COLT KING COBRA
"AA" FRAME
By the early 1980's the buying public had made it clear that they preferred stainless steel revolvers, so in 1986 Colt upgraded the Trooper Mark V to stainless steel and changed the barrel to a full under lug shrouded type. Other then the barrel profile and use of stainless, the gun is the same as the Mark V.
Colt named the new model the King Cobra, continuing it's use of snake named revolvers.
As a first for Colt, a Cobra head was part of the barrel stamp breaking with the tradition of having only the name and caliber stamped on the barrel.
The King Cobra was a first in the gun business, in that it was the first time a new model of revolver was introduced in stainless steel before a blued version.
A blued model was introduced a year later.
The King Cobra, like the Trooper Mark III and Mark V were extremely strong, rugged revolvers, specifically designed for unlimited use with Magnum ammunition.
The King Cobra was available with barrels of 2 1/2", 3" (limited), 4", 6", and 8".
Caliber was .357 Magnum.
Finishes were satin stainless steel, bright polish stainless, and bright blue.
Grips were Pachmayr "Gripper" with gold Colt medallions, Vintage Industry copies of the Pachmayer Gripper made for Colt with silver medallions, and checkered walnut with gold medallions.
Front sights had red inserts, with white outlined rear sights.
In 1997 the King Cobra came standard with the frame drilled and tapped for a scope mount. This was known as the Enhanced King Cobra. It also had a larger cylinder release and a recessed muzzle. At the same time the option of having the barrel ported with recoil reducing barrel ports was offered.
The production history of the King Cobra was turbulent.
It was introduced in 1986 and discontinued in 1992. Production resumed in 1994 and was discontinued for the last time in 1998.
VARIATIONS
The King Cobra Stainless.
This was the standard satin finish stainless
The King Cobra Blue.
This was the King Cobra in bright blue, often fitted with walnut grips.
A BLUED KING COBRA