History of Colt’s Snake Guns

The Colt Python is one of the most iconic handguns ever made. It’s part of the Snake Guns family of seven deadly serpents that includes the Diamondback, Cobra, Anaconda, King Cobra, Boa, and Viper.

Since 1950, the Cobra family of guns has been incredibly popular. They’ve all been in and out of production a number of times, which only adds to their allure. However, the biggest boom to the seven serpents has been over the last couple of years, as Colt has reintroduced the Cobra, King Cobra, Python, and Anaconda.

Let’s take a brief look at the history of each of these snakes.

Python

Undoubtedly, the Colt Python is the most well-known of the seven serpent guns. Introduced in 1955, it was a large-frame double-action revolver chambered in a .357 Magnum. It is often regarded as one of the finest double-action revolvers ever made.

During the initial 51-year production, it was available in a dizzying array of barrel lengths, finishes, sights, grips, engraving, commemorative editions, etc. All told, more than 600,000 were made between 1955 and 2006 when it was discontinued. Then, in 2020, the Colt Python was reintroduced to the delight of shooters everywhere.

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Diamondback

In 1966, Colt introduced the Diamondback, which was a perfect gun for fun on the range. Chambered in .22LR and .38 Special, they were available with 2.5-, 4-, and 6-inch barrels and finished in blue, polished nickel, and satin nickel. Production ran from 1966 until 1991.

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Cobra

Introduced in 1950, the Colt Cobra was the first snake gun. It was a medium frame, double action, lightweight alloy version of their Detective Special, which was approximately six ounces heavier than the Cobra. That may not sound like much, but ounces equal pounds, and pounds add up after day-in-and-day-out carry of a gun.

Available in .22, .32, and .38 calibers with 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-inch barrels, the guns were in production from 1950 until 1972, and then again after some modification from 1973 until1981, and then again in 2017 to present.

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Anaconda

Just like its reptilian namesake, the Colt Anaconda is the largest of the snake guns to have been offered by Colt. Built on their massive “MM” frame and chambered in .44 Magnum or .45 Long Colt, it was an impressive handgun.

When equipped with a 6-inch barrel, the Colt Anaconda tipped the scales at 53 ounces empty and even a bit more with a longer, 8-inch barrel.

It was available with four different barrel lengths, three different finishes, five different types of sights, and three different types of grips, with a fluted or unfluted cylinder. Made between 1990 and 1999, it was reintroduced in 2002 until 2006. Then, it was reintroduced again in 2021.

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King Cobra Colt’s

King Cobra in .357 Magnum is essentially just a forged, matte-finished stainless steel version of the Trooper Mark V with a heavier, full-lug barrel. Still, the serpent association made it a popular gun-and incorporating the snake’s head into the barrel markings was a nice touch.

The King Cobra was a direct competitor of the Smith & Wesson Model 686 and the Ruger Model GP-100, but what made it most appealing was that it had a suggested retail price that was quite a bit less than the other guns. Made from 1986 until 1998, the King Cobra was reintroduced in 2019.

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Boa

The scarcest of all the snake guns, the Colt Boa is the only one that was never an officially cataloged item. Just 1,200 were made in 1985 as a special run for Lew Horton Distributing. There were 600 4-inch guns and 6006-inch guns, all in .357 Magnum. All of the serial numbers start with BOA and run consecutively from 001 to 1,200 with the 4-inch guns being odd numbers and the 6-inch guns being even numbers.

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Viper

Similar to their Police Positive model, the Colt Viper was a double action revolver in .38 Special with a 4-inch barrel. Made with an alloy frame, it weighed 20 ounces empty. Left side of the frame marked with a Rampant Colt logo. Single line Colt Hartford address marked on the right side of the barrel. Blue finish with 6 shot fluted cylinder. Checkered walnut grips. Comes in original Colt cardboard box. The Colt Viper was a variation of the Colt Cobra produced with a 4″ barrel and in .38 Special caliber. Produced in 1977 which makes this a rarity among the Colt Snakes.