Price check -- Colt King Cobra

[boomer1911a1]

My brother-in-law's wife, being a raging hoplophobe, asked me to take possession of the two pistols they inherited from his father. They were described to me as "junky thirty-eights, one a derringer and the other a snub-nose revolver with a crack in the frame." After much discussion (I had to make sure he was okay with this transfer) I finally got a look at them.

The derringer was indeed a low-end over-under .38 spl, but not quite the throw-down piece I had been led to expect.
The other, I was shocked to see, was a Colt King Cobra four-inch with the black Pachmayr grips and brushed stainless finish. The so-called "crack" in the frame was the border of the side plate.
I immediately started babbling about what a find he had, and that this thing was on the opposite side of the continent from "junk," but could only guess at the thing's worth. He expressed no interest in selling it, but if he changes his mind, I'd like to be able to discuss it intelligently.

Gunbroker has people putting these things up with "Buy-It-Now" prices of $1200 and up. Others (ones with actual bids and a hope of selling) are down in the $300-$500 range, but usually marked with "Reserve Not Met." I figured a realist selling price might be $550-$700, but I'd like to hear from Colt fans.

Thanks for the guidance!

 

[Starter52]

Your guess of $550 - $700 sounds right to me. I've seen a few recently for $600-$650 in retail stores.

I expect a bright polished stainless KC might go for $100 more.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

In the world of King Cobra's, the 2.5 incher and 8 inch barrel guns demand a premium as well as the Bright Stainless guns.
You didn't mention barrel length so I will assume it's either a 4 or 6 incher.
King Cobra's prices have been climbing the ladder due to 3 things.
1) is it's a Colt, one of the most recognized names in firearms.
2) Colt is no longer producing and will most likely never again produce double action wheel guns.
3) The Colt Python is getting so darn expensive that people are looking at other double action Colts to invest in and it's helping drive up the prices as well.

A clean 4 and 6 incher in brushed stainless will bring in the $700 range.
I have seen mint boxed unfired examples hit the $1000 mark at auction.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[tackleberi]

6" King Cobra under the glass in Hartford, CT area for $599; great shape and the shop is known for having fair prices.

 

[peyton]

Now I would hope you would "take possession" pf those "evil things" and get them out of her house!! Now the phrase would indicate the said items are "FREE", maybe I am wrong.

 

[Guillermo]

Boomer

there is a fellow at the Saxet gunshow that seems to always have 4 inch King Cobras, stainless for $525-$575.

Were I you I would offer him $450 for it, after all, he does not have the stones to even have it in his own home.

 

[boomer1911a1]

It's still his gun. His wife just can't sleep if they're in the house. Everybody in our circle has tried to reason with her on this, but in textbook phobic fashion, her attitude falls outside of reason.

I made it clear to him that they were still his guns and he could shoot them any time he wanted to come over.

And I don't want to buy it off him; I'm not a Colt fan. Everything they ever made was over-rated (except maybe the Python.) I mean, the KC has a nice action, but the trigger and the hammer appear to be made out of pot metal! Is that MIM stuff, or just a price-point lack of polish...?

 

[Walkalong]

Selling for $600 and up on GB.

 

[Guillermo]

Well boomer...there is only one thing to do. Offer him a place to stay during the divorce procedings.

Or if he would like to sell it, I would love to buy it.

 

[doc2rn]

Around here you cant lay your hands on a Colt revolver for less than $1100.

 

[Guillermo]

I have several that I would sell for less than $1100

 

[boomer1911a1]

He won't do it, Guillermo. He's in for the long haul.
He is a decendant of Gun People but not strong in the faith himself.

Me, I couldn't do it. But luckily, I don't have that problem. My wife, sister to the hoplophobe, keeps her Kimber on the nightstand

But I will pass this info along and tell him his "junky .38" will bring six bills, easy.

 

[Guillermo]

A wife with a 45...she is a keeper

 

[emb]

I just bought a 4" King Cobra for $500 from a local retailer. The grips had been changed to Houge, and it was in excellent condition-once I took it down and cleaned it up.

 

[sarge83]

$575-$700 in my area, depending on it's condition.

 

[Walkalong]

I just bought a 4" King Cobra for $500 from a local retailer.

Awesome. I would like to bump into on of them.

 

[emb]

Walkalong. The shop has a 6" King Cobra that is in excellent condition on consignment for $549.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Walkalong. The shop has a 6" King Cobra that is in excellent condition on consignment for $549.

That's a great price.
Have not seen one that cheap in a long time.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Walkalong]

That is a good price, but a 4" is what I am hoping to find reasonable.

I have a 6" Anaconda in .45 Colt. It is too barrel heavy to suit me. I would love to have one with a 4" barrel instead, but folks are real proud of those. I would trade my 6 for a 4 if I found someone who wanted the 6.