2017: Colt's re-entry into the revolver market

[silversnake]

Here's a question, and I don't mean to cause a fuss:

Will Colt's re-emergence in the DA revolver put even more pressure on S&W to rethink the internal lock? Here's my reasoning.

There are already quite a few S&W fans who only buy the older S&W's. I'm sure some folks buy Rugers based on the IL on the Smiths as well. Now that Colt is making their revolvers (without any IL), I'm sure there will be even more lost business.

If Colt makes a mid-frame .357 magnum with 3 and 4 inch barrels, this could be the nail in the coffin for the IL.

any thoughts on that one?

I sure hope so.... I would love to buy a new K/L frame but the lock is a dealbreaker for me. S&W is losing out on business by not making the lock optional.

 

[silversnake]

Perhaps Colt wanted to start with an all steel revolver so as to ensure long term durability and to appeal to the 'purists' who prefer an all steel revolver. 25 ounces for a 38+p is a great balance of shootability and carry-ease. Go much lighter, and people won't like shooting it.

I know I'd buy it in steel, but not in aluminum.

At 25 oz I can't believe it isn't chambered in .357 magnum.

It's not so much that it's heavy, my Model 64 snub is around 27-28 oz, but the Model 64 is based on a much older design. You can hardly find a modern revolver that weighs as much as the new Cobra and that isn't capable of handling magnum loads.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm a big fan of the Colt "D" frames. But I can't see a new Cobra made to the old specs only costing about $600. No doubt that they're had to make some major changes to cut costs and make manufacturing easier.
I'm wondering is Colt is actually making these or if they farmed it out and just had Colt stamped on it?
I'll reserve judgement until I can get my hands on one. If it can live up to its predecessors quality, I'll buy one.

BTW: For those wanting this in .357, how many of you remember the Colt Magnum Carry? Probably not many, cause it didn't last very long.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I'm a big fan of the Colt "D" frames. But I can't see a new Cobra made to the old specs only costing about $600. No doubt that they're had to make some major changes to cut costs and make manufacturing easier.
I'm wondering is Colt is actually making these or if they farmed it out and just had Colt stamped on it?
I'll reserve judgement until I can get my hands on one. If it can live up to its predecessors quality, I'll buy one.

BTW: For those wanting this in .357, how many of you remember the Colt Magnum Carry? Probably not many, cause it didn't last very long.

They are made at Colt factory.

 

[gunnails]

I actually have 4 Ruger pistols and all 4 turn to the right which is CLOCKWISE. I wish some of you Ruger experts would chime in and agree with me. Larry

========================

Not an expert, but my Ruger rotates to the left when viewed as I aim, if I was pointing it at you, you would say it rotates to the right. Same as my Smith's.

 

[Grayfox]

Its occurred to me that we might be comparing the new Cobra to the wrong gun. We look at it and think Detective Special. However, the last small frame Colts (SF-VI, DS II and Magnum Carry) used a completely different lock works than the old DS. The newer guns innards were based on the Trooper revolvers which required very little hand fitting and was much cheaper to produce.
Unfortunately, these guns had some problems and didn't sell very well. No mater how much they looked the part, they just weren't Detective Specials.
If Colt has managed to get the bugs out of that redesigned lock works (Yes, there were bugs. Big, ugly ones too.) then this might be a good gun at a reasonable price.
Then that brings us back to the same problem that the others had. It looks like something its not and that's what folks will compare it to.

 

[les.b]

I hate to be a whiner, but I have a small accumulation of Colts: a pre shroud Detective Special and a shrouded Detective Special. The same with the Agents and the Cobras. I also have a 2 1/2" Diamondback. So that's seven snub 38 Spl Colts. And each one has a specific name...

An all steel Colt 38 special snub nose is in my book a Detective Special. The same gun with an alloy frame is a Cobra.

This new gun should have been called a "Detective Special". Next they'll be calling the Commander, which was short barreled Government Model with an alloy frame a "lightweight" Commander, and then they'll make a steel frames version, and call it a "Combat Commander", and then everybody will be confused....oh, wait, they already did that, didn't they? Shoot.

I wonder.... If this new "Cobra" works out, and they start making it in an alloy frame, what will they call it? A Detective Special? Or a "Lightweight Cobra"?

That would be like Smith and Wesson making an auto pistol and calling it a "Military and Police".... That name is already taken by 60 years or so worth of revolvers......

Golly......

Best Regards, Les

 

[silversnake]

I wonder.... If this new "Cobra" works out, and they start making it in an alloy frame, what will they call it? A Detective Special? Or a "Lightweight Cobra"?

Regardless of what it's called, I hope we see a new six shot aluminum-framed snubby rated for .38+P, without an internal lock. I'll be happy to buy one from S&W, Ruger, Colt or Kimber.

 

[Goblin]

Not sure if I saw the same one but I did see a show on how H&H are made. The difference is most here can't afford those and it would be the same with Colt. The show I saw the shotguns started at $40k. And they don't make a lot of them. That price is literally more than double the price of my car when it was new. $17k.

On the other hand, it will probably last a lot longer than your car.

 

[Arik]

On the other hand, it will probably last a lot longer than your car.

I doubt that. I wouldn't know how to compute car use into gun use....miles to rounds fired......but my car is used every day. I drive a minimum of 50 miles a day. In 10 years I typically have at least 150k miles and I typically sell off somewhere after 200k. If I used a gun like that every day it wouldn't last that long.

Of course sitting around unused anything will last forever

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[F224]

John:

You never cease to amaze me. That is a fantastic find!!! It must have an alloy cylinder in order to achieve that weight on the D frame, and with then unheard of "Target Stocks". What a cool revolver!!

As usual, thanks for sharing with us...

Best Regards, Les

My 3" barreled Colt Agent (steel cylinder) that has been customized and refinished, bobbed hammer, Detective Special shrouded barrel, XS Sights big Dot front sight, Black-T on all moving parts and the frame and barrel done in CeraKoat Burnt Bronze. This 3" weighs 16 ounces with those Pachmeyer grips and shoots any good 130-158gr ammo into 3" groups at 25 yards all day long.

 

[Combat]

When I started reading this thread I was hoping it was going to be about Colt bringing back these. A six inch barrel .22 sure would be nice.

 

[crazyphil]

========================

Not an expert, but my Ruger rotates to the left when viewed as I aim, if I was pointing it at you, you would say it rotates to the right. Same as my Smith's.

I found an answer on the Ruger forum. All Ruger Double
Action revolvers cylinders turn counter clockwise. All Ruger
Single Action revolvers turn clockwise. Apparantly all 4 of
Tops revolvers are single action? I have a Ruger .44 Magnum
Single Action, but never noticed the cylinder turned clockwise.
That's one of the reasons I love this forum. I learn something
new (almost) every day.

 

[vt_shooter]

Maybe when other manufacturers see that there's no internal lock on the new Colt they'll follow suit ...

 

[mag318]

2017 is going to be an interesting year in the firearms industry. I never considered buying a Kimber 1911 but when I personally examined their first revolver the K6S I was impressed. I bought one and I've become even more impressed. Its a super high quality build, has a better trigger than most of my Smiths, and shoots to the POA with most loads tried so far.
Being a collector and a shooter I will buy a couple of the new Cobras when they become available. I'll shoot one and the other will be kept in pristine condition just in case Colt for some reason stops making them. Again 2017 is going to be an interesting year.

 

[jeeps]

Looks like investment cast and mim,crude. Here we go !

 

[JK-linux]

Glad they are making a revolver again. Very sad they put the "Cobra" name on the revolver they are making because it most certainly isn't a Cobra in any meaningful sense of what the name implies. At least give this clunky new thing an original name - Rattle Snake, Garter Snake, Angle Worm, etc...
I'd take my $700 and buy an actual Cobra or DS (this new one is more of a DS than a Cobra anyhow) out of spite if nothing else.

 

[Grayfox]

The more I think about it, the more I like this new Cobra. My first legal carry gun was a 3rd Issue Detective Special. I liked that gun and shot it quite well. However, my late wife rook a shine to it and wouldn't give it back for about 20 years.
I still have it, but with its collectability and value, I just can't see carrying it again.

Now I know that the J-frames are the king of small revolvers. But for me, they're just too small. I've never been able to shoot one very well. By the time I put a set of grips on one to give me proper control, I've lost all the advantage of its small size. The situation is even worse now as I've developed a touch of arthritis in my hands.
My most commonly carried revolver these days is my 3" Model 13.

I look forward to getting my hands on the new Cobra. "IF" it lives up to the hype, I'll very likely buy one as my new carry revolver.

Now, if Colt would only bring back a 6" .22 Diamondback.

 

[Jeffrey A. Cooper]

The new double action from Colt.

An American auction house that I've made purchases has a news mag that is head lining a new Colt Detective-sized double action revolver with a different, improved trigger. The story has a link to Colt that says the price is around 700. It has the right classical revolver appearance, IMHO.
I shop a shop in Mishawaka that gets all the Colt choices early, I'll kept my Smith friends informed of any real life contact in the future.

 

[PR24]

I doubt it, but then again S&W is bringing back a Model 66 snubbie allegedly so anything's possible.

Yea it's kind of a snub? 2.75" bbl so it's longer than their 'norm' & not quite the 3" folks want; kind of a Ruger'esq barrel length.