DavidE

I know this is rumormill, so I will post the source. Said source may be on to something or not. (I want to meet the Dean Speir standard of disclosure here.)

A poster on the following Facebook page posted as follows:

"I spoke to the factory reps at Shot Show. They are considering a King Cobra in 357. As for Pythons, no way. They do not have the skilled workers to build a Python and if they did the cost would be excessive"

So, what are the odds that we may see a new King Cobra?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/colt...eric&ref=notif

Apologies, it is a locked group. Some folks here may already be members, though. Moderators are welcome to review my post here in terms of group standards.

WaltGraham

I wish Dean would drop in...

Skeptic49

I'm sure Taurus will produce them, if the price is right.
Geoff
Who notes the rumor that Taurus builds the Colt revolvers.

dfariswheel

"Probably" if there is to be a new King Cobra it'll be just the current new Cobra in .357, probably including a longer barrel.

Years ago when rumors were always flying that Colt was going to reintroduce a new revolver I said that it would almost certainly be an updated Colt "SF" model like the SF-VI, DS-II, and Magnum Carry.
And, Colt introduced a new Cobra based on the "SF" frame models only made of MIM.

When Colt brought out the then-new .38 Special "SF" frame models they almost surely intended to offer a variety of models based on the "SF" frame like they made various models based on the older "D" frame.
They probably intended to offer them in various calibers like .357 and .22LR and probably with an adjustable sight model to replace the older Diamondback.

Fate intervened and the "SF" frame was dropped after only expanding to a .357 model and options of longer 3 inch and possibly 4 inches before they were discontinued.

Now it looks like the new Colt Cobra is a success and I suspect Colt is going to roll out new models based on it.
Since they re-used the Cobra name, next logical step would be a new "King Cobra" based on the new Cobra.
I'd predict a 2 inch or 3 inch barrel, possibly a 4 inch, but with the same frame and fixed sights as the Cobra, and in .357 Magnum.
In other words I don't see it being a medium frame revolver with adjustable sights.

As for Taurus making Colt firearms..... NO.
Colt has always made their core models in the Colt factory. They have had, over the years, guns produced overseas and finished at Colt but those models are well known.

The rumors that Colt had core models like the Single Action and even the 1911 series made overseas started because Colt had the raw parts for the Black Powder Series muzzle loaders made by Uberti in Italy and finished here in the US, but NOT finished by Colt. They contracted finishing to an outside company.
The truth that the Black Powder revolvers parts were made in Italy morphed into "Colt is making the Single Action in Italy" then morphed into "Colt is having their guns made overseas and they just stamp their name on them".

The new Cobra IS "produced" by an outside specialist company because Colt, like most companies can't afford to invest in expensive MIM production tooling.
So, Colt has the raw parts produced by a company that specializes in MIM production and Colt does the assembly and finishing at Hartford.

Not to step on any toes, but Colt doesn't want to have their good name associated with a company that has a reputation like Taurus.
There were also rumors for years that S&W had guns made by Taurus. S&W spent a lot of time knocking that one down.

So, my best guess is a new Colt King Cobra will be based on the same small frame as the new Cobra, will be in .357 Magnum and will have barrels of from 2 to 4 inches.

dfariswheel

Update, there appears to be a picture out of the new King Cobra.
It's the same frame as a new model Cobra only in .357 Mag and with a 4 inch barrel, fixed sights.

See it here......

https://www.coltforum.com/forums/col...obra-true.html

Snake45

I went but I can't see the picture. But I guess I can imagine it.

A 3" fixed sight "new Cobra" rated for .357 appeals to me a lot, not that I'd ever shoot .357s in it. A 4" fixed sight gun does not, and it sure doesn't sound like what I think a "King Cobra" should be.

DavidE

I agree, 100 percent. Definitely a quality guy. I always try to think of his advice on cites and writing about guns when I post. I would love to have some of his thoughts on things Colt and Wheelgun right now.

David

DavidE

Well, I wonder if SHOT Show will provide the answers. On the official Colt Facebook page, the aficionados in the comments sections seem to still be enthused about the possibility of things Python. The Company posters aren't talking much on specifics, which is understandable if they are counting on SHOT Show as the time for any new announcements. We will see.

https://www.facebook.com/ColtFirearms

<https://www.facebook.com/ColtFirearms>

I will have to see if I can find the Colts at my local stores. There was one in my area that carried Colts, but it went out of business. Nothing to do with sales, the owner just couldn't get anyone in their family to continue the family business. I checked another and they had no Colt products. I'll take a look at a couple of others. What I saw of the Cobras, so far, I liked. I would like to check the actions on a couple again. I am guessing that whatever new internals are involved in the Cobra series would be the basis for whatever they do next, should they introduce another double action revolver line along with the Cobra series.

dfariswheel

There's about a Minus Zero chance there will ever be another Python made by Colt.

If Colt brought out a modern transfer bar safety-ignition system revolver with the Python name it would instantly draw a storm of hatred because it wouldn't be THE Python.
It would basically be a King Cobra with the Python name on it.

In order to make the old Python would require a monstrous investment in tooling, fixtures, and hiring and training new employees.
Simply to prepare employees to be able to give it the Python polish would cost a fortune and take months if not years for them to develop the manual skills to do that level of polishing.

The cost of production would put the price so high only a tiny few could afford one.
That would put production in very small numbers and that is something Colt simply couldn't afford to do.
Colt needs significant production numbers for guns in order to generate the money to keep the lights on.
As well off as Ruger is, they simply couldn't make a Python and not hemorrhage money doing it, and Colt is tiny compared to Ruger.

It's not simply a matter of setting up CNC machines to make the parts, the Python design required extensive hand fitting and finishing of parts simply to get it assembled and working, then required a Master fitter to be able to adjust and tune the action to Python levels.
The old Colt action was made of forged parts that were hand finished, then installed by stoning and even bending parts to make the whole thing work properly.

This is like making a hand built car like a Ferrari.
Ford couldn't afford to do it. To do it you have to have a Ferrari company dedicated to what are basically a few one-off cars a year costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ferrari is structured to do that, Ford isn't and Colt isn't structured to build a true Python.
People dream about a new Python the same way some people dream about being able to buy a new 1930's quality Packard car.

dfariswheel

One reason you don't see new Colt's in stores is because they usually never make it to the display case.
People buy them as soon as they come in.

I've been in gun stores as the UPS man brings in a shipment of guns and have seen customers grab the owner and ask if there are any Colt's in there.

Snake45

It looks like the closest thing you can buy (new) today to a Python would be a Smith 586, 4" or 6" barrel, MSRP $839. Yeah, I know, it's not the same--I just said "closest."

Of course, you can always buy a used Python, if you don't mind laying out four digits--and the first one probably won't be a "1."

Doughboy

Snake45,

What I wish that S&W would bring back is a "general issue" (rather than a FEW "instant collector's items" - YES, I know that a FEW Model 27 revolvers are made each year for the "collector's market" in the so-called "Classic Line".) Model 27, just like my old 4" revolver (made in the mid-1960's), that I owned back then & often carried on duty, when I was a city marshal.
(My Model 27 was sold to a TX State Trooper, along with much of my gun collection, to help pay for my late wife's treatment for Acute Leukemia in 1983-84.)

yours, sw

csmkersh

For a gun that would see hard duty I'd like to see S&W's Model 28 return. It's a less nice version of the 27 and was the duty gun of Texas Highway Patrol for a time.

bearcat6

I recently bought this 28-2 made in 1967, I love it. It's built like a tank.

Doughboy

sgmkersh,

TRUE. - I just LIKE the Model 27 better than the Model 28. = BOTH handle HARD FIELD SERVICE very well.

yours, sw

dfariswheel

The problem is, even S&W can't make an original models like the 27 or 28.

They've changed to MIM parts and altered them enough that the current guns are a shadow of the older guns.
A case in point is to compare an older Model 66 Combat Magnum to the new Model 66.
The design is significantly altered and it just isn't the same.

Older owners complain about these differences, but you can imagine the howls of rage if Colt brought out a new Python with the necessary changes in design and workmanship.

Whether we like it or not, things have moved on.
From now on guns are going to be MIM, plastic, and soon, printed.
To us older owners today's guns just look odd, if not outright weird.
Some of the ugliest guns ever are some of the strange looking revolvers S&W has made over the last years.

Snake45

You got that right, old friend.

And Colt DID bring out "a new Python with the necessary changes in design and workmanship." In the mid-'80s. It was called King Cobra. Kinda sad that today, THAT is fondly recalled as good old-school gunmaking.

Doughboy

Snake45,

NOTHING "Kinda sad" about the King Cobra, imVho. = Instead it's JUNK, imo.

I'll NOT buy another new Colt ever, as I'm too disappointed in what I'm used to in my 1950's DS, Cobra, OP & even the WWII Commando.

yours, sw

Snake45

Strongly disagree. My King Cobra isn't a Python in craftsmanship or finish, or even a S&W, but it's strong, it's smooth, and it's very shootable. It got me through Br'er Mas's LFI-I in good form. I like it quite a bit and have no desire to get shed of it.

dfariswheel

The King Cobra was never any kind of updated Python and was never intended to be.
It was simply a progression of the Trooper Mark III of 1969.

Colt introduced the Trooper Mark V, which was just the Mark III with a few minor changes to correct some complaints about the DA trigger pull.

With the demand for stainless steel guns, Colt simply made the Mark V with a different profile barrel and in stainless steel first, and called it the King Cobra.
Other then the barrel 100% of the parts interchange between the Mark V and King Cobra.
This was the first time a gun maker brought out a stainless revolver before a blued model.
Since the revolver world had copied the Python barrel as close as they could get away with, Colt made the logical choice to make the new King Cobra barrel similar to the Python.

There apparently was a prototype Mark III revolver made by Colt to explore an updated Python at a cheaper to produce price.
It was sold in the big Colt auctions of a few years ago.
Colt wisely never took it beyond the single prototype.

In appearance it was a Mark III with a Python barrel similar to the Mark V based Colt Boa produced for Lew Horton.