible new large-frame revolver. I am skeptical.

It is my sense that Colt's best strategy would be to look for ways to maximize commonality with their two new revolver lines (counting Cobra and King Cobra as one, since they use the same internals).

I suggested a new Trooper.

Is there a viable market?

Would it cannibalize Python sales?

CraigC · Dec 15, 2020

Kleanbore said:
Would it cannibalize Python sales?

Probably not if it were priced to compete with the 686 and GP100.

Kleanbore · Dec 15, 2020

I tend to agree....

Kleanbore · Dec 15, 2020

You can bet your boots that people at Colt have been doing some doodling.....

jimbo555 · Dec 15, 2020

I want an alloy framed Cobra like the original. There still is nothing on the market like the original. A 6 round 15oz snubnose.

Dr.Rob · Dec 16, 2020

As much as I'd like a 1917 new service model it's more likely to see something like a 4 or 5 inch viper on the new d frame or a new anaconda.

I might opt for a king cobra next year if the price is right.

Thomasss · Dec 16, 2020

yep. yep and yep. Sometimes turnips taste good. My brother and I have been trading a Mark III back and forth for several years. It's mine again and will stay mine. And my little carry gun is a S&W Model 10-5 .38 Special. Rugged, rusty but shoots straight as an arrow.

PapaG · Dec 17, 2020

I have four Colts left, all older and none snakes. I don't collect and don't pay premiums for "must have" stuff. 1903, New Frontier, Scout, and Sport Model Woodsman are it. Made way too much on my old Diaondback, Cobra, and I gave my Python to my kid. When Colt dumped us a while back they lost my interest and support. We, in our shop in the sixties and early seventies sold and promoted lots of Colts.

Kleanbore · Dec 17, 2020

jimbo555 said:
I want an alloy framed Cobra like the original.

One wonders whether any prototypes have been made and evaluated.

jimbo555 · Dec 17, 2020

Kleanbore said:
One wonders whether any prototypes have been made and evaluated.

Seems like it should be easy. Same tooling, just different material. But I'm not an engineer!

Kleanbore · Dec 17, 2020

jimbo555 said:
Seems like it should be easy. Same tooling, just different material. But I'm not an engineer!

I'm not sure whether light alloy frame parts can be forged using the same dies as SS, but my thinking runs the same way.

Mosin Bubba · Dec 17, 2020

I'd love to see a "classic" line Police Positive.

It'd be cool to see a new Anaconda just for its own sake, but I wouldn't be willing to put down the $1000+ to own one. Happy with my Redhawk.

CraigC · Dec 18, 2020

Even the Redhawk is $1000 now.

Dframe · Dec 18, 2020

Hard to know what's ahead for Colt. I'd like to see a large bore say 44 or 45 in the anaconda family. And a 3 inch Python. But as they say if wishes were........

Old Dog · Dec 18, 2020

I would definitely buy one of these in a nice high-polished royal blue...

Biblethumpncop · Dec 18, 2020

I wonder if a machinist could mill out slots in the King Cobra Target model so it looked more like my old Diamondback?

RugRev · Dec 18, 2020

I would think it could be done, maybe, even with EDM. A small frame 6 shot .357 upscale model would be nice with the vented barrel and adjustable sights. Back when Colt was making the SF VI I often wondered why they did not come out with a .357 Diamondback. It would have been unique in the market then.

CraigC · Dec 18, 2020

Looks like there's enough meat there.

Colt's Double Action Revolver Market: The Road Ahead

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