Colt King Cobra

Lore & Background

The King Cobra was introduced in 1986 and discontinued in 1992, then returned to Colt's product line in 1994. It was dropped a second time in 1998 and not reintroduced until 2019 as a .357 Magnum, three-inch barrel variant of the 2017 Colt Cobra. From 1986 to 1992, it was built on Colt's medium-size 'V' frame and offered in very hi-grade carbon steel with a bright, highly-polished deep royal blued finish. Matte stainless steel was available from 1987 to 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998, while polished stainless steel was an option from 1988 to 1992.

Barrel lengths varied by finish: blued models came in 4- and 6-inch lengths from 1986 to 1992, with a 2.5-inch option from 1990 to 1992. Matte stainless models offered 2.5-inch barrels from 1987 to 1992, 2-inch barrels from 1988 to 1992 and again from 1994 to 1998, and 4-, 6-, and 8-inch lengths from 1990 to 1992 and 1994 to 1998. Polished stainless models had 4- and 6-inch barrels from 1988 to 1992, a 2.5-inch from 1990 to 1992, and an 8-inch from 1989 to 1992. The revolver was equipped with either oversized walnut target-style or hard rubber black finger-grooved combat-style grips, an enlarged target hammer, a fixed red insert front sight, and a fully adjustable white outline rear sight. In 1998, the top strap was drilled and tapped for scope ring mounting.

Colt produced six King Cobras with three-inch barrels and fixed sights for the Montreal Police Department, which considered the model for plain-clothes officers. The revolver was not adopted, and the six samples were returned to the distributor. In 2019, the King Cobra was reintroduced with a three-inch barrel, debuting at SHOT Show 2019. In 2022, a .22 LR version was added, a 10-shot revolver with either a 4.25- or 6.0-inch barrel.

Reader's Guide

The Colt King Cobra occupies a notable place in Colt's revolver lineage as a more affordable and robust alternative to the Python, built on the proven Trooper MK V frame. Its reintroduction in 2019 after a long hiatus demonstrated continued interest in medium-frame .357 Magnum revolvers. The King Cobra's variety of barrel lengths and finishes over its production runs—blued, matte stainless, and polished stainless—allowed it to serve both law enforcement and civilian markets. The 1998 addition of drilled and tapped top straps for scope mounting reflected a shift toward versatility. The limited run of six fixed-sight three-inch models for the Montreal Police Department, though not adopted, highlights niche law enforcement interest. The 2022 addition of a .22 LR variant expanded the line's appeal for training and plinking. Overall, the King Cobra is recognized as a durable, serviceable revolver that balanced power and practicality.

Did You Know?

• The King Cobra is based on the Colt Trooper MK V, not the Python.
• Six King Cobras with three-inch barrels and fixed sights were made for the Montreal Police Department but never adopted.
• In 2022, a .22 LR version with a 10-shot cylinder was added to the line.