1953 Colt Cobra with 4 inch barrel

[ZBill]

I wanted to share pictures of a Colt Cobra with 4 inch barrel I saw this weekend. I did not even know there was such a Cobra. The owner obtained a factory letter confirming the barrel length and sale to a Hartford company just a few blocks from the Colt factory and subsequent shipment (shipment of 1) to another store. Possibly a special order.

The cylinder flutes are matte finish as is the top strap and exposed grip metal. A very pleasing look.

Can anyone comment on the number of 4 inch versions produced?

Regards, Bill

 

[dfariswheel]

Only Colt knows how many of any gun version they made, and they don't usually release that info.

The only way to find out how many 4 inch Cobra's were made would be to do a lengthy search of the factory records.
Colt does not allow the public access to the records.

 

[Shade00]

So that would basically be a Police Positive?

 

[cherryriver]

No, you wouldn't really say it's a Police Positive Special, since the Cobra's alloy frame is a significant model differentiation from the steel PPs.
Apart from that distinction, it is pretty close.

 

[Shade00]

Whoops, you're right. Forgot about the alloy frame. What I really meant was that it's the same size as a Police Positive Special.

 

[Loomis]

when I was a kid, I used to shoot one exactly like that except with a 3" barrel.

I think the 3" bbl is rare, and the 4" bbl is even rarer. I've never seen a 4".

 

[Jim K]

A friend had one of those and it was nice. Just as concealable as the snubby but with a useful sight radius and good balance. I liked it a lot and later got a 3" square butt S&W Chiefs Special (pre-Model 36) which had some of the same advantages.

Jim

 

[bayouboy]

Here's a 4 inch Cobra from 1952.

Note the "dual tone" finish and Coltwood stocks which Colt used in that era. I note the gun in the picture has what appear to be prewar stocks which may have been a replacement.



The 4 inch versions appear to be quite scarce. From what I can gather they were only available in the early 1950s (the Cobra was introduced in 1950) and were only made with the square butt ala the Police Positive. Someone may correct me but this is the only configuration I have seen for the 4 inch gun.

I have shot this gun and can tell you that the combination of the light weight, square butt frame and 38 caliber make it quite unpleasant to shoot. You would not want to spend a day at the range with this baby.

 

[funnelcake]

The plastic stocks would be correct on revolver models from '48-'52 (possibly including some '47's) including the Cobra's.

Funnel

 

[ZBill]

Shade00 asked

how the four inch Cobra measured up to the Police Positive.

Here is a 1910 PP and the reference 1953 Cobra.

Note that there is remaining fire blue on the PP trigger.

Bill