Colt Anaconda

Six-Shot Revolver

United States | 1990

"The Colt Anaconda followed the famous Colt Python into existence, going with a larger cartridge and ending up as one of the most accurate revolvers ever made."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/08/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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Continuing the Colt tradition of excellent revolvers named after snakes, the concern delivered their impressive "big boy" Colt Anaconda in 1990. While displaying some similarities to the Colt Python of 1955, the Anaconda was chambered for a more powerful cartridge, this in the form of the .44 Magnum (as opposed to the .357 Magnum used in the Python). While initially suffering from poor accuracy, Pythons were re-engineered with revised barrels and eventually proved highly accurate, produced in a beautiful satin finish stainless steel form and offered with varying barrel lengths. Its weight and size precluded it from official military usage and limited its acceptance in law enforcement circles. It proved popular in the civilian sporting and hunting realms as well for its robust and reliable construction. Colt designed the Anaconda to compete directly with other large-bore Magnum-minded revolvers on the market such as the popular Smith & Wesson Model 29. Unfortunately for Colt, its competitors had already established a foothold in this realm some 30+ years earlier.

The Colt Anaconda mimicked the Python to a large degree. The frame was enclosed for extra rigidness and held the firing pin as well as all major internal working components including the cylinder . The fluted cylinder held six cartridges of .44 Magnum (or .44 Special) and swung out to the left for extracting/reloading. A spring-loaded ejector arm ahead of the cylinder allowed for clearing each chamber. The chamber then was reloaded and set back within the frame. The trigger was integrated into the frame design and protected by a ring. The pistol grip sat aft of the trigger and was ergonomically shaped to the hand, completed with grooved black neoprene synthetic rubber. The hammer spur protruded a short distance from the rear of the frame and within reach of the thumb for actuation. The barrel was fitted ahead of the cylinder and seen with a ventilated rib, just as in the Colt Python. Adjustable open iron sights were noted at the rear of the frame and aft of the muzzle and optics were optional for accurized shooting. The revolver was of "double-action" in its design, meaning that the pull of the trigger managed the cocking (and release) of the hammer for successive shots, allowing some level of impressive "repeating" fire to be reached until all chambers were spent. Barrels were offered in 4-, 6- and 8-inch lengths. Interestingly, the Anaconda was only available in the aforementioned satin stainless steel finish. The Colt logo is clearly found on the rubber grips and on the left side of the frame. Detailed model info is imprinted along the barrel.

In 1993, Colt unveiled one other distinct Anaconda form, this chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge and available in 6- or 8-inch barrel lengths. A camouflaged variant Anaconda variant was also produced with an 8-inch barrel intended for hunting. The Colt Kodiak was also brought online in 1993 and sported a factory-installed recoil reducer, unfluted cylinder and stainless steel finish. These were very limited edition guns. Colt officially discontinued the Anaconda series in 1999.

Users have loved their time with the Colt Anacondas, citing the iron sights as quite responsive and the firing action to be smooth and of high quality - specifically for hunting and target shooting.

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Physical
The physical qualities of the Colt Anaconda. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

330 mm
12.99 in
O/A Length

152 mm
5.98 in
Barrel Length

3.75 lb
1.70 kg
Weight

Double-Action; Repeating
Action

.44 Special; .44 Magnum; .45 Colt
Caliber(s)

6-shot rotating cylinder
Feed

Adjustable Open Sights
Sights

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Colt Anaconda. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

6
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Colt Anaconda Six-Shot Revolver family line.

Anaconda - Base Series Designation

Kodiak - Appearing in 1993 as special edition form of the Anaconda; completed in stainless steel; unfluted cylinder; ported barrel for recoil reduction.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Colt Anaconda. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Colts Manufacturing Company Hartford - USA

[ United States ]

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Design Qualities
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to requirements.

PISTOL/SIDEARM

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The Colt Anaconda Six-Shot Revolver appears in the following collections:

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