Colt “snake guns” have always been highly collectible. Whether it’s the Cobra, King Cobra, Diamondback, Anaconda, Boa, Viper or Python, gun collectors just can’t seem to get enough of the Colt Serpentine guns.
Over the years, Colt has issued a number of limited edition sets that center around different snake gun models. Production numbers for those have run from as many as a few thousand to as few as a couple hundred. The Serpentine Set offered in the February Collection of Collector’s Elite Auctions is much rarer than any of those.
In 1994, Colt’s Custom Shop introduced the Serpentine Set, which consisted of a Python in .357 Mag., a King Cobra in .357 Mag. and an Anaconda in .44 Mag. The left side of each revolver’s barrel is marked, “Serpentine Series of 1994.” The left side of each frame shows just how limited the sets were, each being marked “1 of 50.” That’s right, there were only 50 of these three-gun sets were ever made.
Adding to the rarity of the Serpentine Set is that many of them have been broken up and sold individually over the years. In fact, only 17 complete sets have been found. That means just 34 percent of the Colt Serpentine sets remained intact, of which this is one.
Each gun in the set bears a different serial number prefix depending on the model, but each gun in the set has the same serial number. In this case, the number is 9432. This signifies the year — 1994 — and that this is the 32nd of the 50 sets.
All three of the guns have 6-inch barrels, Hogue Mono-Grips and a satin stainless finish. The revolvers also come with adjustable white outline rear sights and ramped front sights with pinned orange inserts.
Colt Serpentine Sets — Few Rarer
This Serpentine Set from the Colt Custom Shop is in what we would refer to as “New Old Stock” condition. That is, the guns are presented today at auction exactly as they were when they were brand new back in 1994. Each gun still has its original factory paperwork and is housed in its original factory hard case. They even have the original cardboard picture sleeve. It just doesn’t get any more complete.
If you’re the type of gun collector who exhibits “snake bite fever,” then this Colt Serpentine Set is a surefire antidote. With only 50 sets having been made and just 17 known to exist today, there’s no telling how long you’d have to wait for another set like this to come to market. At a minimum, you’re looking at probably no less than two years based on previous research.
Snake bite fever only gets more intense as time goes on, and the cure gets rarer by the day. Bid on this set at Collector’s Elite Auctions and you’re sure to feel some relief.
