retiredsgt
Member
Gentlemen: What is your take on the Colt King Cobra? I never shot one, but am looking at a used one. I suppose that I am a S & W kinda guy.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
Colt King Cobra
- Thread starter retiredsgt
- Start date
- Status
JNewell
Member
Very well made, very strong. If you can pick one up for a reasonable price, it's well worth doing so. It's one of the great .357s.
I have one -6" stainless. I like it.
It shoots well , feels good , the trigger is nice. Looks dead sexy.
I just got Weigand rings and a base , I'm going to mount a scope on it. (just for fun - I started a thread on here about this recently - lots of good advice).
I paid about 380 for mine new in the late 90's. I don't know if they are worth the money they're getting out of them now or not. (of course you never said what they were asking for the one you're looking at so maybe I'm talking out of turn here).
Oh yeah - and the cylinder rotates in the right direction.
It shoots well , feels good , the trigger is nice. Looks dead sexy.
I just got Weigand rings and a base , I'm going to mount a scope on it. (just for fun - I started a thread on here about this recently - lots of good advice).
I paid about 380 for mine new in the late 90's. I don't know if they are worth the money they're getting out of them now or not. (of course you never said what they were asking for the one you're looking at so maybe I'm talking out of turn here).
Oh yeah - and the cylinder rotates in the right direction.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,656
Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen considered the later Colt Trooper Mark III, Mark V, and King Cobra to be the strongest medium frame DA revolvers ever made.
This was mostly due to Colt's superior forged and heat treaded frames and cylinders, and off-set cylinder notches.
These guns have only one "weakness" and that's that you should use snap caps for dry firing.
If dry fired empty, there's a possibility the firing pin could break, and replacement is a factory ONLY job, since it requires a special press and support dies to press the pin out and the new one in without damaging the frame.
This was mostly due to Colt's superior forged and heat treaded frames and cylinders, and off-set cylinder notches.
These guns have only one "weakness" and that's that you should use snap caps for dry firing.
If dry fired empty, there's a possibility the firing pin could break, and replacement is a factory ONLY job, since it requires a special press and support dies to press the pin out and the new one in without damaging the frame.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,304
The King Cobra was basically a further extension of the Colt Trooper Mk.V series, the internal lockwork being the same, but using stainless steel in its construction. The King Cobra also featured a solid ribbed barrel along with a full length barrel shroud, emulating the S&W Model 686, which in turn, had emulated the Colt Python. I think it came out in 1987, being offered in 4 and 6" barrel lengths and having Colt medallion Pachmayr grips.
I haved owned both the Trooper Mk.III and the Trooper Mk.V, and preferred them to the K frame Smiths, which I felt weren't as strong or as durable as the Colt models.
I haved owned both the Trooper Mk.III and the Trooper Mk.V, and preferred them to the K frame Smiths, which I felt weren't as strong or as durable as the Colt models.
evan price
Member
Love mine. Trigger is as smooth and positive breaking as any S&W that someone might have said was the best trigger ever... virtually indestructable... a natural pointer. 4" .357 here.
Plus they came with Pachmyers factory.
Plus they came with Pachmyers factory.
Marshall
Member
I have a 4" King Cobra in Bright Stainless. Probably one of the best built handguns I own.
I know this might be considered sacrilege, but the King Cobra's I have shot seem to me more accurate than the king of 357 revolvers - the sainted venurable Python! Don't get me wrong, the Python actions are the smoothest DA in existance and they definately are the Cadallac of revolvers and the finest examples of American revolver craftsmanship, but I seem to be able to get better accuracy with samed sized barrels the KC for some reason.
AirForceShooter
Member
It's a snake!!!
Buy it.
AFS
Buy it.
AFS
Texas Colt
Member
I've got one of the 4" blued KCs and I love it. It's accurate, has a super smooth trigger, tough as nails, and it's a beautiful Colt too! What's not to love?!
10-Ring
Member
Years ago, I had an opportunity to shoot a King Cobra and was not impressed. I was told it was new and had just been picked up from the gun shop and this was the first time out. The trigger was vague, heavy & gritty which didn't help accuracy one bit I was surprised really since all the other Colt revolvers I had shot to that point were just buttery smooth & very very accurate too...I always figured it was just that one sample that was bad & not the design.
I was surprised really since all the other Colt revolvers I had shot to that point were just buttery smooth & very very accurate too...I always figured it was just that one sample that was bad & not the design.amishjosh
Member
I just recently picked up a King Cobra 6" stainless, and I love it. I was looking at getting a GP100 but this came along at a price that couldn't be beat, $350, and I snapped it up.
Of course now I want one that's blued, but it's going to be a while before I am allowed to pick up another revolver.
Of course now I want one that's blued, but it's going to be a while before I am allowed to pick up another revolver.
I have a 6" blued gun in near perfect condition in the box with all papers etc..
Next to my Python it is one of my favorite shooters. It is ALMOST as nice a shooter as the Python...the major difference being the unmatched trigger quality of a Python, but of course that comes at a premium price. Here is a pic of my King Cobra. Click on the pic for more/bigger views
Next to my Python it is one of my favorite shooters. It is ALMOST as nice a shooter as the Python...the major difference being the unmatched trigger quality of a Python, but of course that comes at a premium price. Here is a pic of my King Cobra. Click on the pic for more/bigger views
cherryriver
Member
I tend to judge my guns' performance based on my performance in pistol matches, like USPSA, IDPA, and steel.
The King Cobra is faster than the Python for me. I'll get better hits with the Python, because I will shoot it more accurately, but for pure speed, the better grip angle, shorter reach to the trigger, and shorter trigger travel of the KC makes a notable difference. The recovery for the following shot may even be a trifle quicker than the Python, owing both to the superior grip shape, and the excellent balance of the KC.
Just as an anecdotal note, last Sunday at the club, I was killing time (and cardboard) in a bay when a couple of friends stopped by. One, who had sixgun experience in the past but is a Glock shooter now, was so intrigued by the King Cobra he asked to try it. I gave him a few Comp IIIs with .38+Ps (my IDPA standard load, but doesn't make USPSA major).
He loved the thing, even the trigger. He's still talking about it.
That may have something to do with the beautiful finish. The blue King Cobra is simply gorgeous to look at, whether it's a downmarket gun or not.
BUT! King Cobras are awful guns and none of you should buy any.
Thanks.
Bill
The King Cobra is faster than the Python for me. I'll get better hits with the Python, because I will shoot it more accurately, but for pure speed, the better grip angle, shorter reach to the trigger, and shorter trigger travel of the KC makes a notable difference. The recovery for the following shot may even be a trifle quicker than the Python, owing both to the superior grip shape, and the excellent balance of the KC.
Just as an anecdotal note, last Sunday at the club, I was killing time (and cardboard) in a bay when a couple of friends stopped by. One, who had sixgun experience in the past but is a Glock shooter now, was so intrigued by the King Cobra he asked to try it. I gave him a few Comp IIIs with .38+Ps (my IDPA standard load, but doesn't make USPSA major).
He loved the thing, even the trigger. He's still talking about it.
That may have something to do with the beautiful finish. The blue King Cobra is simply gorgeous to look at, whether it's a downmarket gun or not.
BUT! King Cobras are awful guns and none of you should buy any.
Thanks.
Bill
ak-kev
Member
I have to say that I love my KC as well. It was my very first handgun. My dad bought it for me in 1988, I was 19 years old. Its been with me ever since, and she is still perfect, and of course I kept the box
Here she is with her little sister..
Here she is with her little sister..
Texas Colt
Member
Kevin, It's good to finally see a stainless KC on this thread. I was beginning to think it was a blued KC only thread
ak-kev
Member
Yea, but this thread is making me want a blued KC!!
cherryriver
Member
Good heavens, ak-kev, that is an absolutely righteous set of pictures of the KC/MC pair!
Sadly, it could serve to remind one how the mighty can fall so quickly... where's those easy-to-make sixguns nowadays when that Springfield brand is going nuts bringing back all kinds of oldies?
I try not to go down that woe-road, but the sight of those two just breaks me down.
Texas Colt, stainless King Cobras are wonderful. It's just that some of us old folks tend to find the blued ones wonderfuller. But I promise to buy a stainless one if it helps keep the peace.
No, you guys can just leave those blued ones in the dealer's cases and everything'll be fine.
Bill
Sadly, it could serve to remind one how the mighty can fall so quickly... where's those easy-to-make sixguns nowadays when that Springfield brand is going nuts bringing back all kinds of oldies?
I try not to go down that woe-road, but the sight of those two just breaks me down.
Texas Colt, stainless King Cobras are wonderful. It's just that some of us old folks tend to find the blued ones wonderfuller. But I promise to buy a stainless one if it helps keep the peace.
No, you guys can just leave those blued ones in the dealer's cases and everything'll be fine.
Bill
ak-kev
Member
I really had no idea how beautiful the blued KC's were till this thread. My goodness, too many Colts and not enough money!
ak-kev
Member
Cherryriver....thank you sir.
Texas Colt
Member
Kevin wants a blued KC to go with his stainless one. I want a stainless KC to go with my blued one.
I agree with you cherryriver. I try not to go down the woe-road either. But it sure would be nice if Colt just got back in the game and start making more of these guns!!! In the mean time I reckon I'll be surfing GunBroker...
I agree with you cherryriver. I try not to go down the woe-road either. But it sure would be nice if Colt just got back in the game and start making more of these guns!!! In the mean time I reckon I'll be surfing GunBroker...
cherryriver
Member
Business has been very poor this past twelve months or so, and I can still picture the perfect blue six-incher I had to pass up for $600 or so a couple of months ago.
I guess that's sad, but maybe not as much as the six-inch .45 Anaconda for $700 at a local dealer that sat there for months while I tried to scrabble up the dough. As one would expect, it was gone when there was a balance to work with. Sigh.
The next blue King Cobra that pops up that isn't four inches is getting grabbed, good sense be darned.
You should travel over to the Colt Forum where there's a set of pictures of a blue snub King Cobra CCL. I've considered begging the gentleman to sell it, it makes me pine so shamelessly.
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=64661&an=0&page=0#Post64661
My .357 Model is my favorite Colt thirty-six cal, but the KCs yank my chain almost as hard.
Bill
I guess that's sad, but maybe not as much as the six-inch .45 Anaconda for $700 at a local dealer that sat there for months while I tried to scrabble up the dough. As one would expect, it was gone when there was a balance to work with. Sigh.
The next blue King Cobra that pops up that isn't four inches is getting grabbed, good sense be darned.
You should travel over to the Colt Forum where there's a set of pictures of a blue snub King Cobra CCL. I've considered begging the gentleman to sell it, it makes me pine so shamelessly.
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=64661&an=0&page=0#Post64661
My .357 Model is my favorite Colt thirty-six cal, but the KCs yank my chain almost as hard.
Bill
Texas Colt
Member
Wow! I've never heard of or seen a KC CCL before. I've seen the 2 inch Combat Cobra, but not that one. Dang it, now I want one too! :banghead:
- Status
