The Colt Diamondback Revolver -
Gun Review Synopsis
By Chuck Hawks
Colt introduced the Diamondback double action revolver in 1966 . . . a deluxe model with numerous special features. Like its Colt half-brothers, it was a 6-shot revolver with a swing out cylinder and a Positive Lock action . . . .
The Diamondback was introduced with a list price of $95 dollars . . . By 1986, the last year of production, the list price had risen to $461. The Diamondback's relatively high price limited its sales throughout its production life.
Diamondbacks are still available to shooters on the used market (the collectors haven't gotten them all, yet) . . . a shooter looking for a good used 4 inch or 6 inch Diamondback . . . in mint (100%) condition will run about $650. Add 20% for .22 LR caliber, and 20% . . . The Diamondback is still an expensive revolver, but it is definitely worth the price . . . .
Calibers included .22 LR (also .22 Short and Long), .22 WMR, and .38 Special . . . .22 LR and .38 Special were the common Diamondback calibers. .38 Special +P loads are safe for use in all Diamondback .38 Special revolvers.
Barrel lengths were initially 2.5 inches and 4 inches, and a 6 inch barrel option was soon added to the line . . . 4 inch barrels are the most common . . . The top of the barrel wears a ventilated rib, and there is a full length lug beneath, as per the Colt Python . . . .
The top strap of the Diamondback's frame is a flat top target type . . . The hammer has a wide, serrated, target spur and the trigger is a . . . target type. Diamondbacks came with a fully adjustable rear sight, usually mated with a ramp front sight. The grips provided on guns with 4 and 6 inch barrels are target type . . . .
The Diamondback is a target model service revolver and looks like the baby brother of the famous Python .357 Magnum. Its internal lockwork is of the same basic design, and uses the traditional Colt "V" shaped mainspring . . . .
The all steel Diamondback came in bright nickel and polished Colt Blue finishes . . . The Diamondback remains . . . perhaps the finest .22 LR and .38 Special revolver of the modern era . . . its action is generally superior to those of competing DA revolvers . . . .
The basic Diamondback numerical specifications are as follows . . . Caliber .22 Diamondbacks are about 3 ounces heavier than equivalent .38 Special models due to the smaller holes in the barrel and cylinder.
Due to its excellent sights, good trigger, fine balance, safe action, and moderate size a Diamondback makes a nearly ideal training revolver for a new shooter . . . beginners usually prefer the 4 inch barrel . . . .
I own Diamondbacks in both .22 LR and .38 Special . . . The SA trigger pulls of . . . these guns runs about 3 pounds.
There is not much difference between the accuracy of a 4 inch barrel and a 6 inch barrel . . . but the longer sight radius and greater weight of the 6 inch barrel gives it the edge in practical accuracy.
My 6 inch .22 Diamondback will shoot 6-shot, 1.5 inch groups from a 25 yard bench rest all day, if the shooter is up to it. Sometimes that group size can be cut to 1 inch . . . Unlike many .22 revolvers, it is not particular about ammunition . . . a deadly squirrel gun with high velocity HP ammo.
My 4 inch nickel and 6 inch blue .38 Special Diamondbacks are usually fed . . . Or my handloads with 140 grain Speer JHP bullets . . . .
The latter is also an appropriate small game load. I like to think that it is somewhat more accurate than the . . . factory loads . . . .
My 6 inch .38 Diamondback gets the most use plinking at casual targets such as tin cans and clay pigeons propped against a dirt hillside. The 4 inch nickel Diamondback is my home defense gun of choice . . . .
I find the 2.5 inch .38 Special Diamondback . . . perhaps the most effective .38 snubby ever built.
I am, unabashedly, a fan of the Diamondback revolver. I hope that at some point Colt sees their way clear to reintroducing this fine premium revolver to their line.