Any thoughts on a colt King Cobra?

[BreakingAces]

Hey folks, my first post on the site!

I'm looking at buying a Colt King Cobra and wanted to get some input on it.

Any pro's and con's that y'all know of?

The one I'm looking at is a .357mag, blued model, 4" barrel, stock grips, slight blueing wear on the end of the barrel and cylinder due to a holster. Locks up tight, and no rust at all.

I can get it at a fairly good price I think, I just wanted to see if anyone had any bad experiences with them.

Thanks in advance! I'm lookin' forward to enjoying the site!

 

[Majic]

The KC is one of the strongest medium frame revolvers on the market. They have good triggers and are quite accurate. Probably the biggest con is the limited supply of stocks that fit it. It's a shame Colt dropped them and other revolvers off the market. The blued models can be somewhat hard to find. I keep an eye out for them, but they don't pop up to often.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Magic covered the bases pretty well.
Good luck on the purchase, you should be happy with it.
It should make a nice shooter for you.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Frandy]

My 4" King Cobra is the more readily-available stainless model. As already stated, it's strong, accurate, and has that Colt legacy. Yes, few grips are available. I have Hogue monogrips on mine because they are pragmatic, though ugly to my eyes. Another con is that unlike Ruger and S&W revolvers, there are fewer competent smiths to work on them. At least that is my understanding. I've never had problems with mine and it's a keeper. I say make sure it's running well (see the THR topic on checking out revolvers) and if it is, buy it. And ENJOY!

 

[JNewell]

Just to emphasize, I would not buy one that did not check out 100%. There have not been very many good independent smiths out there who could work on Colt revolvers for years, and I think you can assume the factory's interest in servicing revolvers is pretty low at this point. My experiences even during the 1990s and 1980s with Colt service for revolvers was terrible and I can't imagine it's gotten any better.

Having said that, I've owed two KCs and think you will be exceptionally pleased with the gun if it's in good working order. Mine have been very accurate and reliable, and they are built like tanks.

 

[BigG]

The Colt King Cobra has the newer MARK III (?) lockwork that is more like a S&W than the old Colt hand tuned lockwork that people complain about. It should be trouble free. Dfariswheel will probably stop by and give you some good info. HTH

 

[dfariswheel]

Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen believes that the later Colt's like the King Cobra were the strongest mid-frame revolvers ever made.
They have a beefy, massive frame and cylinder, made from very high quality forged and heat treated steel.

Quality-wise, the fit and finish of the King Cobra was always about 1/2 a step better than any other brand, usually showing a better polished exterior finish than the competing S&W Model 686/586.

They are absolute tanks, made for unlimited use with Magnum ammo.
Strength-wise the massive forged frame and offset cylinder locking notches make the King Cobra theoretically stronger than the 686 or the Ruger GP-100.

These later Colt's have only one possible weakness, and that's a "chance" the firing pin "might" break after extensive dry-firing.
A broken pin on these revolvers REQUIRES a trip back to Colt for replacement, due to the need for special presses and support dies to remove and re-install a pin.
Attempting this with punches will damage if not ruin the frame.
The "fix" for this is to simply use snap caps for dry-firing.

 

[BreakingAces]

Thanks y'all.

I'm not able to test the gun for myself. It's in PA and I'm in GA. But the guy I'm buying it from said that if I wasn't pleased with it, he'd return my money. I've known him for years so I'm not hesistant about that. I've read through the "Revolver Check-out" thread. GREAT INFO! I plan to do that upon arrival.

I'm getting it for $350 + FFL transfer. Does that sound about right?

 

[Frandy]

NO! $350 is definitely...
...
...
..
..
..
.
.
too low. GRAB IT!

Seriously, for one in the condition you described, it's a fair price.

 

[asknight]

BreakingAces, you won't have a problem getting your money back out of it (and probably a nice fee for your trouble) should you decide that it's not the gun for you.

 

[Majic]

If you find out that you don't like it I will give you $351 for it.
Seriously that a very good price for a KC. I see them for $500 to $600+ all the time.

 

[BreakingAces]

Pardon the ignorance, but what frame is that King Cobra? I'm looking for some nice leather for it and need to know a frame size.

I love revolvers, but the frames have always confused me for some reason. :banghead:

 

[bg]

Sure would like one have to go with the Python I have
as well as an Anaconda. Be nice to have 3 Colt Snakes
to go with the SA and Gov Model. I like Colts, sure there
are some thing wrong with em here and there, but I feel
that makes em unique. And EVERYONE knows what a Colt
is..Even if they don't. Wonder how many times I heard
the words "Colt 45"..and no I'm not talking about that
cruddy ale.

Sorry to get off topic, I hope you pick it up.

 

[Majic]

The KC is built on the AA frame. You probably won't find a lot about it, but holsters for the S&W L-frames or the Ruger GP series may fit.

 

[dfariswheel]

The King Cobra has the same frame size and will fit holsters made for the Colt Trooper Mark III, Trooper Mark V and King Cobra.

Most holster makers list holsters specifically for the King Cobra.

 

[Frandy]

I own a King Cobra and it fits a bit more snugly in a Wild Bill's leather holster that the Ruger GP-100 that the holster is made for. By snugly, I don't mean that it's a force-fit. I can use the holster interchangeably for each of these revolvers. Your mileage may vary.

 

[BreakingAces]

Thanks for the info gents. Once I get it I'll show it to y'all...

I can't wait. I'm like a kid on Christmas eve..

 

[BreakingAces]

As promised, here it is...

I'm well pleased with how it handles... I'm going to the range tomorrow to see how it shoots. If it shots as good as it feels, I'll be tickled!

 

[Troggy]

6" blued

I found a 6" Blued KC for $405 out the door. I wish I had the money Im short about $250.

 

[BreakingAces]

That wouldn't be a bad deal!

 

[Slvr Surfr]

You wont regret that pistol. I bought the exact same Colt myself earlier this month and will never sell it. The blueing is the deepest blue Ive ever seen. If you have a chance take it under sunlight and look at it, you will be blown away by the deep luster. Enjoy!

 

[BreakingAces]

Look, TWINS!

Nice lookin' pistol!

The only wear this one shows is some blueing wear from being in and out of a holster.. All the front edges -- end of the barrell, end of the cylinder, all front corners have the blueing worn off, but it just adds character to it, IMO.

I can't wait to shoot it tomorrow!

 

[Slvr Surfr]

I lucked out. Mine wasnt carried. It did unfortunately have some minor surface rust that I have remedied. It doesnt look bad at all. I had the chance to shoot mine last week. You will love it. Smooth as butta! I only put .38 spcls through it as I didnt feel the need to put full house .357s. Its more of how it fires as opposed to what it fires to me. I have a Ruger GP100 that I can beat on for fun!!!!

Enjoy, I can tell you that you wont find too many other 4" KCs in blue!!!!!

Naji

 

[Snake Eyes]

I found a 6" Blued KC for $405 out the door. I wish I had the money Im short about $250.

At that price, I'd go to church and steal $250 out of the offering plate.

 

[BreakingAces]

Enjoy, I can tell you that you wont find too many other 4" KCs in blue!!!!!

Silver Surfr,

I've heard it over and over again that the blued KC's are harder to come by.

Why is that, if you know?