Colt Viper
Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC · Revolver · Discontinued · 1977
Also known as: Colt Viper .38
Overview
The Colt Viper is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered in .38 Special, produced by Colt for only a single year in 1977. Essentially a 4-inch-barreled version of the lightweight aluminum-alloy-framed Colt Cobra, the Viper combined a compact, easy-carrying frame with a longer barrel for improved velocity and sight radius. It featured fixed sights, a swing-out six-round cylinder, and checkered wood grips. Overshadowed by Colt's better-known 'snake gun' line, the Viper sold poorly and was quickly discontinued, with only a few thousand produced, making surviving examples scarce and collectible today.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 567 g (20.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 229 mm (9.02") |
| Barrel Length | 102 mm (4.02") |
| Height | 130 mm (5.12") |
| Width | 36 mm (1.42") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 290 m/s (951 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 341 J (252 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Left Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38 Special · primary — also known as .38 Spl, .38 S&W Special, 9x29mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Swing Out Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Rebounding Hammer, Transfer Bar
- Features: Lightweight Alloy Frame, Fixed Sights, Checkered Wood Grips, Swing Out Cylinder, Ejector Rod Shroud
Production
Production years: 1977
Produced for a single year; only a few thousand are believed to have been made before discontinuation.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1977
Notes
Only the original 1977 model was chambered in .38 Special on an aluminum-alloy frame. Colt reintroduced the Viper name in 2024 as a stainless-steel revolver chambered for .357 Magnum/.38 Special, which is a distinct firearm from this entry.
Background
Among the rarest of Colt's revolvers, the original Viper was a one-year-only experiment that gave the snub-friendly alloy Cobra frame a 4-inch barrel. Its commercial failure made it a sleeper among collectors, and decades later Colt revived the name for a modern stainless .357 Magnum revolver.