Colt Anaconda
Colt's late but powerful entry into the large-bore magnum revolver market.
The Colt Anaconda is a large-frame, double-action revolver with a six-round cylinder and a full-length under-barrel lug for the ejection rod. Colt’s Manufacturing Company introduced it in 1990, chambering it for .44 Magnum and later .45 Colt ammunition. This model was the Hartford, Connecticut company’s first entry into the large-bore magnum handgun market.
Built on a new, heavier “MM” frame, the Anaconda arrived late to compete with established .44 Magnum revolvers like the Smith & Wesson Model 29, Ruger’s Redhawk and Blackhawk, and the Dan Wesson Model 44—all of which had been on the market for about 35 years. Unlike many handguns from the 1980s and 1990s, the Anaconda was never offered with a blued carbon steel finish; it came only in stainless steel. Early production had accuracy problems, but barrel changes fixed these, and Colt later claimed it was among the most accurate .44 Magnum revolvers available. The revolver was marketed mainly to sport shooters and hunters, as its size made it unsuitable for law enforcement duty or concealed carry. Limited custom-shop runs continued until around 2003. In 2021, Colt resumed production with a redesigned model featuring a stronger frame and an oversized Python-style action.
Originally only in .44 Magnum, the Anaconda began offering .45 Colt in 1993. Its appearance combined an upsized King Cobra frame with a ventilated-rib barrel like the Python’s. The standard finish was satin brushed stainless; a high-polish “Ultimate Stainless” option was available through the Colt Custom Shop for a time. Barrel lengths were four, six, or eight inches. Grips were neoprene synthetic rubber with finger grooves and nickel “Rampant Colt” medallions. It had large target-style hammers and triggers, open iron sights with a red front insert and fully adjustable white-outline rear. Some models came factory-drilled for scope mounts; others had recoil-reducing Magna-Ported barrels. The trigger action was rated highly, and the heavy construction helped absorb recoil, making the Anaconda relatively easy to shoot with heavy loads.
Introduced in 1993, the Kodiak was a stainless-steel variant of the Anaconda with a factory Magna-Ported barrel and an unfluted cylinder. Only 2,000 Kodiaks were made as a special run, breaking Colt’s tradition of naming revolvers after snakes.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Manufacturer
- Colt's Manufacturing Company
- Production Date
- 1990–2003 · 2021–present
- Variants
- Kodiak / Anaconda Hunter / Anaconda Custom Ported / Anaconda Camo
- Weight
- 47 oz, 1.3kg (4-inch barrel) / 53 oz, 1.5kg (6-inch barrel) / 59 oz, 1.7kg (8-inch barrel)
- Length
- 9+5/8 in (4-inch barrel) / 11+5/8 in (6-inch barrel) / 13+5/8 in (8-inch barrel)
- Part Length
- 4-inch barrel (102 mm) / 6-inch barrel (153 mm) / 8-inch barrel (203 mm)
- Cartridge
- .44 Special / .44 Magnum / .45 Colt
- Action
- Double-action
- Feed
- Six round cylinder
- Sights
- Adjustable open iron sights
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Built on a new and heavier 'MM' frame, the Anaconda was brought out to compete with .44 Magnum contemporaries such as the Smith & Wesson Model 29, the Sturm, Ruger & Co. Redhawk and Blackhawk, and the Dan Wesson Firearms Model 44. Considering that many of these models had been marketed and sold for fully 35 years upon its introduction, the Anaconda was a very late entry into the large-bore handgun market. Unlike most other pistols introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, the Anaconda was never offered with a carbon steel blued finish, but was available only in stainless steel. When originally introduced, Anacondas were plagued with poor accuracy, but changes to the barrels quickly corrected the problems to the point that Colt billed its new pistol as among the most accurate .44 Magnum revolvers in production.
Originally chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge, in 1993 the Anaconda began to be offered in .45 Colt as well. Its fit and finish resembled an upsized King Cobra married to a ventilated-rib barrel reminiscent of the Python's. Anacondas came equipped with neoprene synthetic rubber finger-grooved combat-style grips with nickel colored 'Rampant Colt' medallions, large target type hammers and triggers, as well as open iron sights with a red insert front and fully adjustable white outline rear. Some models were factory drilled and tapped for telescopic sight mounting, while others shipped with recoil reducing Magna-Ported barrels. The trigger actions on these guns are rated as very high-quality, and the heavy-duty solid construction and weight tends to absorb recoil, making the Anaconda relatively easy to shoot with heavy loads.
In 2021, Colt resumed production of the Anaconda, using a new design with a stronger frame and an oversized Python action. A variant called the Kodiak was introduced in 1993, similar to the Anaconda but with a recoil-reducing factory magna-ported barrel and unfluted cylinder; 2000 Kodiaks were made as a special run. In 2024, Colt reintroduced the Kodiak as a variant of the newer Anaconda, available with a 4.25-inch barrel.
Reader's Guide
The Colt Anaconda represents Colt's belated but determined entry into the large-bore magnum revolver market, arriving decades after established competitors. Its all-stainless construction and eventual barrel improvements allowed it to claim a place among the most accurate .44 Magnum revolvers in production. The Anaconda was primarily marketed for sport shooting and hunting, as its size precluded law enforcement or concealed carry use. The model's significance is underscored by its limited production variants, including the uncatalogued 5-inch barrel version (fewer than 150 made) and the extremely low number of 4-inch .45 Colt examples, which command high prices. The Kodiak variant, with its Magna-Ported barrel and unfluted cylinder, added a recoil-reducing option. After a period of availability only through the Colt custom gun shop until approximately 2003, Colt resumed production in 2021 with a redesigned, stronger frame and an oversized Python action, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the platform. The 2024 reintroduction of the Kodiak further cements the Anaconda lineage as a continuing part of Colt's revolver heritage.
Did You Know?
- An uncatalogued 5-inch barrel version of the Anaconda was made, with reportedly less than 150 produced.
- The Kodiak variant, introduced in 1993, had a factory magna-ported barrel and unfluted cylinder; only 2000 were made.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Colt Anaconda?
The Colt Anaconda is a large-frame, double-action revolver with a six-round cylinder and a full-length under-barrel lug that houses the ejection rod. It stands as Colt's dedicated entry into the big-bore magnum revolver category.
What calibers is the Colt Anaconda available in?
It was originally chambered for .44 Magnum and later expanded to accept .45 Colt as well.
When was the Colt Anaconda introduced and how did it fit into the market?
Colt released the Anaconda in 1990 as its first foray into the large-bore magnum handgun segment. It arrived after Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Dan Wesson had already established their own .44 Magnum revolvers, making it a late but powerful competitor.
What frame platform does the Colt Anaconda use?
It is built on Colt's purpose-designed 'MM' frame, a heavier platform created specifically for the large-bore magnum role rather than being a scaled-up variant of an earlier Colt frame.
What barrel lengths and finishes come in the Colt Anaconda?
Standard barrel options include 4, 6, and 8 inches (with an uncatalogued 5-inch variant), and finishes range from satin brushed stainless steel to the Custom Shop's 'Ultimate Stainless' treatment.
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