Colt Anaconda

     Notes:  This is Colt’s largest double-action revolver, chambered for .44 Magnum.  Introduced in 1990, the Anaconda uses Colt’s largest frame (at the time), and also used the ventilated sighting rib and the same style of barrel shroud and ejector shroud of the King Cobra.  First introduced only in .44 Magnum/.44 Special, a .45 Long Colt chambering was added in 1993.  (In addition, the .44 Magnum/.44 Special version is also capable of firing the .44 Smith & Wesson Russian round).  They are typically made from stainless steel, though a very few were made from blued carbon steel.  The typical finish is matte stainless.  Adjustable sights were introduced as a factory option in 1995; drilling and tapping for a scope mount was added as a standard feature in 1998; from 1997-99, porting was also a factory option.  The grips are of contoured wrap-around rubber.  A limited-edition version, the Anaconda Realtree, was sold for a short time in 1996; this model was built only in .44 Magnum/.44 Special with a 6 or 8-inch barrel, and was completely finished in the Realtree camouflage pattern.  Most .45 Long Colt models were built with 4-inch barrels, but limited numbers of the 6” and 8” barrel versions were chambered for the .45 Long Colt cartridge.

     The Kodiak was introduced in 1993.  It was marketed as a separate model, but is essentially a stainless steel Anaconda with an unfluted cylinder and standard Mag-Na-Porting.  For game purposes, it is identical to a ported Anaconda.

     Production of the Anaconda ended in 1999, but began again in 2001, minus the .45 Long Colt chambering.  These new-production models have adjustable sights with a white outline for the rear sight and a red ramp front sight; a target hammer, drilling and tapping, and a bright stainless steel finish.  Inside the shroud, the barrel is ribbed and ventilated to aid in cooling.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These are rare weapons in the Twilight War world.  None have factory porting or factory drilling and tapping.

Colt Model 1860 Richards Conversion

     Notes: Like all other revolver manufacturers, Colt was prevented from making a cartridge revolver by the Rollins patent.  This lasted from 1849-69, and though Colt’s percussion revolver line was phenomenally popular, time was beginning to take its toll on their product line.  They introduced the Peacemaker in 1873, but despite its success, it was already obsolete by that time.  Colt needed a cartridge revolver they could put on the market immediately, if not sooner. The answer was cartridge conversions of existing revolvers; one of the first was the Richards Conversion from the Model 1860 percussion revolver, and often called the Model 1870 Cartridge conversion.  The Richards conversion made a few other modifications as well, including a rear adjustable barrel-type sight, and a floating firing pin, something now common, but singular in 1870, it was produced for a few years, until Colt had new cartridge revolvers being produced, replacing the cartridge conversions.  The original barrel lennth was 8 inches, appropriate for a ball and cap revolver, and continued in the Richards Conversion; however, much more popular was the compact 5.125-inch barrel, or the still-smaller 6.5-inch barrel.  Most were chambered for .44 Caliber, though some later models were chambered for .45.

Colt Army Special M-1908

     Notes: This was the US Army’s version of the Colt New Navy M-1895.  The differences include the important fact that the weapon was designed to take the (then new) .38 Special smokeless powder round.  The locking system was also simplified.  Another version (identical for game purposes) is the Officer’s Target Model; this version differs primarily in having an adjustable rear sight.  US Army models were restricted to .38 Special, but versions in .41 Long Colt and .32-20 Winchester Centerfire were also built, primarily for the police. The Army Special served until nearly 1930, when most of them were turned over to various police agencies in the US. 

Colt Frontier

     Notes: Essentially a subtype of the Single Action Army, the Frontier is lighter than a comparable SAA and many chambering are possible. In general, the Frontier was smaller and lighter than the SAA. Being a scaled-down SAA, the Frontiers have most of the features of the SAA. Despite being a smaller version of the Single Action Army, the Frontier is still a pretty heavy chunk of metal; this is true of even newer versions that are made of lighter-yet-stronger steels. Another common name for the Colt Frontier is the “Frontier Six-Shooter.”

     The first Frontier built was in fact a highly-modified SAA – and not built for sale in the US, but sales in Mexico and Central America (leading to this version being referred to as the “Banana Republic Colt.” Construction of this model started out with an SAA, but the cylinder and firing pin were modified to use the .44 Henry Rimfire round this version of the Frontier fired.  Many used the original 7.5-inch barrels, cut down to 4.75 inches.  The “Banana Republic Colt was well known for the poor fit and finish of its parts, and an acid-etched serial number that wore down quickly even under normal use.  The finish likewise was prone to “freckling” – pitting of the finish with normal use. The .44 Rimfire round was not used in any other Colt revolver, and many were rechambered later on down the road.  One of these revolvers will fetch a high (real-world) price if chambered for .44 Henry Rimfire.  A more common find will be a Banana Republic Colt rechambered for .22 Long Rifle or .32 Rimfire.

     Luckily, most Frontiers were not made that poorly, being revolvers as good in quality as SAAs, but with varying barrel lengths and chambering. (They did, however, have etched serial numbers instead of stamped numbers, which as above wore smooth very quickly.) Unfortunately, the original Frontiers were built only from 1875-1882, and superseded (at that time) by improved models of the Single Action Army herself.  Barrel lengths varied, with those with barrel lengths less than 4 inches generally being called “Sherriff’s” or “Storekeeper’s” models.  Barrel lengths included 2.5, 4, 4.75, 5.5, 7.5, and the very rare Buntline version with a 12-inch barrel.  In general, the 4.75-inch barrel is the most common, with the 7.5-inch barrel following in second, and all other barrels being much rarer. There were a plethora of chambering, with the most common being .45 Long Colt.  Chambering for British cartridges were rather rare; rarer were those in .38 S&W (only nine built), two each in .32-44 and .38-44 and only single factory-made Frontiers in .32 Rimfire and .380 Eley.  Two-thirds of original-build Frontiers were chambered for .45 Long Colt or .41 Centerfire.  Four Frontiers were built that fired .45 Long Colt, but through a smoothbore rifle. However, there has been a wide market over the years for rechambering and remanufacturing, and finding a Frontier in its original caliber can be difficult.

     The Colt Frontier should be mistaken for the Colt Army & Frontier model.  Though built at about the same time, they are different revolvers.

Colt New Frontier (2^nd Generation)

     Notes: This version of the Frontier was built from 1961-1975; the decision to remake the Frontier was done partially to capitalize on JFK’s campaign slogan (“We stand at the edge of a New Frontier.”)  The choice of chambering was tightened, but new barrel lengths were offered, including a rare 12-inch Buntline barrel (only 70 produced).  Again, most features are identical to a 2^nd-Generation SAA.  Standard finishing was with a case-colored frame and hammer and blued for the rest of the revolver (except for the grips, which were walnut or hard rubber).  Nickel plating and full blued finishes were offered but only in very small numbers.  Oddly, the left side of the barrel is stamped “Colt New Frontier SAA,” further evidence of the New Frontier’s SAA origins.  However, instead of trying to make a lighter version of the Single Action Army, the 2^nd Generation New Frontier was meant to be a target version of the SAA.  Thus, the 2^nd Generation New Frontier has a micrometer-adjustable rear sight, a lighter trigger pull, and a heavy-profile barrel.  (The front sight is a large ramp-type sight.)

     The New Frontier was in many ways a different revolver than the original Frontier; this is logical, as the 2^nd Generation SAA differs in many ways from the original Single Action Army.  Perhaps the largest change is in the chambering available.  Less than 5000 were produced; virtually all of them (4200) were chambered in either .357 Magnum/.38 Special or .45 Long Colt.  About 255 were chambered in .44 Special, 49 in .38 Special, and less than 20 were chambered in .44-40 Winchester.  Most 2^nd Generation New Frontiers were built with a 7.5-inch barrel, and most of the rest with 4.75-inch or 5.5-inch barrels.  Some 70 were built with 12-inch Buntline barrels; these were chambered only for .45 Long Colt.  Unlike the rest of the 2^nd Generation New Frontiers, the New Frontier Buntline Special had only a small ramp front sight and a trough rear sight.  It is, however, drilled and tapped for a scope mount. The Buntline Special was built from 1962-1967.

     As with the Frontier, those collecting them should be very wary of fakes, including rechambering, shortened or lengthened barrels, and refinishing.

Colt New Frontier (3^rd Generation)

     Notes: The 2^nd Generation New Frontier ended production in 1975, though sales of new revolvers of this type continued from back stocks until about 1980.  Despite repeated requests, demands, and begging, Colt would not build any more New Frontiers – until the 2011 SHOT Show, where Colt introduced their 3^rd Generation New Frontier.  In many ways, they are similar to 2^nd Generation New Frontiers, being target models of the 3^rd Generation Single Action Army with micrometer-adjustable rear sights, high ramp front sights, a lighter trigger pull, and a heavy-profile barrel.  Chamberings are a bit more restricted, as are barrel lengths; the 7.5-inch barrel is considered standard, and the other two barrel lengths are relatively rare.  The .44 Special and .45 Long Colt chambering are considered standard, and .357 Magnum/.38 Special versions are a little less common than the first two chamberings. Though there are a few rare 3^rd Generation New Frontiers in .44-40 Winchester, .44-40 was dropped from the 3^rd Generation New Frontier in 2012.  Finishes are the same as 2^nd Generation New Frontiers, with the case-color hardened finish being the most common.  Perhaps the most noticeable difference in the 3^rd Generation New Frontier is the weight – considerably less than a 2^nd Generation New Frontier, due to the use of an alloy frame and lighter-yet-stronger steels.  The recoil is stiffer, but the weapon is stronger than its predecessors.         

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The 3^rd Generation New Frontier is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Colt Detective Special

     Notes:  This is simply a shorter version of the Police Positive (below).  It was designed specifically for plain-clothed police detectives, and looks very similar to the 1928 “Banker’s Special.”  The Detective Special has every possible edge rounded off.  Production of this weapon stopped in 1986, but by then, over 1.5 million had been made and sold worldwide.

     The SF-VI is basically a version of the Detective Special in a matte finish, but also has a transfer-bar safety and a wrap-around rubber grip.  It comes in 2-inch and 4-inch barrel versions, as well as an SF-VI Special Lady version with a chrome finish and a spurless bobbed hammer and a 2-inch barrel.  The Special Lady version is identical to the SF-VI 2-inch barrel version for game purposes.

     In 1997, Colt introduced a new version of the Detective Special.  At first, this was called the Detective Special II (or simply the DS-II), but in early 1998, the name was changed to the Magnum Carry, the name by which it is most commonly known today.  The DS-II/Magnum Carry was offered only in .38 Special, but this was quickly changed to .357 Magnum/.38 Special early in 1998 (hence the change in name to Magnum Carry).  It was available only with a 2-inch barrel, only in stainless steel, and used wrap-around rubber combat-type grips.  Production ceased in 2000, but the Magnum Carry is still regarded by many firearms experts as one of the best self-defense revolvers ever made.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The SF-VI and the DS-II/Magnum Carry do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Colt Diamondback

     Notes: A scaled-down version of the Python, lightened for service use but more popular in target shooting.  The Diamondback was supposed to be a light police service weapon, but the normal caliber makes this idea unlikely.  It sold mostly to civilians.  A rare variant of the Diamondback is chambered for .38 Special, but these versions are quite rare indeed.  Finishes are blue or nickel-plated, with grips of checkered walnut. The Diamondback was produced from 1966-86.

Colt King Cobra

     Notes:  This was designed in the mid-1980s to be a budget magnum revolver to succeed the Trooper series.  For marketing purposes, the King Cobra was styled to look like the Python, but is in fact a very different revolver.  The King Cobra is built largely of cast steel parts given either a polished blue finish or a polished or matte stainless steel coating.  (Blueing was, however, dropped in the early 1990s.)  Overall, the King Cobra is designed to require far less work in fabrication, machining, and fitting of its parts; however, it also means that that the precision fitting present on the Python (particularly the mechanism that gives the Python its smooth trigger and hammer pull) are absent on the King Cobra.  In essence, workmanship was traded for a reduced (real-world) cost.  The King Cobra was meant to compete directly with the Ruger GP-100 and the Smith & Wesson L-Frame revolvers.  As they were not sold until 1986, and production continues, they are quite common revolvers in the US, and to a lesser extent, the rest of the world.  Production of the King Cobra stopped after 1999.

     The King Cobra uses a heavy barrel, almost as heavy as a bull barrel.  Though for a while after introduction the King Cobra was offered in four barrel lengths, the 2.5-inch and 8-inch barrels were eventually dropped, as the 4 and 6-inch barrels were by far the most popular.  The 8-inch factory-ported barrel survived for an even shorter time, from 1997-99.  Atop the barrel is a solid sighting rib, and below it is a full-length ejector rod housing.  The front sight is a wide ramp with a florescent-orange insert, while the fixed rear sight is outlined in white.  The grips are simple black wrap-around neoprene, but do have an ergonomic shape.  The trigger mechanism incorporates a transfer-bar safety (common on today’s revolvers).  Recoil pull is not as smooth as that of the Python, but adequate for most shooters.  As the King Cobra is not as heavy as a Python, recoil is noticeably heavier, but not unmanageable, and accuracy is decent.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Factory porting will not be found on the King Cobra in the Twilight 2000 timeline; however, production of all barrel lengths continued until nearly the end of 1999 at several remote locations (along with many other Colt products), including a few government facilities.