Colt Cobra vs. Agent

[timdennis]

I've owned a few Detective Specials and like them a lot. I'm looking at the airweight versions. I see them pop up on the sites and in stores. I'm trying to see the real difference between the Agent and Cobra. The Agent is described as a Cobra with a shorter grip frame-but the newer Cobra has a short butt just like the Detective Special So is there any real difference? If one is considered better made by the Colt experts here I'd like to know before buying one.

 

[Old Fuff]

When Colt introduced the Agent in 1955 they used a basic Cobra frame that was shortened in the handle area. The new grips wrapped around the bottom of the shorter frame. Shortly thereafter all "D" frame revolvers were changed to the new shorter design. Any of the grips designed for the "short" frame guns will fit on all short-frame models. You can convert any given model - Detective Special, Cobra, Agent, Diamondback, Police Positive Special, etc to any configuration by simply changing the grips.

Other then the grips and barrel markings there is no difference between a Cobra and Agent manufactured after 1955 or so.

 

[Ala Dan]

Weight wise the Colt Agent weigh's in at 14 ozs;
while the Colt Cobra is 1 oz. heavier, at 15 ozs.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Old Fuff]

Yes, but the weight difference only reflects the different grips. You can change a Cobra into an Agent by changing the stocks, and of course gain a weight reduction too.

I once saw an Agent where the owner had hollowed out the inside of the grips to decrease the weight even further - overkill I think ....

 

[BigG]

I had a heckuva time figuring it out because I used to pack an old model Agent. All the D Specials I had access to were the newer ones still with the exposed ejector rod. Same same, except for the roll mark, I thought. I later ran across the older model DS and found the grip frame was somewhat longer so now I know the DS and Agent originally had different frames. In a cost cutting measure, Colt made both frames the same and put longer grips on the DS. D'oh!

EDIT: where I wrote DS, read COBRA. The DS is steel/Cobra Agent Aluminium frame.