Post-SHOT Show Colt Cobra Update

[Jim Watson]

You can't sew a golden parachute without breaking some eggs. Or something like that.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Well, at some point they did, and they also evaluated the rest of the market and the competition, and they stopped producing double action revolvers.

And how did that work out for them?

 

[Kleanbore]

And how did that [getting out of the DA revolver business] work out for them?

Well, it stopped the bleeding in that area, so the answer is "rather well".

There are two separate issues here: how is Colt doing, and what was it that caused them to get out the DA revolver business two decades ago.

The answer to the first is "not well at all".

We have addressed the second.

 

[Crowman]

I could care less about corporate decisions made by folks no longer working there. I'm still buying one...I like the new features. Especially the front sight replacement option. I would put a night sight on it. I replaced my old Agent in my town carry rotation with a 5-shot M&P 340. Would like to have that 6th round back. Told LGS to get me one. Period.

 

[Kleanbore]

I'm still buying one...I like the new features. Especially the front sight replacement option. I would put a night sight on it. I replaced my old Agent in my town carry rotation with a 5-shot M&P 340. Would like to have that 6th round back. Told LGS to get me one. Period.

The sixth round, the grip, and the trigger pull are the drivers for me.

I would like a hammer shroud.

Best I can tell, the pull on the Colt is lighter than that of the Kimber, which in turn is much lighter than that of a J-Frame. Had a Centennial Airweight and didn't like it. The stainless three inch Model 60 shoots better, but I much prefer six shots.

 

[Kendal Black]

I would like a hammer shroud.

Me too, but while you are waiting for one: When you draw, press your thumb upon the hammer spur, pressing forward slightly, not back to cock. Your thumb will act to prevent interference from your clothes. Remove your thumb from the hammer when you are clear of obstructions. Worked every time with my DS.

 

[Crowman]

Colt used to offer a bolt-on hammer shroud as an accessory. Would be a useful item for them or someone to sell.

Also, back in the day, Bianchi teamed up with Pachmayr to make a rubber grip that shrouded the hammer on S&W Model 36 Chief's Specials. They carried Bianchi's logo on the grip panel, and Pachmayr's name on the bottom. This design basically converted Chief's Specials to Bodyguards with only a screw. I had one, worked great for pocket carry. You still had access to the tip of the hammer spur with the grips and could easily convert back to conventional exposed hammer configuration with original factory grips.

Wonder why no one has picked up on this idea...would be great on SP101, the new Cobra and a host of small exposed hammer revolvers.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a D frame with a factory shroud. It is great pocket gun. I wouldn't mind seeing one on this new Cobra.

 

[Kleanbore]

The other possibility, of course, would be to bob the hammer. I had that done to a Ruger SP 101, nd it is fine except for the five shot limitation.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Well, it stopped the bleeding in that area, so the answer is "rather well".

There are two separate issues here: how is Colt doing, and what was it that caused them to get out the DA revolver business two decades ago.

The answer to the first is "not well at all".

We have addressed the second.

Think that might have something to do with them abandoning their principal business?

Other companies have prospered making revolvers. You have to wonder how the company that INVENTED revolvers was unable to remain competitive.

 

[Kleanbore]

Other companies have prospered making revolvers. You have to wonder how the company that INVENTED revolvers was unable to remain competitive.

Well, it is likely that, due to changes in the marketplace, one of the three majors had to go. One of the others had more in the way of market share and accordingly, more money, as well as products that required less hand-fitting, and the other had the benefit of a later market entry and more modern manufacturing and materials technologies.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Well, it is likely that, due to changes in the marketplace, one of the three majors had to go. One of the others had more in the way of market share and accordingly, more money, as well as products that required less hand-fitting, and the other had the benefit of a later market entry and more modern manufacturing and materials technologies.

In other words, failure and lethargy bred more failure.

 

[Kleanbore]

In other words, failure and lethargy bred more failure.

One might interpret it that way, but I don't think one should necessarily characterize Colt's departure from the double action revolver field as "failure". All things considered, it may well have been the right thing to do.

What we do not know is whether, when Ruger entered the market at a fairly good time with an all new product line, the business case would have closed for Colt to redesign its revolvers, which were still a viable product line, and recapitalize the plant and equipment.

I do not know, but I doubt it.

The ebb and flow of business is often largely a matter of timing--what is the market doing and where is it going; what are the competitors doing at the time , probably in a different place on the product timeline; and where the firm can reasonably expect to go from where it is in its life cycle.

 

[38riverrat]

Making the revolver a 38 SPL+P and not a 357 MGN might be the trade off for having 6 shots instead of the 5 shots in the slightly smaller diameter S&W 357 MGN cylinder.

Best,
Rick

 

[Crowman]

38 Special +P is an intelligent choice. Firing full house magnums in a D-Frame Colt would be as brutal as firing them in a J-Frame Smith.

I carry a light weight M&P 340 and firing full house magnums borders on a religious experience. My 640 Pro Series is closer to the Cobra in weight, but it is a handful with 158 grain JSP and downright attention getting with Buffalo Bore 180 grain cast RNFP. For that reason, I use 38 +P JHP for anti-personnel applications and 158 grain cast SWC Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman loads for woods carry, and carry a speedloader full of 180 grain magnums for emergencies. Magnums are doable, but not always the best choice in small carry guns. Still gotta hit your target.

 

[DPris]

I'm out of the Cobra discussion, but as a general advisory- Colt has laid people off, including Brent Turchi, head of their Custom Shop.
If you don't know Brent, helluva a nice guy, and he has been the "face" of Colt on two Colt forums in interfacing between company and forum members/Colt buyers with problems.

Unknown how, or if, these layoffs will affect the new gun, but if you were thinking of doing anything with the Colt Custom Shop, might want to re-think.
If you have an order in that CS now, might be good to check on status.
Denis

 

[Buckeye357]

I'm out of the Cobra discussion, but as a general advisory- Colt has laid people off, including Brent Turchi, head of their Custom Shop.
If you don't know Brent, helluva a nice guy, and he has been the "face" of Colt on two Colt forums in interfacing between company and forum members/Colt buyers with problems.

Unknown how, or if, these layoffs will affect the new gun, but if you were thinking of doing anything with the Colt Custom Shop, might want to re-think.
If you have an order in that CS now, might be good to check on status.
Denis

Thanks for the heads up and sad to hear Brent was laid off. I followed a lot of his helpful posts here and on other forums I don't know what to think about that decision from the Colt brass, seems to be a bad one .
With this news I'm not so excited about purchasing a new Colt revolver any time soon I will stick with Smith and Wesson for my revolver needs.

 

[BSA1]

WOW!

Simply WOW!

For those that have not read about it;

"The extent of the layoffs are not yet known, but it has been confirmed that Brent Turchi, director of Colt Customer Service and the Colt Custom Shop, was let go. Brent posted the following at 1911forum.com:

I am alive and well just no longer with Colt. I will continue to be a member of this forum and interact as I see appropriate. I will also tell the forum when and where I land. I have and will continue to enjoy this forum and its members. All thoughts are appreciated.
Brent

Whether this is a handful of layoffs or a gutting of the company is yet unknown, but according to misanthrope, things are not looking good. He posted that Colt Canada had reportedly been gutted, and the Colt Advanced Systems division and the Custom Shop virtually shut down entirely:

Sorry guys I don’t think there’s any information I can link to.

My understanding is that Advanced Systems is shut down entirely, as is the Custom Shop. Colt Canada will be stripped down to little more than the C8 production line and the extraneous people just had their jobs eliminated. The SWORD and MRR programs sound like they’re shelved. From the sounds of things, a lot of job losses."


http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...op-director-employees-company-rumored-gutted/

 

[DPris]

The Colt Custom Shop has not been shut down completely.
It has not accepted new orders for quite a while, still working through the backlog of existing work.

The future of that shop may be doubtful.
The number of layoffs since October may be 80, according to an email from one who said he was among them.
I can NOT confirm that.
Denis