Over the years, the Cobra was made with 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, and 5-inch barrels, although certain barrel lengths did depend on the caliber the gun was chambered in. Revolver aficionados weren’t limited to Cobras with two-inch barrels. Those Second Model Cobras are easily identified by their shrouded ejector rods and Baughman ramp sights. The second run of the Cobra was made from 1972 to 1981. (Photo credit: Anthony’s Firearm Warehouse)Īlthough the gun was made with a D-frame similar to that of the Colt Detective Special, it has an aluminum alloy frame, so it’s a lot lighter weight than the steel-framed Detective Special. The first model run pistols had a two-inch barrel. The Colt Cobra was the first revolver to be made in the snake gun line. The original Cobra enjoyed a 21-year run-from 1950 to 1971-and was a reasonably lightweight 15-ounce pistol with a two-inch barrel. There were two models of the Cobra made, each of which had different features. The first snake gun was the Cobra, which was launched by the gun maker in 1950. There are seven revolvers in Colt’s snake line, including the Python, Anaconda, Diamondback, Cobra, Boa, King Cobra, and Viper. The Colt Anaconda is one of the gun maker’s popular snake guns. Whatever the reason was, revolver lovers everywhere probably rejoice in Colt’s decision. Various rumors and reasons for this choice float around the gun world, one of them being that the company’s owner at that time specifically wanted a line of guns bearing the names of venomous creatures. It was the 1950s when Colt decided to launch a line of serpent-themed revolvers. After all, aren’t the snake guns the guns that basically built the modern revolvers we know and love? Why Snake Guns? It really comes as no surprise that Colt’s been re-releasing modern versions of those guns, considering their popularity. Whether you enjoy revolvers or not, those seven models have come to stand for all that is amazing and high-quality about them. Colt’s snake guns are nothing if not legendary in the gun world.

Colt diamondback history