Editing Colt Anaconda

{{About|the Colt Anaconda|other Colt Double Action firearms|Colt Double Action (disambiguation){{!}}Colt Double Action|}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Colt Anaconda
| image = Colt_Anacondas_in_3_barrel_lengths.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = Original line of .44 Magnum Colt Anaconda in three barrel lengths
| origin = United States
| type = [[Revolver]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged = yes
<!-- Service history -->| service = 
| used_by = 
| wars = <!-- Production history -->
| designer = 
| design_date = 
| manufacturer = Colt's Manufacturing Company
| unit_cost = 
| production_date = 1990–2003 <br>
2021–present
| number = 
| variants = [[Colt Anaconda#Kodiak|Kodiak]] <br> Anaconda Hunter <br> Anaconda Custom Ported <br> Anaconda Camo<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scepaniak |first1=Adam |title=Wheelgun Wednesday: The Colt Anaconda 44 Magnum has Returned! |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/03/24/wheelgun-wednesday-colt-anaconda-2/ |website=The Firearm Blog}}</ref>
<!-- General specifications -->| spec_label = 
| weight = * 47 oz, 1.3kg (4-inch barrel)
* 53 oz, 1.5kg (6-inch barrel)
* 59 oz, 1.7kg (8-inch barrel)
| length = * {{cvt|9+5/8|in|disp=comma}} (4-inch barrel)
* {{cvt|11+5/8|in|disp=comma}} (6-inch barrel)
* {{cvt|13+5/8|in|disp=comma}} (8-inch barrel)
| part_length = * 4-inch barrel (102 mm)
* 6-inch barrel (153 mm)
* 8-inch barrel (203 mm)
| width = 
| height = 
| diameter = 
| crew = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge = * [[.44 Special]]
* [[.44 Magnum]]
* [[.45 Colt]]
| caliber = 
| barrels = 
| action = Double-action
| rate = 
| velocity = 
| range = 
| max_range = 
| feed = Six round cylinder
| sights = Adjustable open iron sights
}}
[[File:Anaconda-bbl.jpg|thumb|306px|Anaconda rollmark]]
The '''Colt Anaconda''' is a large [[Receiver (firearms)|frame]] [[double-action]] [[revolver]] featuring a full length under-barrel ejection-rod lug and six [[cartridge (firearms)|round]] [[cylinder (firearms)|cylinder]], [[Product design|designed]] and [[manufacturing|produced]] by the [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]] in 1990. [[Chamber (firearms)|Chambered]] for the powerful [[.44 Magnum]] and [[.45 Colt]] [[centerfire ammunition]] [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridges]], the Anaconda marked the [[Hartford, Connecticut]] firm's first foray into the popular large-[[Gauge (bore diameter)|bore]] Magnum [[pistol]] [[Marketing|market]].<ref name="wg">[http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg83-e.htm “Colt mk. V revolvers: Trooper, KingCobra, Anaconda (USA)”] World Guns Web site. Accessed November 26, 2008.</ref>

==Development==
Built on a new and heavier ‘MM' frame, the Anaconda was brought out to compete with [[.44 Magnum]] contemporaries such as the [[Smith & Wesson Model 29]], the [[Sturm, Ruger|Sturm, Ruger & Co.]] [[Ruger Redhawk|Redhawk]] and [[Ruger Blackhawk|Blackhawk]], and the [[Dan Wesson Firearms]] Model 44. Considering that many of these models had been marketed and sold for fully 35 years upon its introduction, the Anaconda was a very late entry into the large-bore [[handgun]] market.<ref name="jt">{{cite web|last=Taffin|first=John|author-link=John Taffin|url=http://www.sixguns.com/range/anaconda.htm |title=Colt's Biggest Snake, the Anaconda|publisher= Sixguns.com| access-date= November 26, 2008}}</ref> Unlike most other pistols introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, the Anaconda was never offered with a [[carbon steel]] [[Bluing (steel)|blued]] finish, but was available only in [[stainless steel]].<ref name="wg"/> When originally introduced, Anacondas were plagued with poor accuracy, but changes to the [[gun barrel|barrels]] quickly corrected the problems to the point that Colt billed its new pistol as among the most accurate [[.44 Magnum]] revolvers in production.<ref name="jt"/><ref name="cf">{{cite web |url=http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/Anaconda.asp |title=Anaconda |publisher=Colts Mfg. |access-date=November 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113131234/http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/Anaconda.asp |archive-date=January 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Anaconda revolvers were primarily marketed for sport [[Fan (person)|enthusiast]] shooters and hunters, as they are too large for [[Police|law enforcement]] general duty use or [[Concealed carry in the United States|concealed-carry]], although made-to-order limited production versions of the gun continued to be available from the Colt custom gun shop until approximately 2003.<ref name="wg"/> In 2021, Colt resumed production of the Anaconda, using a new design with a stronger frame and an oversized [[Colt Python|Python]] action.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moss|first=Matthew|date=2021-03-22|title=Colt To Bring Back the Anaconda|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/03/22/colt-to-bring-back-the-anaconda/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Firearm Blog|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410185554/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/03/22/colt-to-bring-back-the-anaconda/ |archive-date=2021-04-10 }}</ref>

==Features==
Originally chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge, in 1993 the Anaconda began to be offered in [[.45 Colt]] as well. Its fit and finish resembled an upsized [[Colt King Cobra|King Cobra]] married to a ventilated-rib barrel reminiscent of the [[Colt Python|Python's]].<ref name="jt"/> Initially marketed with a satin brushed stainless finish, a highly polished mirror-like option known as "Ultimate Stainless" was catalogued for a time through the Colt Custom Shop.  Anacondas came equipped with four, six, or eight inch barrels, neoprene synthetic rubber finger-grooved combat-style grips with nickel colored 'Rampant Colt' medallions, large target type hammers and triggers, as well as [[Iron sights#Open sights|open iron sights]] with a [[Iron sights#Contrast enhancements|red insert]] front and fully [[Iron sights#Adjustable iron sights|adjustable]] white outline rear.<ref name="jt"/><ref name="cf"/> Some models were factory drilled and tapped for telescopic sight mounting, while others shipped with recoil reducing [[Ported barrel|Magna-Ported barrels]].<ref name="cf"/>  The trigger actions on these guns are rated as very high-quality, and the heavy-duty solid construction and weight tends to absorb recoil, making the Anaconda relatively easy to shoot with heavy loads.<ref name="jt"/><ref name="cf"/>

===Kodiak===
Introduced in 1993, the Kodiak was similar to the Anaconda in that it was constructed entirely of stainless steel, but offered the additional features of a recoil-reducing factory magna-ported barrel and unfluted cylinder.<ref name=sapp>{{cite book|publisher=F+W Media, Inc|year=2007 |first =Rick |last=Sapp|title=Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms|isbn =978-0-89689-534-8  |page=125}}</ref>

There were 2000 Kodiaks made as a special run of Anacondas, breaking away from their long history of naming revolvers after snakes.<ref name=sapp/> A special run of 1000 King Cobras was made about the same time, having the same Magna-Ported barrel and unfluted cylinder and were called the Grizzly.<ref name=sapp/> There was an uncatalogued {{convert|5|in|adj=on}} barrel version of the Anaconda, with reportedly less than 150 made. These {{convert|5|in|adj=on}} versions command very high prices when they are encountered.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} Additionally, Colt made an extremely low number of {{convert|4|in|adj=on}} barrel Anacondas chambered in .45 Colt. This ultra-rare variation commands a premium price when encountered as well.

In 2024, Colt reintroduced the Kodiak, a variant of the newer Anaconda (reintroduced in 2021), with the same style of Magna-ported barrel and unfluted cylinder of the originals, available with a 4.25-inch barrel.

==See also==
*[[Colt Diamondback]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928024649/http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/Double%20Action%20Revolver.pdf Safety and instruction manual]
*{{YouTube|5QEv_YYitq4|Video of operation}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Colt's Manufacturing Company}}

[[Category:Colt revolvers]]
[[Category:Revolvers of the United States]]
[[Category:.44 Magnum firearms]]
[[Category:.44 Special firearms]]
[[Category:.45 Colt firearms]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1990]]