Colt Cobra 38

CajunBass · Sep 9, 2015

I've got a Colt Cobra, alloy frame 38, 2" barrel on hold at Ali-Babba's for a couple of days while I do some research.

Gun is tight as a tick. A little finish wear, but nothing I can't live with. I don't mind a little wear. It comes with service stocks, and a T-grip, and has a leather OWB, top break holster with it.

S/N on the receipt is 115XXX...no letters.

Anybody else got one?

NYlakesider · Sep 9, 2015

CajunBass said:
I've got a Colt Cobra, alloy frame 38, 2" barrel on hold at Ali-Babba's for a couple of days while I do some research.

Gun is tight as a tick. A little finish wear, but nothing I can't live with. I don't mind a little wear. It comes with service stocks, and a T-grip, and has a leather OWB, top break holster with it.

S/N on the receipt is 115XXX...no letters.

Anybody else got one?

My research would have been done right in the store and if the gun was as good as you say and the price was in reason/sort of in reason I would have it.

I have been looking for a while and would like one to keep my Dick Special company.

CajunBass · Sep 9, 2015

Oh, that part's been done. It's on hold just waiting for me to decide if I want it or not. Odd's are I'll pick it up before the weekend. I think it will become my EDC.

They're asking just under $500.00 for it, which seems reasonable to me.

lifesizepotato · Sep 9, 2015

I do. Love it, along with my old Detective Special. They shoot really well for me. The T-Grip makes a huge impact on shooting comfort, but I still need to find one for the Cobra. Let me know if you buy it and don't care for the T-Grip. Price seems about right to me; maybe not a scorching deal, but you're not getting fleeced, either.

ISCS Yoda · Sep 9, 2015

I have one. I'll check the serial numbers later. It resides in a fanny pack and has resided there for a very long time. The fanny pack was for when I jogged, walked dogs, or rode my bicycle. The fanny pack is still for when I walk my dogs or ride my bike. Jogging is not on my list of activities any longer.

My Cobra is in exquisite shape except for the scratches I put on it whilst jogging or dog walking - it fell out of the fanny pack onto the street. Very embarrassing. That was at least ten years ago. I learned how to zip that pack differently to prevent such situations.

Old cop · Sep 9, 2015

I bought mine new in 1968 as an off-duty gun for $85 and carried it for years. It continues to go to the range and is one of my favorite snubs, but now sits in the safe most of the time in favor of my M&P .380. These were the finest snubs made, better trigger and sight picture than the Smith, at least in my humble opinion.

Wyatt Burp · Sep 9, 2015

About four years ago I bought a well used 1951 Cobra in a semi local gun shop for $250. They threw in the left hand holster that was in the case that i said must go with the gun. I added the grip adapter. This fine piece is internally perfect, but appears to have been carried forever as an off duty cop gun. This gun is never NOT loaded now. I cannot bring myself to replace the cheap "Coltwood" plastic grips as they are worn smooth in places like the gun. Good score for you, and do you have a picture of it?

CajunBass · Sep 9, 2015

Not yet. It's still in the layaway bin. Hope to change that by the weekend.

jimmyj · Sep 9, 2015

Fatherly advice:
Run, don't walk and BUY IT !

FPrice · Sep 9, 2015

CajunBass said:
I've got a Colt Cobra, alloy frame 38......
S/N on the receipt is 115XXX...no letters.

My copy of R L Wilson's "Colts" shows the only Cobra 6-digit serial numbers in the 1960's with:

1961 - 104600LW
1962 - 122500LW

Check if the dealer left off the "LW", otherwise no serial numbers like that in the book.

Added: Here is some more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Cobra

Flattop5 · Sep 9, 2015

I have a Cobra. It's a good gun. I carry it often.

Like all Colt revolvers, just be sure that the timing is okay on medium- or fast-cock (don't worry about the timing on slow-cock. In an emergency, you WON'T slow-cock it).

------------

Richard Simmons · Sep 9, 2015

FPrice said:
My copy of R L Wilson's "Colts" shows the only Cobra 6-digit serial numbers in the 1960's with:

1961 - 104600LW
1962 - 122500LW

Check if the dealer left off the "LW", otherwise no serial numbers like that in the book.

Added: Here is some more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Cobra

Yep, everything I can find shows there should be a letter before or after the numbers.

Serial Number Data

CajunBass · Sep 9, 2015

FPrice said:
My copy of R L Wilson's "Colts" shows the only Cobra 6-digit serial numbers in the 1960's with:

1961 - 104600LW
1962 - 122500LW

Check if the dealer left off the "LW", otherwise no serial numbers like that in the book.

Added: Here is some more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Cobra

I had checked it on Proofhouse, and I suspect the LW got left off. The S/N I've got is just on the cash register receipt I got when I put it on hold. I didn't even think to look at the S/N myself.

I got a call from my dispatcher about the time we were doing this telling me to get my butt out of the gun store and get to work. He had a job for me.

Wonder why he thought I was there?

Sixgun100 · Sep 9, 2015

Colt Cobra Fan

I got one in a trade years ago. It is one of my favorites. It went out of time last year. Sent it back to Colt and they returned it good as new. You will be a fan!

Otreb · Sep 9, 2015

I like my 1966 dated cobra, one of the better shooting snubbies I own.
25yrds with wadcutters
It has Tyler's now.

rjm6120 · Sep 9, 2015

jimmyj said:
Fatherly advice:
Run, don't walk and BUY IT !

Ummmm...yes, what Jimmy said. If there isn't a lot of finish wear on it I would say less that $500 is a very good price. I saw one the other day in an LGS in central KY they were asking $850 for.

les.b · Sep 9, 2015

Yes!! I have both a pre shrouded barrel version of the Cobra and a shrouded bbl version. Also a pre and post Detective Spl and A pair of agents. They occasionally do rotations in my daily carry. I have a great fondness for the Colt snubbies. Also have a Bankers Special from the 1930s, that was an issue gun at the Boston PD. ( like a Detective Special but in .38 Colt New Police caliber (AKA 38 S&W).

I would not hesitate to pick this up at the price. Only problem, as you can see from my example is that they are habit forming. Then there are the caliber variations, 32 Colt NP, 22 cal. And the long frames vs the truncated frames, and the shrouded barrels.

And if you are like me and also collect and shoot the Smith snubbies, you are really in trouble.

I found that the Colt D frame also fits in the same Galco pocket holster that my J frame Smiths fit into, even though it is slightly larger, with its six round capacity.

STCM(SW) · Sep 9, 2015

WOW! I got mine about 4 years ago for $300.
With standard 38 SPL, it bit my right hand on the web.
So, on went some goodyears.

Doesn't bit now but is not CC much.
Sits in the console of the Tahoe.

sheepdawg · Sep 9, 2015

My Cobra is a my daily carry. Lots of holster wear on it but tight and accurate beyond my belief. Paid $350 for it a little over a year ago. If you saw it you'd wonder what kind of life it had to have all the wear to the outside.

The Compacs make it the perfect snubby.

Muley Gil · Sep 9, 2015

I was issued a 2" nickel Cobra by my PD. I carried it in an ankle holster for several years. Tried to buy it when I retired but no go.

Replaced it with an Agent, which is my constant carry when I'm not working.

The only problem with the lightweight guns is the finish wears. Doesn't bother me a bit.

Colt Cobra 38

CajunBass

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ISCS Yoda

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Old cop

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FPrice

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Flattop5

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Richard Simmons

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