More colts



They finally updated website

The Viper look interesting.

I continue to be very impressed with Colt’s management. They have continued to introduce a variety of interesting revolvers, bringing back some of the old classics with modernizations. I especially like how the new Pythons are much more affordable now to many who’ve always desired one. Interesting innovations anyhow, perhaps another notable historical firearms company can take a cue? Thank you Colt Firearms!

I suspect CZ’s ownership of Colt, with more capital available and accountability for leadership, are major factors in their recent successes.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I think you've hit the proverbial 'nail' square on its head!!😊😊

Colt has a first class management team in place since before the Colt-VZ deal. CZ has seemed to leave well enough alone...maybe provide additional financial assistance or at least the available backing when it comes to financing.

This is the first time Colt has had gun people running things in a very long time...rather than those interested in owning a gun company for the prestige of doing so or to milk it for the profits or tax breaks...both have been done in the past.

Colt is back...and that's good for the gun industry as a whole...to increase competition and the pride of American products and workers.

I went to one of the SHOT shows about 15 years back - don't remember which one it was, maybe Las Vegas. Anyway, I had a long discussion with one of the Colt guys at the Colt booth. He assured me that Colt would never get back into the revolver business.

I would prefer a blued or dark matte finish but the Viper looks good to me.

Now we need a blue steel DS 2".

Doubt if I’ll ever buy a new Smith again. My Colt collection is growing.

__________________
Sure you did

^^ Same here!

IIRC the original Viper was really just a Cobra with a longer 4-inch barrel and nice target stocks. Came in blue and nickel and is rare because of a short production run.

How about a Diamondback

The new Viper is essentially a modern Police Positive Special in .357 Magnum on the small 2019 King Cobra (D frame sized) frame. The new King Cobra is comparable to the 1999 Magnum Carry.

This is the most interesting configuration I have yet to see from Colt. It's a shame that they refuse to get rid of that huge trigger guard on the small frame guns though.

The new small frame lineup from Colt could have been so much better. The name changes have been incredibly confusing. The aesthetic changes are unfortunate. Also, not offering a new Diamondback (both centerfire and rimfire) or an alloy frame Cobra is really stupid even by Colt's standards.

I’m not 100% it’s accurate but I read somewhere that Colt could no longer use the name Diamondback.

Colt no longer has the rights to the Diamondback name.

I’m a S&W guy to the core, but I can’t help but like that Colt is rising up again! I picked up a 3” Python when it became available, and wouldn’t say no to a new blued 2 1/2 “ Python. I’m for ANY gun companies putting out new quality non ”Tupperware” handguns.
Larry

__________________
Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

.....Then you'll probably miss out on some good stuff.......Don't handicap yourself.......

__________________
S&W Accumulator

Nice guns....Personally I will never buy a handgun with a ported barrel......Accomplishes little except to increase muzzle blast and blow stuff in your eyes iffen you shoot it at waist level.
Shot BIL's 2 1/2 19 that had been magnaported in daylight and at night.....Not for me.
Notice Taurus drills holes in about all their revolver barrels too.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

The Viper is basically a King Cobra 3” with a partial underlug. And as far as the Detective special the new Cobra and King Cobra are pretty much equivalent.

Regarding the Diamondback, I understand the name was sold to another company so trademark laws would prevent that name from being used. We may not have a Diamondback in name but we have the King Cobra 22 which is a modern equivalent. Unfortunately at this point we don’t have a 38 equivalent of the Diamondback but perhaps Colt will add a 4.25” ribbed barrel to the Cobra 38 frame which is essentially a 38 Diamondback.

Of course those of us that love Colts beautiful blue. We’ll have to settle for stainless at the moment.

I’m a real fan of the new colts and would buy the Kodiak 44 but it appears to be nothing more than an Anaconda with a non fluted cylinder and ported barrel. I’ve been thinking about an Anaconda to go with my Smith 29-2 so perhaps the Kodiak will cause the price to drop. If it did I’d buy the Anaconda, if not possibly id buy the Kodiak.

In the past couple years I’ve bought 8 new Colts and a detective special. Also bought several vintage Smiths and a couple of new ones, but Colt has really hit it out of the park with their new revolvers. Great Job Colt!

I have read that as well. They could simply offer a new small frame revolver (on the new King Cobra frame) that looks just like the old Diamondback and give it a new name. Chamber that bad boy in .357 Magnum, .22 LR, and .22 Magnum and it would sell.

A small frame revolver that looks just like a Python, but is smaller/handier should be an obvious thing for Colt to offer.

All they have to do is take the King Cobra frame and add a rib on the barrel. The KC Target essentially with a rib.

I need to pull my Diamondback and new King Cobra out and compare them but I’m pretty sure the frame is pretty close to the same size. Same with the Detective Soecial and my new Cobra.

I'm going to have to have a Viper - not much on the others with the ports.

Very pleased that Colt and Ruger offer us alternatives to locked S&Ws.

I've been more than pleased with my Python, King Cobras, and Cobra. Colt is really building great revolvers, and it's refreshing they are so responsive to what the market wants.

I spent the day in the largest collection of guns in one spot in my lifetime. Out of thousands seen and a hundred or so handled I was impressed with 2.
First was a Chapuis (sp?) 12 ga o/u for $13K and the 3” Colt’s Viper. The Viper felt better than any of the S&W offerings with comparable pricing. Colt’s revolver product line was much more extensive. Joe

__________________
Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I don't know about Diamondback being a trademarked name. But there are many companies and businesses with Diamondback in their names, including a Diamondback Firearms Company. But they do not make revolvers.

The Viper may be a buy. Looks pretty good.

__________________
S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

COTTONMOUTH would be a good name as they are deadly poisonous.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

If I were designing a new Colt I do something on the Anaconda platform in 45 Colt with a second cylinder for 45acp and do it in black DLC. I’d call it the Black Mamba which is the most deadly snake in Africa.

Given what's happened at Colt in the last 15 years, I doubt he works there any more.

__________________
Release the Kraken

Since Colt reintroduced their Revolver line up a few years ago they have made great strides in QC and variety. They are now back in the saddle as being a top choice in Revolvers!! Extremely well made, excellent finishes, the actions are incredibly smooth and light, and of course no I/L. They did have a few glitches along the way, but they quickly and successfully corrected all of them.

IMHO, if buying a new Revolver today, Colt is the brand to go with. IMHO they blow the competition out of the water!! Yes, a little more expensive than S&W's line up, but worth every cent as far as I am concerned.

BTW, the Colt 1911's are also very high quality. They pay very close attention to QC, fit and finish and the guns are tight. I have seen at least 3 (2 Gold Cups and 1 Gov't. style) and they are all gorgeous, accurate and perform 100% perfect with no break in period required! COLT IS BACK GUYS!

They need to do something about the mim hammers breaking in the King Cobras.
The customer service has been good about fixing them in a timely manner, but it is an obvious weak spot.
Agreed that the Viper looks like a winner.

Yep, same here.

I looked around the Colt booth at NRA. Nothing new that blew my hair back.

The only new Colts that I am seeking is a new 2.5” blue Python and a 4” Anaconda in 45 Colt.

__________________
213th FBINA

The Viper looks very appealing. The 3” kinda checks all the boxes. Never owned a Colt…

I'd love to know what S&W management is thinking now that Colt has come back with a mighty whinny with many appealing revolver products.

I'm still leery of the Colt style of lockwork. S&W is just so
easy to work on, old or new.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

I like the fact that Česká zbrojovka / Colt is
manufacturing new Guns.

All the Anacondas and Pythons that I have
handled were really nice in fitting and finish.

Now I wish CZ/Colt would stop fooling around
and make the 45 Colt Anaconda!

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

I wish they would counter bore the cylinders on the .22.

__________________
Forum consigliere

2 1/2 blue Python….whatcha waiting for Colt, come on already.

__________________
Sure you did

I'm waiting for the Anaconda in .454. That will be a great gun! The new Anaconda was designed for the .454 but who knows when or if it will actually be produced in that caliber. Colt can't make enough now of what they sell it seems.

Maybe if and when sales taper off current offering Colt will produce the Anaconda on .454 to stir the market up. If they did it could get me to sell my Freedom Arms .454 for an Anaconda.

Not being a fan of ported guns, I like the Viper, but the other two, not so much. I have noticed that Colt shipments of revolvers has been good except for the Cobra in 38 Special, but the 1911s seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth.

Still awaiting a new Diamondback!

__________________
otis

Again…Colt no longer holds the rights to the name Diamondback.

Colt’s 1911 series hasn’t fallen off the face of the Earth…they’re just not getting all the attention at the moment. In fact…the pistols can’t keep up with orders…particularly the Delta Elites and Super .38s.

Put me in the viper camp. I’m probably gonna try and get one of those. I’m a sucker for fixed sights and 357. Especially if it’s a 3 inch barrel

__________________
No gold. Only lead. Bobby

I guess Colt has ran out of snake names? Now we are on to bears? Probably going to spawn a new raft of what's the best handgun for Bear self-defense questions.

I like that Viper a lot. I may hold out for a while hoping for a blued version.

Was first introduced in early 90's
So its a re-introduction. Not sure about the Grizzly...A little poking around on other sites suggests there might have been such a Model in 357? Not super familiar with Colt various models.

A 6-8 shot .22 or 6 shot .32 and call it the Copperhead.

__________________
Heavily armed old man.

Take a look at the King Cobra 3”. It’s been out for several years now. The viper looks like they took the KC and cut part of the underlug off.

I’m very pleased wigth mine.

Attached Images

IMG_3629.jpg (70.9 KB, 22 views)

Back in the '80s or thereabouts there was a Grizzly...a Kodiak...a Ten Pointer...maybe one or two others. All were variations of the Python, Anaconda or King Cobra. Numbers weren't that high...usually just marketing ploys as so common in businesses of all kinds. All are pretty desirable and sought after today. I have an unfired Python Hunter which is another variation but without the fancy name.

Colt seems to be using tried and true names from the past. Of course...Smith & Wesson would never do anything like that!

I'm always up for seeing new developments in the revolver scene, and these are pretty sweet. The Viper is my favorite of the bunch - I'm a sucker for partial underlugs. I still don't like that they carried over the bent looking trigger guard of the new Cobra/King Cobra though. And it's a shame that Colt didn't address some of the criticisms of the Cobra/King Cobra in the interim. (Specifically the dimensions of the grip frame being slightly off compared to the old D-frame, thereby making grips incompatible, and making the trigger face wider. Hopefully they increased the power on the trigger return spring a little bit.)

Agreed. Colt has made some great strides, but some questionable decisions at the same time. I'm still annoyed that they randomly added an additional vent to the barrel rib on the 4.25" blued Python. I was really looking forward to purchasing one when they were announced, but that added vent crowds the top and somewhat sullies the gorgeous looks that drew me to the Python initially.

__________________
AKA SixToEight