i have only owned a half dozen colts mostly a s&w man, but i did trade tor a king cobra this weekend.i am not sure about year of manufacture but i think if right it is 1987.mine is a bright blue with an 4 inch barrell.i thought i read somewhere that there were less blued king cobras made than stainless and that the 4 inch barrell was also less available,does anyone khow if that info was correct?