#Colt

From Colt’s press release:
“The Python is back! Building on Colt’s Snake Gun legacy, the legendary double-action revolver returns in stainless steel in 4.25” and 6” barrel lengths. The 2020 Python features modern stainless steel alloys and a re-designed rear sight. Thirty percent more steel beneath the rear adjustable target sight gives you a stronger revolver and more robust shooting experience. A recessed target crown, user-interchangeable front sight, and Walnut grip with the iconic Colt medallion make this a gun you’ll want to shoot AND show off. The Python is chambered in .357 Magnum and also accommodates .38 Special cartridges.”

As we weary TFB staff traveled through the wilds of Industry Day, I wandered towards the sign of the Prancing Pony.  Their one and only ware on display for live fire was the new redesigned Colt Python.  One of Colt’s engineers shed some knowledge on me about the internal workings and manufacturing processes behind this revolver.

For those of us on the double-action bandwagon that have been waiting for Colt to produce something in a large-frame like the wheelguns of old, this is it. Colt has been taking their sweet time starting with the smaller, snubby Cobra offerings and have finally built their way to the King Cobra Target. This intermediate size of a 4.25″ barrel gives shooters the potential to carry it as a sidearm, and simultaneously take it to the range for competitions as the “Target” name implies. On a previous Wheelgun Wednesday, we shared a lot of photos of this revolver with you in early December in our “ An Intimate Look at the Colt King Cobra Target.” Hopefully, that primed your appetite for more because today we are going to take a deep dive into the Colt King Cobra Target with a full TFB Review. Let’s dive in!

Chances are, if you’re a firearms fan and have ever discussed “ top movie shootouts” or “ best gun films“, the classic 1995 heist action/thriller “Heat” has entered into the conversation. The infamous rolling shootout scene, which takes place on the streets of Los Angeles following a botched smash-and-grab bank robbery, is often hailed as one of the best action sequences in a film. Featured heavily in this scene are the robbers’ Colt 733s, converted to full-auto. These Colt Commando models are wielded effectively (complete with some controlled bursts and competent mag changes) by Robert De Niro as criminal Neil McCauley and by his partner-in-crime Chris Shiherlis, played by Val Kilmer. Colt Commandos are popular with the retro/cloner crowd, and for good reason. The design oozes nostalgia, and there’s an air of old-school cool about the fixed A2-style front sight with the integrated carry handle rear sight. Dead Air Silencers and Noveske Rifleworks have taken that inspiration and partnered up on an interesting “enhanced” 733-style collaboration, limited to only 50 units nationwide.

Welcome back to another edition of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday.  In today’s article, we are looking at the Python’s lesser known and more diminutive cousin, the Colt Diamondback. Built on Colt’s D frame, the Diamondback was available in .22LR, .22WMR (rather rare), and .38 Special.  Barrel lengths were 2 1/2″, 4″ and 6″, all with a vent rib and adjustable rear sights.  The Diamondback was available in either blue or nickel finish.  Manufacture began in 1966 and ceased in 1991.

While browsing the catalog of the upcoming December 2019 Rock Island Premier Firearms Auction for putting together one of TFB’s articles about most interesting firearms seen in largest US auctions, I came across a couple of rather rare yet interesting Colt revolvers that were specifically made for exhibition shooters back in the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th centuries. What sets these guns apart is that while being chambered in one of the most popular cartridges of the day, the .44-40 Winchester, these revolvers are smoothbore!

The Colt Woodsman is a semi-automatic .22LR pistol with a ten round detachable box magazine.  Notably, it has a heel magazine release.  The Colt Woodsman was manufactured from 1915 to the mid-1970’s.  The Huntsman was introduced in 1955, and was previously named the Challenger.  The name change was due to a dispute between Colt and Browning over the Challenger name, of which Browning already had a .22 pistol named as such. The Colt Woodsman and Huntsman pistols have the same disassembly process.  If you’ve played with enough .22 pistols, the disassembly directions can vary widely compared to larger caliber semi-auto pistols.  Let’s disassemble the Colt Woodsman on this edition of TFB’s Field Strip series.

The Colt snake guns have been one of the most desirable and sought after revolver series in recent memory. There were a number of variations from the basic Cobra revolvers to the massive Colt Anacondas. My personal Colt revolver is a Colt King Cobra. My grandfather was obsessed with big bore handguns and enjoyed using them for hunting and just recreational shooting. I’m extremely thankful I had the opportunity to go out with my grandparents and shoot revolvers with them before they passed away. My grandfather had a number of different Colts including the King Cobra, two Pythons and an Anaconda along with a few other large caliber handguns. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away in 2009 from brain cancer, but in his will, he left me his King Cobra along with the factory box and owners manual.

There have recently been some rumours that Colt is abandoning the civilian AR-15 market. The truth isn’t quite so simple. With national news outlets picking up the story, Colt have today released a statement emphasising their commitment to the Second Amendment and reassuring that they ‘highly value’ their civilian customers.

Welcome to another Wheelgun Wednesday, where I swear it’s purely a coincidence that I selected a 1917 this week!  This week’s revolver is a Colt 1917, as opposed to the previously featured S&W.  It has the added distinction of not only being carried in combat in WW1 (Cue Sabaton’s new album Great War) but also at the tail end of the Korean War and was in Southeast Asia for a decade during the United State’s involvement in Vietnam. (“One war, one police action and one undeclared conflict” didn’t sound as good for the title).

Colt is expanding the revived snake family of revolvers with a new version of the recently released King Cobra. The .38 Cobra and its .357 sibling both appeared mostly targeted to users looking for revolvers for concealed carry, due to the relatively short barrels. The re-release of the Colt King Cobra will catch the eye of shooters and collectors alike.

Welcome everyone to the 16th edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you missed any one of our other articles, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this gat a sweet deal or just strait fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article. 

In the early 90s, the gun world was about as stable as dating a dancer named Tiffany you met at the gentleman’s club on a Tuesday night. In short, it was a roller coaster time for the industry and times were slowly changing. Colt was trying to keep up with the times and as a result, the Colt Double Eagle series was created. Colt started producing the Double Eagle series from 1989 until 1997 when they shut down the line due to falling sales.

In this episode of the First Firearm series, we’ll take a look at the things to consider when buying your first revolver.  This series is dedicated to those that are new to gun ownership and looking for their first gun, or for those that are buying the first type of gun that we’re discussing.  Let’s take a closer look at the infamous, yet often overlooked revolver.

I really wish this photograph could talk.