Page 53 - American Rifleman (February 2020)

Carrying The King

oncealed carry was not my only,
or even my primary, interest when
CI took on this project. Along with
that pressing consideration, two things
appealed to me. First, like my mentor,
I’m fascinated by the simple, artful
machine that is a revolver. I’m drawn
to its appearance, and I appreciate
how the mechanics perform the task
at hand. A precision-forged, stainless lightweight, yet ts the new Colts as belligerent snakes and varmints.
sixgun bearing the historic prancing well can be. (Uncle Mike’s Sidekick line After that, the trim revolver became
pony marque could be as close as I get is one place to nd these.) a regular piece of my turkey-hunting
to the riding/shooting lifestyle that Thus carried, the revolver balances kit, and for those outings I kept two
was a boyhood ideal. well on my hip, is unobtrusive and its of the Browning pest loads on deck,
Though I have an outside-the- weight barely any burden at all, part backed up with four .38 Spl. FMJs.
waistband Galco concealment holster of which, I think, is attributable to In that sense, an exposed-hammer
that works just ne, what I found the wheelgun’s mostly vertical weight revolver can do double-duty, requiring
most practical and gratifying was distribution. Wearing it while hunting little effort to switch from one type
to carry the King cowboy fashion in and doing outdoor chores is a snap. It of load to another since you can turn
an old-style belt holster. The hol- does not impede vehicle entry/egress the cylinder without ring by carefully
ster I like best is hardly vintage gun or sitting on a car seat, chair, stool or manipulating the hammer and trig-
leather, but instead a molded nylon on the ground. It’s all but unnotice- ger. The same exercise with a semi-
number that’s both inexpensive and able belly-crawling, swinging an axe automatic would require a magazine
or carrying water buckets. Yeah, it change or removing the unwanted
just feels right. There’s an undeniable rounds by ring or some other means.
peace of mind having such a stand-up Advancing a revolver cylinder may not
tool—a .357 Mag., no less—poised so be any faster than a skilled handgun-
conveniently for any contingency. ner can swap out mags, but there’s a
Taking the 3" KC for a hunt in west lot less movement and invariably it’s
Texas was rather like taking one’s quieter. Luckily, I never encountered
guitar to Nashville. I split the cylinder a threat that caused me to shoot,
between .357 hollow points and the new though I have to admit that after
Browning Trail Force, a combo of No. 9 practicing I was very curious as to
lead shot with two copper-plated discs, how those snake-shot cartridges would
for a tougher-than-status-quo answer to perform on the real thing.

Colt Turns A New Leaf
The new King Cobra (KC) is part of a comeback for Colt’s re-issue’s frame is quite stout—“heavy-duty” in company
iconic double-action revolver “Snake Guns” that began parlance—including a 0.60"-wide topstrap beveled to meet
three years ago with the reprise of an updated Cobra. In an the solid barrel rib, plus a full-length underlug with a

“American Ri eman Television” interview, Colt marketing cutout for the ejector rod. When at rest, less hammer is
VP Paul Spitale discussed the rst factory-production Snake exposed than in the earlier design. Overall dimensions of

Gun since the 1990s (note that Colt’s Custom Shop produced the 3" model are 8"x5"x1.4", and, at 28 ozs., it is one of
limited runs after that) saying, “Customers were letting the lightest in the .357 Mag., six-shot class. The longer
us know they wanted Colt double-actions, and both new
models have been wildly successful since day one. It only While there is no rear sight, per se, a square-cut channel
made sense to use our original branding, which holds such a in the topstrap aligns with the front bead for a fast,
special place in the hearts of handgun enthusiasts.” durable combination. Following Colt tradition,
As the second of the next-gen Snakes, the King likewise the cylinder turns to the right.
hatched with improvements, but in many ways remained
true to its lineage. The original production from 1986-’92
and 1994-’98, was a mid-size .357 Mag. (Colt’s V-frame) with
2½", 4", 6" or 8" barrels. It came both in blued and stainless

nish options, though most versions shared black, nger-
grooved, neoprene stocks and solid barrel ribs.
The new KC bears a close resemblance, with the notable
exception of its elongated, rectangular trigger guard big
enough for former boxers or shooters wearing gloves. The
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AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG FEBRUARY 2020