I bought a Colt Cobra My first snake gun!

wheelgun28 · Apr 9, 2010

Yeah I know, whys a Smith guy buying a colt...

Well I was buying a M66 and this little snubby was in the case. So $150 later its mine. Realize that I know very very little about Colts, I didnt even know Colt made an aluminum gun until yesterday. I have read as much as I can on the net about this and I still have questions. I had to ship the gun so I wont have it for at least a week, perhaps a few days more. Anyhow

The serial makes no sense to me on the receipt I have its 2368XX no letters all numerals. Seems most should start with A or end in LW?

Its an older gun with an unshrouded extractor. It also has the black plastic grips with a medallion.

Now when I was looking at this I would swear the cylinder is made from aluminum. I handle lots of metal on a daily basis and I really think its aluminum. I could be wrong because the gun is nickel, looking into the bores they were dull aluminum looking. From what I have read AL cylinders were only aircrewmen gun and this has no markings so I dont think thats the case. Perhaps the cylinder is just so light weight and the tarnished nickel makes it seem like AL...

The condition is kinda middle of the road at this point. Its very dirty and I hope the nickel polishes back nicely. What do you think this is worth? I paid $150 plus some other costs, no real money.

TIA

Glock 'em down · Apr 9, 2010

At $150, you did awesome! Hell, I don't think you can even buy a Jennings or Raven for that anymore!

I too am a Colt Cobra owner, but mine is a little "newer" from 1974. It has the shrouded ejector rod. It's one of those guns that will never leave me...it's a department issue.

In a lot of ways, I kinda like it better than a Smith & Wesson.

Yes...I just said that. The Colt Cobra has a few things about it that are better than a Smith & Wesson J frame. For instance...it's almost the same size as a J frame, but you gain that one extra round. I also like the bigger grip than the J frame and lastly, the trigger pull just feels a little better IMHO than a J frame.

YMMV.

Anyway, love that little pony and beware...the Colt addiction is almost as bad as the S&W addiction. I say almost because the only other Colt I would like to own is maybe a Detective Special to pair up with this little Cobra...and maybe a 2 inch Python.

So far I've resisted the urge.

tripledipper · Apr 9, 2010

You could have paid up to 300 more for one in better shape. Good deal for 150 no matter how it cleans up.

s&wchad · Apr 9, 2010

Your Cobra dates to 1968 and the cylinder is steel (break out the refrigerator magnet). Your dealer didn‘t record the entire serial number on your receipt. You should contact him and make sure it's correct in his records.

jframe · Apr 9, 2010

Glock 'em down said:
At $150, you did awesome! Hell, I don't think you can even buy a Jennings or Raven for that anymore!

I too am a Colt Cobra owner, but mine is a little "newer" from 1974. It has the shrouded ejector rod. It's one of those guns that will never leave me...it's a department issue.

In a lot of ways, I kinda like it better than a Smith & Wesson.

Yes...I just said that. The Colt Cobra has a few things about it that are better than a Smith & Wesson J frame. For instance...it's almost the same size as a J frame, but you gain that one extra round. I also like the bigger grip than the J frame and lastly, the trigger pull just feels a little better IMHO than a J frame.

YMMV.

Anyway, love that little pony and beware...the Colt addiction is almost as bad as the S&W addiction. I say almost because the only other Colt I would like to own is maybe a Detective Special to pair up with this little Cobra...and maybe a 2 inch Python.

So far I've resisted the urge.

I've got an Agent similar to your Cobra, made in 1975. My question is, what's the difference? It has the shrouded ejector, and had the polished blue finish, unlike later Agents, which were parkerized.

BLACKHAWKNJ · Apr 9, 2010

Colt is not the "Dark Side:, it is the "Other Side". I have 2 Detective Specials, both old Model and "72 (prefer the steel frames). If it's mechanically sound I wouldn't worry about the finish. As a very savvy older shooter once said to me "You don't shoot bluing!"

sipowicz · Apr 9, 2010

Whether you like Smiths or Colts, the DS is still about the coolest looking little snub ever made...especially the 3rd gen guns.

Black_Sheep · Apr 9, 2010

There's no shame in buying a Colt. I picked up a real clean Detective Special a while back and it's every bit as nice as any Smith in my collection. For $150 you'd be a fool to pass it up...

ditrina · Apr 9, 2010

Oh... you are so now HOOKED...

Lew Archer · Apr 10, 2010

jframe said:
I've got an Agent similar to your Cobra, made in 1975. My question is, what's the difference? It has the shrouded ejector, and had the polished blue finish, unlike later Agents, which were parkerized.

Here's one difference: the length of the Agent's grip is slightly shorter that of the Cobra, to enhance concealment.

Wyatt Burp · Apr 10, 2010

What a rediculous price! You'll find this a very, very, handy
SIX SHOT snub to stick in a pocket. It's so light you forget about it. I paid $250 for this blue worn, I mean really worn 1953 Cobra about three months ago. It's like it was never fired but just carried forever. And came with a Bianchi pancake holster. This was a great price (in Ca. anyway) which shows how well you did at $150. That's my 1917 Colt .45ACP with it.

sipowicz · Apr 10, 2010

Very cool old school snubs Wyatt...are you planning on a blue job for the DS?

Wyatt Burp · Apr 10, 2010

sipowicz said:
Very cool old school snubs Wyatt...are you planning on a blue job for the DS?

No I like it like this. It was either an old detective gun or probably an off duty carry gun. When I look at those wear marks on it, i picture a detective working cases in the 1950's like in L.A. Confidential, the grey suit coat he wears rubbing the checkering off the "Coltwood" plastic grips. I could never remove all that history from this old Cobra. The New Service was occasionally carried off duty by the guy who sold it to the guy I bought it from.

rimfired · Apr 10, 2010

wheelgun28, Excellent price for a sweet Colt. Be aware once you start with the "C" snubbies it can get addictive!

wheelgun28 · Apr 10, 2010

Thank Guys!!!

I am looking forward to getting this next weekend. Once I get her all cleaned up I will post a few pics.

He had a Colt bankers snubby, blue was worn off, rusty bore. He wanted $200 for that?

Thanks

stiab · Apr 10, 2010

Here's a Cobra on the left, which weighs 3 oz. less than the comparable S&W on the right...

Wyatt Burp · Apr 10, 2010

wheelgun28 said:
Thank Guys!!!

I am looking forward to getting this next weekend. Once I get her all cleaned up I will post a few pics.

He had a Colt bankers snubby, blue was worn off, rusty bore. He wasted $200 for that?

Thanks

I'd of grabbed that first!!

wheelgun28 · Apr 13, 2010

Well thanks guys!

I did some reading on that Bankers Special, pretty interesting. So today I went back to the store and bought it.... $150, its nicer than I first though.

Hopefully I will get this stuff this weekend and post pics

Thanks

CW Spook · Apr 13, 2010

wheelgun28 said:
Well thanks guys!

I did some reading on that Bankers Special, pretty interesting. So today I went back to the store and bought it.... $150, its nicer than I first though.

Hopefully I will get this stuff this weekend and post pics

Thanks

You are a thief of the first magnitude!!

truckemup97 · Apr 13, 2010

HOLY CRAP!!! Where are you finding these prices?!? You need to turn yourself in to the nearest policeman. You stole both of those ponies.

I bought a Colt Cobra My first snake gun!

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