Colt revolvers: new vs old in size?

Grayfox

Grayfox

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I've been looking at the new offerings from Colt with a great deal of interest. I have a few older Colts and like them a lot. But I'm wondering how the new ones compare to the older guns as far as size. Particularly the medium frame guns.
I'm a big fan of Colt's older "D" frame revolvers. Detective Special, Police Positive and Diamondback. The new Viper has caught my eye, but I'm curious, is it a true "D" frame or something different? Do grips interchange? Holsters, etc?
How about the new Python and Anaconda? Are they the exact same size as the old ones?
 
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AFAIK the width of grip frame and where the grips meet the new squared trigger guard is slightly different, making grip compatibility with the old D-frame guns hit or miss.
 
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I believe the Python has a very slightly larger frame then the older model in some dimensions. Original Colt Python grips fit, and the new Python does fit in Python & S&W L frame holsters.

The new Anaconda is also slightly different, size wise, than the older model (Not sure if it will fit an original holster?) and original Anaconda grips do not fit the new one.

Not sure about the new Viper, but I believe it is based on the new King Cobra series, minus the ejector rod shroud.

I own a new model Python, as well as 2 new model Anacondas. Mine, at least, have proven to be fine revolvers.

Larry
 
I own 3 new Pythons and owned a late 70’s Python but no longer have it so no direct comparison. It’s my understanding the biggest structural difference in old and new is the new has a beefier top strap. If someone hadn’t told me I wouldn’t have noticed it. Mechanically I’d take the new Python and day over the older ones. And as far as fit and finish the new are every bit as good as the old. I also understand the grips are interchangeable.

Don’t have an Anaconda but the new one has the same grip frame as the Python and they’re interchangeable.

I have a 1953 Cobra, 1974 Detective Special and a 1st gen Diamondback plus a new Cobra and 3 new King Cobras. The D frames are all the same size as far as I can tell. My Detective and 1953 Cobra look exactly like the new Cobra. Like the various generations of Cobras and Detectives the grip frame was shortened and squared around 1966 and grips appear to be compatible with the new models but would need to try them.

The Diamondback has a D frame but I don’t believe the grip frame is exactly the same as other D frames. Everything I’ve read put out by grip makers indicates it’s slightly different than the new Cobra / King Cobra and Detective Special frames.

The old King Cobra was a bigger frame I believe. The new ones are approximately the same size as the old generation Cobra and Detectives. The cylinder may be slightly longer in the 357 models to accommodate the longer 357 round. I’m not at home at the moment but will look when I get home.

I’ll say that I’m super pleased with my Colt revolvers and I’m a big fan of vintage Smiths too. In my view Smith has dropped the ball on revolvers and focused on fantastic plastics where as Colt has brought new life in revolvers and quality control. When I started buying Colts I would have had a tough decision between Colt and Smith if Smith had been making revolvers like they did 50 years ago. But they weren’t and I bought Colts.
 
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Both the new Pythons and Anacondas will not fit the same holsters as the older guns…if the holster has a thumb snap. An open holster or one with an adjustable strap…no problem. There’s just enough difference dimensionally in the new guns to cause the issue.

As far as the smaller revolvers go…they are roughly the same as the old D-frame…but not quite the same. Due to the shape of the trigger guard they may or ay not fit the same holsters. It depends on the holster design.
 
I can only speak on the old/new King Cobra. The new one's smaller than the original, more like an old D frame. It's beefier to handle 357mag, but nowhere near the old King.
 
I did a side by side comparison of my 1953 Cobra and my 2017. They are identical in size. I opened the cylinder and placed it against each other and they’re the same. Frame to frame they’re the same size also.

My 3” King cobra cylinder was also the same but the KC frame is approximately 1mm shorter in length looking at the top straps lining up and seeing where the barrels screw into the frame.
 
If you like the D frame, sheck out the Night Cobra, it's kind of an modernized detective special. Swappable front sight, dark finish, dao,etc. It's a cool CCW style revolver . If I hadn't gotten a smoking deal on a S&W 340 I'd have purchased.
 
If you can find the Night Cobra...buy it. They are few and far between. I don't know whether production numbers have been low or those who have bought them are not letting them go.
 
Grayfox said:
I've been looking at the new offerings from Colt with a great deal of interest. I have a few older Colts and like them a lot. But I'm wondering how the new ones compare to the older guns as far as size. Particularly the medium frame guns.
I'm a big fan of Colt's older "D" frame revolvers. Detective Special, Police Positive and Diamondback. The new Viper has caught my eye, but I'm curious, is it a true "D" frame or something different? Do grips interchange? Holsters, etc?
How about the new Python and Anaconda? Are they the exact same size as the old ones?
Click to expand...

I don't think the new Cobras are like the Detective Special in size at all. I have seen the new Cobra touted as being a reincarnation of the DS, but I have one old DS from 1952 and a new Cobra, and I don't see them as being alike very much at all. The new Cobra is bulkier and thicker than a Detective Special. The Cobra is 7.25 inches in length, whereas the Detective Special is 6.75 inches. The Cobra should be seen as more a medium-size/compact gun and not a tiny carry/subcompact. It's the same length and weight as a Glock 19.
 
jamesallen said:
I don't think the new Cobras are like the Detective Special in size at all. I have seen the new Cobra touted as being a reincarnation of the DS, but I have one old DS from 1952 and a new Cobra, and I don't see them as being alike very much at all. The new Cobra is bulkier and thicker than a Detective Special. The Cobra is 7.25 inches in length, whereas the Detective Special is 6.75 inches. The Cobra should be seen as more a medium-size/compact gun and not a tiny carry/subcompact. It's the same length and weight as a Glock 19.
Click to expand...

I did a direct comparison that you can see with your own eyes.

The first photo is the cobra on top of the DS.

The second is the DS on top of the Cobra.

The third is a side by side.

The fourth is from the top.

The top strap of the Cobra seems a little beefier than the DS but nothing I ever noticed and don’t think most folks would notice. The cylinders are the same length and diameter. Both guns appear to be the same size as far as I can see.
 

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Thanks guys. That was pretty much what I was wanting to know.
I want to get one in my hands first, but I think one of the new 3" Vipers may well be in my future. ;)
 
jamesallen said:
I don't think the new Cobras are like the Detective Special in size at all. I have seen the new Cobra touted as being a reincarnation of the DS, but I have one old DS from 1952 and a new Cobra, and I don't see them as being alike very much at all. The new Cobra is bulkier and thicker than a Detective Special. The Cobra is 7.25 inches in length, whereas the Detective Special is 6.75 inches. The Cobra should be seen as more a medium-size/compact gun and not a tiny carry/subcompact. It's the same length and weight as a Glock 19.
Click to expand...

Depends on the configuration. I own a DS and the Night Cobra (2")was similar enough in size that it still felt like a AIWB CCW revolver to me. It was bigger and heavier then the 340 I purchased.
 
To the OP, if you are a hard core S&W or Ruger guy, spend some time dry firing and framiliarizing yourself with the Colt's trigger.
 
Out of the box, I prefer Colt triggers. They're much smoother and a lighter. I find the Colt "stacking" similar to S&W "staging".
 
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