| Colt Cobra | |
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Colt Cobra .38 Special |
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| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Colt |
| Produced | 1950-1981 |
| Variants | Colt Aircrewman, Colt Courier, Colt Agent, Colt Viper |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 15 oz (430 g) |
| Barrel length | 2 in (51 mm) |
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| Caliber | *.38 Special *.32 Colt New Police *.22 LR |
| Action | DA/SA |
| Feed system | 6-round Cylinder |
The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver chambered in .38 Special, .32 Colt New Police, and .22 LR. It holds six shots of ammunition and was sold by Colt from 1950 until 1981.[1]
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The Cobra was made in two models: The First Model, made from 1950-1971 and weighing 15 ounces unloaded with 2-inch barrel, and an improved Second Model, made from 1972 onwards, recognizable by its shrouded ejector rod, with an unloaded weight of 16 ounces. The Cobra is the same overall size and configuration as the famous Colt Detective Special and uses the same size "D" frame. However, the Cobra's frame is constructed of lightweight aluminum alloy as compared to the all-steel frame of the Detective Special.
The Cobra was produced in calibers .38 Special, 32 Colt NP, and .22 LR. The Cobra .38 Special was available in 2-inch and 3-inch barrel lengths. The Cobra in .22 LR was available only with the 3-inch barrel.
The Aircrewman was an ultra-lightweight version of the Detective Special constructed of aluminum alloy, and made from 1951-1957 for use by US Air Force aircrews. They are distinguished by the gold-metal Air Force medallion in the place of the silver-metal Colt medallion on the checkered wooden grips, as well as a cylinder made of aluminum alloy. Within two years of issuance, reports of cylinder and/for frame failure began to plague the Aircrewman and its Smith & Wesson counterpart, the M13, despite issuing a dedicated low-pressure .38 Special military cartridge, the Caliber.38 Ball, M41 round.[2][3] However, the cylinder fractures continued, and the weapons were eventually withdrawn from service.[4]
The Courier was produced in .22 Long Rifle and 32 Colt NP. It was made from 1954-1956. Approximately 3000 were produced in the two years.
The Colt Agent was a lower-price version of the Cobra, featuring a less highly polished blue finish and smaller, simplified grips. The bottom of the Agent gripstock was slightly shorter than that of the Cobra. The original Agent weighed 14 ounces and was available only in .38 Special caliber, with a 2-inch barrel and blued finish. It was made from 1962-1979. A slightly revised version of the Agent was released in 1973 with a shrouded barrel with a weight of 16 ounces. In 1984, the Agent was briefly revived by Colt, this time with a parkerized finish; production continued until 1986.
The Viper was essentially a 4" barrel version of the alloy-framed Colt Cobra in .38 Special. Introduced in 1977, it sold poorly, and was discontinued the same year.
Some authorities have recommended against the use of higher-pressure +P-rated .38 Special cartridges in aluminum-framed Colt revolvers, as the Cobra was designed well before the advent of such ammunition. In the owners' manual accompanying some post-1972 Cobra revolvers, Colt recommended the use of +P ammunition for 2nd Model Cobra frames only, with the stipulation that the gun be returned to the factory for inspection every 1,000 rounds (compared with a 2,000-3,000 round interval for the 2nd Model steel-framed Detective Special). The Cobra should never be fired with extreme-pressure +P+ ammunition.
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