What's the difference between the Colt Agent & Detective Special & Cobra???

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

AGENT:



And a Detective Special:

I know that there are various versions of the DS, but I'm just curious about the overall/general difference (If any)??


Thanks!

 

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

And then to make matters more confusing....I see that there are Colt Cobra snubbies out there that look exactly like the above two???

 

[Glocker]

i don't know the difference in them, but i sure do see a couple of SWEET looking snubs thats for sure.

 

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

The Colt Detective is the all steel blue verson 2 inch barrel

The Colt Cobra is the same but with a Alloy Frame 2 inch barrel

The Colt Agent is the same (alloy frame)as the as the Cobra but with a cut down grip area for more concealment 2 inch barrel

Also the Colt Diamondback is the same blue steel frame as the Detective but with a 4 or 6 inch barrel


Wanted one of them but never bought one.

 

[dfariswheel]

A little more info.

When Colt introduced the Cobra and Agent, these were to be simply aluminum framed versions of the Detective Special.

The only difference at the time was, the Detective Special and Cobra had the original full sized grip frame, and the Agent had a "stubby" grip.

This shorter grip allowed the Agent to be deep concealed better.

Sometime in the mid-1960's, Colt altered ALL their small "D" framed revolvers to use the same stubby grip frame.
This allowed cost cutting, since Colt no longer had to make two different frames.

After the change, the Detective Special and Cobra used grips that overlapped on the bottom, giving a full sized appearance.

The Agent continued using the tiny wood grips to give a smaller size.

Eventually, Colt discontinued the Agent, since by that time the only difference between an Agent and a Cobra, was the marking on the barrel and the type wood grips used.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I saw a decidedly beat up Agent at a gun show this afternoon with a $400 price tag. I left it on the table.

 

[Majic]

The Diamondback also came with a 2 1/2" barrel.

 

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

Sometime in the mid-1960's, Colt altered ALL their small "D" framed revolvers to use the same stubby grip frame.
This allowed cost cutting, since Colt no longer had to make two different frames.

After the change, the Detective Special and Cobra used grips that overlapped on the bottom, giving a full sized appearance.

The Agent continued using the tiny wood grips to give a smaller size.

Eventually, Colt discontinued the Agent, since by that time the only difference between an Agent and a Cobra, was the marking on the barrel and the type wood grips used.

So basically, if some original short wood 'Agent' grips were found.....they will fit on any late 60's+ Detective Special???

Personally, I prefer the look of the later generation Detective Specials ( with shroud ).....while most of you folks seem to prefer the traditional 1st generation look.

 

[unspellable]

DS vs Cobra vs Agent

The Agents I've seen had an aluminum cylinder where as the Cobras have a steel cylinder. Also, all the agents I've seen had a matte finish.

 

[BluesBear]

An aluminium cylindered Agent would be a rarity.

However many of the later ones were matte finished so they could be sold at a lower price than the Cobra.

 

[secamp32]

The DS was also made with a 3 inch barrel.

 

[Elmer]

The Cobra was also made in 3" including a 3" .22 of which I own 2!

There are definitely 2 grip frames on the D frames. The older pre 1966 guns have a longer grip frame and the grips will not fit the newer models.

The standard model Agent did not have an aluminum cylinder.

The other major difference between the old and new models in the Det Special and Cobra was the old models had unshrouded cylinder rods. The Agent kept the unshrouded rod till the very late models.

 

[BluesBear]

Elmer, you simply MUST post some pics of your 3" 22. I have only seen one my entire life. I have seen heated arguments arise regarding their existence.
They are the rarest of all Dective Specials. You wouldn't happen to have one in nickel would you?


The Detective Special and Cobra were also made in .32 Colt New Police (.32 S&W Long).
I came across one gentleman who has his reemed to .32 H&R Magnum. It was SWEET! I have dreams of Colt making a seven shot Detective Special .32 Magnum.

The Agent kept the unshrouded rod till the very late models.

Yeppersâ„¢, since Colt had an abundance of Agent marked barrels, and since the Agent was the slowest seller of the three, the Agent was the last to become available with the shrouded ejector.
By that time the agent was usually found with the duller matte blue. It almost looked parkerized. A polished blue, shrouded ejector, Agent would be a nice find.

 

[Old Fuff]

Gary in PA.

You are correct in thinking that if you have the "short-butt" frame, all of the grips (Detective Special, Cobra, Agent, Police Positive Special, etc.) are l interchangable.

The reason the OLD Fuff likes the earlier barrel style is so he can hold up the higher front sight blade to take long shots - - out to 100 yards.

 

[10MMGary]

Photo of a Colt Cobra

Just for comparisons here is a photo of my Colt Cobra that I inherited from my father. I think of him often and everytime I see a nice ole Colt of any kind. This gun has a carbon steel cylinder, barrel, hammer and trigger. The frame is another alloy, aluminum I suppose. It really isn't a particularly fun gun for plinking due to its light weight & short barrel. Talk about a BARK! and it really trys to jump around in the hand a bit. In the manual it speaks to using +P ammo. It states using +P with any regularity will greatly shorten the life of the firearm. This is one of our bedside guns and only fired twice a year using standard pressure 38spl defensive ammo. If I recall correctly he purchased it in the early or mid nineteen eighties, I received it in 1991. I doubt my father put more than a couple hundred rounds through it, if that. It will go to my son when I go to be with dad.

 

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

Nice pic Gar!

 

[Elmer]

One more D frame

I almost forgot about my Cobra 4" .38 special. I'll try and post some pics of it and the 3" .22 Cobra over the weekend.

 

[Hobie]

Old topic but here's my 3" DS with short grip (1972)...

 

[cherryriver]

Here's that old four-inch Cobra Elmer mentioned- I happened to have a picture of mine available.
I don't dare shoot it, but I can't seem to sell, it, either.
Bill

 

[joneb]

Aluminum cylinder ? Colt Sky Marshall

 

[ZBill]

Matched Set - 1977 DS and Cobra

Here are two of my favorites - a .38 Cobra and DS both manufactured in 1977. Bill

 

[Catman253]

My third issue Dick Special and an Agent




Detective Special is blued steel and the Agent is a Phosphate finish alloy frame.

 

[Hatchett]

Old topic, but a question.

I've come across an old Colt Cobra with a two-inch barrel which, according to proofhouse, serials as a 1963 gun. It's in reasonably good condition except for some slight carry wear (it was a policeman's carry weapon), I suppose some inevitable hundreds of microscopic scratches on the aluminum part of the frame visible only in the right light, and some minor pitting on part of the trigger. It is a .32 rather than a .38, which I have read is somewhat rare. I'm not very interested in a .32, but just how rare is a Colt Cobra of this year in this caliber? Is it desirable as a collectible?

 

[dfariswheel]

The .32 models were lower production simply due to the .32 not being as popular as the .38.
However, they aren't really all that rare.
Only Colt knows how many were made, and they usually won't say.

There would be some collectors interest only if it was brand new in the original box with all papers.

 

[Jim K]

I wonder if a DS or Cobra .32 could be reamed for .327? Thoughts?

Jim