After a depressing week of discussing grim topics of death and murder convictions, let\u2019s talk about guns for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On my desk as I write this is a book that came out six years ago, which I only got around to reading now: \u201cSeven Serpents\u201d by Gurney Brown, who among his many other credentials has served on the board of the Colt Collectors Association. The seven serpents are what Colt collectors call \u201cThe Snake Guns\u201d because of their names. Some are sought after for their rarity, others because of how superbly they perform the jobs they were designed for. The book treats them in the order of their introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Colt Cobra, introduced in 1950, was the first lightweight aluminum-frame revolver. I often carried my dad\u2019s in my pocket as a teenager working in the family jewelry store, when it was too hot to wear something that could hide my preferred Colt .45 auto. I lived long enough to see a lawyer claim that the defendant owning a \u201cCobra\u201d was indicia of malice\u2026sigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Colt Python, introduced in 1955, was a target-grade revolver made almost as an afterthought in .357 Magnum instead of .38 Special. No one ever made a more accurate revolver. They sold for $125 when introduced; originals now sell for thousands; and Colt recently re-introduced an updated version for a more reasonable 1,500 2021 dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Diamondback in .22 Long Rifle and .38 Special came out in 1966, a little Cobra-size revolver with the deluxe treatment that distinguished the larger Python: exquisite Royal Blue finish, adjustable sights, and distinctive barrel with ventilated rib above and integral full-length barrel weight below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1977 saw the Viper, essentially a Cobra .38 Special with four-inch barrel. Only produced for a year, it\u2019s a rara avis <\/em>eagerly sought by Colt collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Colt Boa of 1985 was a special, non-catalogued model made exclusively for Lew Horton Distributors, a .357 Magnum on Colt\u2019s updated Mark V action with a Python barrel. Its low production numbers make it highly collectible today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Boa was followed by the King Cobra of 1986. S&W\u2019s Models 586 and 686 L-frames were essentially their copies of the Python, as to some degrees was Ruger\u2019s GP100, so Colt returned the favor with this economy priced .41-frame .357 Mag. A couple of years ago, Colt resurrected the King Cobra name for a .357 Mag version of their compact stainless D-frame revolver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seventh serpent was the Anaconda, Colt\u2019s only .44 Magnum. By the time it came out the market was glutted with revolvers in the Dirty Harry caliber, and it never sold well, being appreciated only after it was discontinued. Colt re-introduced it just this year, and I like the new ($1500) version better than I did the old one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n