Colt Diamondback
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Colt Diamondback
| image= Colt-diamondback.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=.22 caliber Colt Diamondback revolver with 6" barrel
|origin=United States
|type=Revolver
|is_ranged=yes
|is_UK=
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=Colt's Manufacturing Company
|production_date=1966–1988
|number=
|variants=
|spec_label=
|weight=(.38) 2½": 26oz; 4": 28.5oz.; 6": 30.5oz.;
(.22) 2½": 28.5oz.; 4": 31oz.; 6": 33oz..
|length= 2½", 4" or 6" bbl.
|part_length=
|width=
|height=
|diameter=
|cartridge= .22 LR
.38 Special
|action=Double-action
|velocity=
|feed=Six-round cylinder
|sights= Rear adj.; front ramp
}}
Image:Diamondback-rollmark.jpg Diamondback rollmark]]
The Colt Diamondback is a revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, in calibers of .22 LR and .38 Special. Inspired by the successful Colt Python, the Diamondback was manufactured from 1966 to 1988 and was available in barrel lengths of 2½, 4, and 6 inches.
Description
Colt introduced the double-action Diamondback as a deluxe model in 1966. It has a wide serrated target hammer, ventilated rib, fully adjustable target quality sights, and full-length barrel underlug. It is a 6-shot revolver with a swing-out cylinder and was available in blue or nickel finishes. Visually, the Diamondback resembles a scaled-down version of the Python, though the action was not tuned as finely as the Python, nor did it receive the Python's Royal Blue finish.{{Cite web |url=http://www.coltfever.com/Diamondback.html |title=Diamondback |website=ColtFever |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418055734/http://www.coltfever.com/Diamondback.html |url-status=dead }} While the Python is built on Colt's "I frame," the Diamondback is built on the smaller "D frame," as used in the Detective Special. The Diamondback was dropped from production in 1988.{{cite book|last=Sapp|first=Rick|title=Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-rnXe1g-F0C&pg=PA117|access-date=24 January 2012|date=21 November 2007|publisher=F+W Media, Inc|isbn=978-0-89689-534-8|pages=116–117}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Because of the light recoil of .22 caliber ammunition, the .22 version of the Diamondback can be used as a training gun for novice shooters. It had gained popularity with gun enthusiasts due to the inexpensive price of .22 caliber ammunition and since it has been discontinued, for its rarity.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/8/18/colt-s-snake-guns/|title=Colt’s Snake Guns |first=S.P. |last=Fjestad |date=August 18, 2015 |magazine=American Rifleman |publisher=National Rifle Association of America}} Saddam Hussein collected the Colt Diamondback among other guns.{{cite news|last=Zucchino|first=David|date=April 21, 2003|title=From the detritus, clues to character of Hussein regime|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.regime21apr21-story.html|quote=And the guns. The guns are one thing ordinary Iraqis might have known about. There was an arsenal in every home. Some bedrooms were supplied with gold-plated MP-5 machine guns. Others were stacked to the ceilings with boxes of Colt Diamondback .38 Specials, .357-caliber Combat Magnums and Sig Sauer pistols, still in their packing boxes, complete with owner instructions and generous supplies of boxed ammunition.}}
In addition, the Diamondback was marketed to law enforcement agencies who did not allow the use of the .357 Magnum cartridge.{{cite book|last=Fjestad|first=S. P.|title=Blue Book of Gun Values|year=2016|publisher=Blue Book Publications|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-1-936120-60-4|page=212}}
In film
- Steve McQueen used a 2.5" .38 Colt Diamondback in the 1968 movie Bullitt.{{cite book|last=Ayoob|first=Massad|author-link=Massad Ayoob|title=The Gun Digest Book Of Concealed Carry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vY0wBGb82DoC|access-date=24 January 2012|date=22 September 2008|publisher=Gun Digest Books|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-0-89689-611-6|page=133}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- John Wayne used a 4" Colt Diamondback in the 1975 movie Brannigan.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/38special.html Ballistics By The Inch tests including the Colt Diamondback.]
{{.38 Caliber}}
{{Colt's Manufacturing Company}}