Is an 8 inch King Cobra (Colt) considered a desireable model?

[GatorFarmer]

I have not really kept up with values on thr Colt snake guns. When I was a kid reading gun mags the Colt King Cobra was advertised as a working gun to compete with the 686 and then new Ruger GP100. Apparently they have gone up in value since. I have a chance to get an 8 in example. I had not even realized they were made in that size. I saw one on GB bid up over 1800 with ten days left. Is that about right on these?

 

[StatesRightist]

Not in my book. The shorter barrels are more desirable and sell for higher prices. That price is fantasy in my mind. A 4" in excellent shape sells for $1000-$1200, the rarer, shorter guns have sold for as much as $2500. A excellent 6" is worth $800-1000, 8" $700-$800. Those are averages, there are always the occasional home run bids. JMO

 

[Thuer]

What a prices. Are they mad? Buy a good functional revolver like a 686 or a Ruger GP 100.
A Python or a good SAA for top dollar ok. But a King Cobra?

 

[arjay]

King Cobra prices have been climbing the last few years.I really wonder how many 8 inchers were made.

 

[Thuer]

Overhere are the 6 "and 4" still cheap.

They are only used in for sport nothing else.

And there are only 300 collectors in Holland. Not all of them are intrested in a Colt King Cobra.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The new in box one on GB was indeed bid up over 1800 - earlier today -have not followed it since it had ten days left. It started life at a penny so market price is apparently what it is. (Assuming AR panic has not somehow influenced price.) I was just looking to trade into one with the idea of later swapping it out for a 1911.

Well originally to just shoot the thing - it initially seeming to be an affordable alternative to a Python. Which it apparently is not.

I am guessing the value must be to a Colt collector looking to fill a hole in his or her collection. Anyway would be part of a trade for my newly made of gold ARs.

Edit to add that I spotted a 2nd NIB 8" with a buy it now price of close to 3400. What did they make twleve of the things or something? Yikes.

 

[longranger]

They still make S&W 686 and Ruger GP-100, They no longer make Colt Double Action anything. Folks are figuring out the later guns that Colt made are in fact tens of thousands fewer than the Python or any other model.Python was made for nearly 50 years,other Snake models far less and fewer.

 

[arjay]

Have you tried asking over on the colt forum? There are some knowledgable people there.I don't recall ever seeing an 8 inch version.

 

[ladyT]

I normally vist my local gun shops 3-4 times a week and have seen only 1 King Cobra show up over the last 10 years. That one had a 6 inch barrel. Colt revolvers just never show up in my neck of the woods.

 

[Ron H.]

I have not really kept up with values on thr Colt snake guns. When I was a kid reading gun mags the Colt King Cobra was advertised as a working gun to compete with the 686 and then new Ruger GP100. Apparently they have gone up in value since. I have a chance to get an 8 in example. I had not even realized they were made in that size. I saw one on GB bid up over 1800 with ten days left. Is that about right on these?

Sir, even with the "they don't make 'em any more" factor, that price sounds way high to me.

FWIW, my own experience with two King Cobras bought new in the late '80s was not good. The 6-inch stainless one had its barrel way out of index, such that running the rear blade all the way to the left still wouldn't center the group. (To be fair, I've had new Smiths with this same problem.) The 4-inch blued one would periodically rotate the cylinder in double-action, but not cycle the hammer. =8-| As I recall, Colt was having labor problems at the time, and their QC suffered.

Granted, this is just a sample of two and not statistically significant, but after those two duds, I wouldn't buy another King Cobra even at late '80s prices. A 686 or GP100 is a much better gun IMHO.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have a 6" King Cobra. I've been watching prices the last few months and they have increased quite a bit.

It's a fine gun. But IMHO no better than a 686 or GP100. If it were a Python then it would be a different story.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have a 6" King Cobra. I've been watching prices the last few months and they have increased quite a bit.

It's a fine gun. But IMHO no better than a 686 or GP100. If it were a Python then it would be a different story.

 

[Göring's S&W]

King Cobra prices often surpass slightly worn Python prices which IMO is pretty crazy. However, I too rarely see them. One value modifier to consider here is whether the 8in gun is blued. I am not sure that there are blued 8in King Cobras, but I know they are much more rare and valuable when blue.

Many people don't know, but the King Cobra was the last generation of the Trooper. The troopers went from 22 and 38 Troopers, to 357 troopers (replacing the Colt model 357) then to the MKIII variety in 1969, later in late 1970s, the MKV trooper debuted, which was made briefly but discontinued. The successor to the MKV Trooper was the King Cobra.

They didn't sell that well, and also, I've observed many people assume/wonder/ask if they were comparable to a Python, which they are not. They are sort of like a Highway Patrolman in a lot of ways vs a 27. With a lot of people they do of course have the Colt DA allure, when IMO, they would still be made if they were as great as people often claim. I've always liked S&W better in a revolver, but of course, YMMV.

 

[williamlayton]

Just a thought !
Have you noticed prices in the last two weeks----nothing suprises me today. Read the ads on this site.
Hold on boys---those prices will change when folks take oxygen again.
Blessings

 

[ladyT]

This Python worship is a bunch of hoey. Not only does my King Cobra have an awesome trigger so does my Lawman III and at prices far below the unjustified prices that Pythons go for. As for fit and finish there is no difference. So why the hype over the overpriced revolver called the Python.


To the OP. One thing I've learned is when a gun is no longer in production which your interested in becomes available you should buy it. Personally I lost the chance to purchase such firearms as a Colt Viper, a Red Nine Mauser Boomhandle , a Sig P210 and an East German bolt action rifle in 5.45. Pretty much blew it and I'm still upset with my self for not buying these jewels. If you want it and have the cash to purchase it then don't hesitate. Buy it.

 

[kennyb]

This Python worship is a bunch of hoey. Not only does my King Cobra have an awesome trigger so does my Lawman III and at prices far below the unjustified prices that Pythons go for. As for fit and finish there is no difference. So why the hype over the overpriced revolver called the Python.


To the OP. One thing I've learned is when a gun is no longer in production which your interested in becomes available you should buy it. Personally I lost the chance to purchase such firearms as a Colt Viper, a Red Nine Mauser Boomhandle , a Sig P210 and an East German bolt action rifle in 5.45. Pretty much blew it and I'm still upset with my self for not buying these jewels. If you want it and have the cash to purchase it then don't hesitate. Buy it.

i see a BIG differance between the lawman and king cobra compared to the python...and i have all three as well as a number of other colts...overpriced or not the python is an awesome revolver...just my 2 cents

 

[Göring's S&W]

I think the Python is hyped up way too much myself BUT you can't ignore that the gun was the deluxe model and the King Cobra was the service model. Whether or not Colt succeeded in that goal, and how much they succeeded can be debated. By the time of the King Cobra's debut, Colt's quality was not as good. They most likely spent less time on the Pythons and since the King Cobra was made with newer technology than the early Troopers, I suppose the KC and Python in those years could have been pretty close. However, the Python used a special action which the other revolvers did not have due to cost. This is what separates the MKIII from the great pre1970 / first generation troopers. They basically cheapened them as much as possible while attempting to maintain quality a la post 64 Winchester model 70. In addition, as much as King Cobras are sought after, Python demand is higher. There were substantially less King Cobras made because they were made for a much shorter time. So while Python demand is higher, there are less King Cobras to chose from for those seeking them.