This Old Gun Guy is Much Older Now
- Thread starter Kleanbore
- Start date
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Going back to the 1950s again...
I remember magazine ads for the Colt Detective Special that touted "that all important sixth shot". They were citing an advantage over the contemporary Smith and Wesson Chief's Special, and they characterized it as a 20% increase in capacity.
That sounded right to me at the time. And it was--on that hypothetical occasion on which every shot hit something critical.
Statistics are funny things. Throw some misses and bad hits into the mix, and the advantage of six shots over five becomes much greater. That's just the way things work out.
That's for another discussion, but thanks to JohnKSa for the education on that subject.
Back to 2020....
A former St. Louis police officer whom I know still carries his old Colt Detective Special.
The new Cobra is essentially an improved, more durable, and more maintainable reincarnation of the Detective Special.
It has not only a six shot capacity, but also a better double action trigger pull than the ubiquitous .38 J-Frames.
The King Cobra is a strengthened Cobra with .357 chambers and a three inch barrel. I would not use magnum loads in it, but I do like a three inch barrel.
I almost always carry a light 9MM, but from time to time, my left elbow strength has become impaired by complications with a bone spur.
When that happens, a DA revolver really fits the bill.
And my wife is more comfortable with revolvers.
One more journey back in time, just for fun...
I remember watching Dragnet years ago. In one episode, Sgt. Joe Friday was expecting a package. He refused to tell his partner Frank Smith what was in it.
When it arrived, the episode became a veritable Colt commercial.
The package contained a new Colt Cobra. That Cobra was a light alloy version of the DS.
Jack Webb mentioned the light weight and the power, and maybe the six shots, several times.
As a grade school gun guy, I really paid attention--not thinking about how one day, tendonitis, arthritis, and nerve damage would make me prefer the steel version,
I remember magazine ads for the Colt Detective Special that touted "that all important sixth shot". They were citing an advantage over the contemporary Smith and Wesson Chief's Special, and they characterized it as a 20% increase in capacity.
That sounded right to me at the time. And it was--on that hypothetical occasion on which every shot hit something critical.
Statistics are funny things. Throw some misses and bad hits into the mix, and the advantage of six shots over five becomes much greater. That's just the way things work out.
That's for another discussion, but thanks to JohnKSa for the education on that subject.
Back to 2020....
A former St. Louis police officer whom I know still carries his old Colt Detective Special.
The new Cobra is essentially an improved, more durable, and more maintainable reincarnation of the Detective Special.
It has not only a six shot capacity, but also a better double action trigger pull than the ubiquitous .38 J-Frames.
The King Cobra is a strengthened Cobra with .357 chambers and a three inch barrel. I would not use magnum loads in it, but I do like a three inch barrel.
I almost always carry a light 9MM, but from time to time, my left elbow strength has become impaired by complications with a bone spur.
When that happens, a DA revolver really fits the bill.
And my wife is more comfortable with revolvers.
One more journey back in time, just for fun...
I remember watching Dragnet years ago. In one episode, Sgt. Joe Friday was expecting a package. He refused to tell his partner Frank Smith what was in it.
When it arrived, the episode became a veritable Colt commercial.
The package contained a new Colt Cobra. That Cobra was a light alloy version of the DS.
Jack Webb mentioned the light weight and the power, and maybe the six shots, several times.
As a grade school gun guy, I really paid attention--not thinking about how one day, tendonitis, arthritis, and nerve damage would make me prefer the steel version,
Old Dog
Member
Initially, I had trouble finding a carry holster for my new KC. Galco procrastinated, but I saw a post here where a member had a George Bowers Leather holster. Lo and behold, I checked his website, he had some in stock. Similar to the Galco Combat Master, but seems a little thicker and just as well finished -- as well as much, much less expensive. Not quite as shiny as the Galco, but beautiful, even stitching and the fit to the gun is excellent (he provides a plastic sheet to help break the draw in).
https://gbleatherco.com/
I see now he's even doing a holster for the KC Target!
https://gbleatherco.com/
I see now he's even doing a holster for the KC Target!
Speedo66
Member
Early product placement. lol
When I was going to buy my first revolver upon entering LE, there was, to me, a significant up charge for a Colt vs. similar S&W models. I really wanted a Diamondback. Having to buy my own equipment and wait maybe a year for the equipment allowance to be issued, I went with S&W. Being satisfied with them, I stayed with them for as long as we carried revolvers.
I wouldn't mind a Colt now, especially a vintage Diamondback, but they're a little pricey at this point.
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,087
95% of my guns.....I don't NEED.
But none of 'em are for sale.
Ain't quite got turned on yet to the new Pythons. Coupla others, that even tho I don't need 'em, I feel I need to get 'em.
As it should be.
Vern Humphrey
Member
And if people didn't keep dropping guns in the dish, it wouldn't have a cracked leg.
I am primarily a semi-auto shooter, but I was brought back into the revolver fold when I came across some S&W model 15's at $279.00. They were well used and looked beat up, but that was only on the outside. They had smooth triggers, un marred bores and a tight lookup. They soon became my favorite range guns and remain so. I still think that S&W did a terrific jobs with theses revolvers. They have just the right balance, weight and grip size for me.
However, I decided I wanted more power than a .38 Special, so I looked around. The S&W 19 and 66 use the same K-frame, but they are just not up to the .357 magnum in my experience.
So I went with the RUGER Security 6. In fact, I bought several of them. I loved the look of the Speed Six so much, that after I picked one up and tried the action, I ended up buying it, despite my general dislike of snub nose revolvers. I also found a 4 inch inch blued gun that had a trigger job. It has an action that is as good as my model 15's and my tuned 681 and 686. PLUS IT IS A .357!
About the only guns I want now are a:
RUGER Match Champion with a 4.2 inch barrel, so that when I go to CANADA, I can take it across the border or maybe buy one there (CANADA made 4 inch barrels heavily restricted, but a 4.2 is fine).
An original COLT Diamondback. With the King Cobra Target now available, I may get one of those instead. The collectors have driven the price of used Diamondbacks up to the price of a new King Cobra. The weight would be similar and the KC is a .357 which is something I want as an option.
OH COLT, CONSIDER A 5 INCH KING COBRA TARGET! It would have more velocity and a little less muzzle blast, plus only add about 1.5 to 2 ounces. It would make a great woods gun.
Jim
However, I decided I wanted more power than a .38 Special, so I looked around. The S&W 19 and 66 use the same K-frame, but they are just not up to the .357 magnum in my experience.
So I went with the RUGER Security 6. In fact, I bought several of them. I loved the look of the Speed Six so much, that after I picked one up and tried the action, I ended up buying it, despite my general dislike of snub nose revolvers. I also found a 4 inch inch blued gun that had a trigger job. It has an action that is as good as my model 15's and my tuned 681 and 686. PLUS IT IS A .357!
About the only guns I want now are a:
RUGER Match Champion with a 4.2 inch barrel, so that when I go to CANADA, I can take it across the border or maybe buy one there (CANADA made 4 inch barrels heavily restricted, but a 4.2 is fine).
An original COLT Diamondback. With the King Cobra Target now available, I may get one of those instead. The collectors have driven the price of used Diamondbacks up to the price of a new King Cobra. The weight would be similar and the KC is a .357 which is something I want as an option.
OH COLT, CONSIDER A 5 INCH KING COBRA TARGET! It would have more velocity and a little less muzzle blast, plus only add about 1.5 to 2 ounces. It would make a great woods gun.
Jim
Vern Humphrey
Member
I found the Holy Grail long ago -- a Colt New Service in .45 Colt. Paid $350 for it, and found it shot 18 inches high and 12 inches left. It shot good groups, just off toward Jones's.
Since it had been reblued and aggressively buffed, I had no qualms about cutting the barrel from 7 1/2" to 5 1/2", adding adjustable sights and putting on Herrett Shooting Master grips. It shoots great and everyone who sees it tries to buy it from me.
Since it had been reblued and aggressively buffed, I had no qualms about cutting the barrel from 7 1/2" to 5 1/2", adding adjustable sights and putting on Herrett Shooting Master grips. It shoots great and everyone who sees it tries to buy it from me.
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