Colt Diamondback
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. • Illustration —.22 caliber Colt Diamondback rollmark
Colt Diamondback
The Smithsonian Institution · Public domain
- Name
- Colt Diamondback
- Field
- revolver
- Region
- United States
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wikidata · Q2984500 · wikipedia · Colt Diamondback
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Colt Diamondback • Origin — United States • Type — Revolver • Is Ranged — yes • Manufacturer — Colt's Manufacturing Company • Production Date — 1966–1988 • Weight — (.38) 2½": 26oz; 4": 28.5oz.; 6": 30.5oz.; (.22) 2½": 28.5oz.; 4": 31oz.; 6": 33oz.. • Length — 2½", 4" or 6" bbl. • Cartridge —.22 LR.38 Special • Action — Double-action • Feed — Six-round cylinder • Sights — Rear adj.; front ramp
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- United States
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. 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. 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. Saddam Hussein collected the Colt Diamondback among other guns. In addition, the Diamondback was marketed to law enforcement agencies who did not allow the use of the.357 Magnum cartridge.
In film
• Steve McQueen used a 2.5".38 Colt Diamondback in the 1968 movie Bullitt. • Tamara Dobson used a 4" Colt Diamondback in the 1973 movie Cleopatra Jones. • John Wayne used a 4" Colt Diamondback in the 1975 movie Brannigan. • Tyne Daly used a 2.5" Colt Diamondback in the 1976 movie The Enforcer.
Colt Diamondback Revolver - Revolver, centerfire. 1986.0220.20.
The Smithsonian Institution
Colt Diamondback Revolver - Revolver, centerfire. 1986.0220.20.
The Smithsonian Institution
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Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Colt Diamondback, revision 1370830939 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Cited by Wikipedia
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These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Diamondback. ColtFever.
- 2.Sapp, Rick. Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms. F+W Media, Inc. 116–117 Dead link. December 2023. 978-0-89689-534-8.
- 3.Fjestad, S.P. Colt’s Snake Guns. American Rifleman. National Rifle Association of America. August 18, 2015.
- 4.Zucchino, David. From the detritus, clues to character of Hussein regime. The Baltimore Sun. April 21, 2003.
- 5.Fjestad, S. P. Blue Book of Gun Values. Blue Book Publications. 212. 2016. 978-1-936120-60-4.
- 6.Ayoob, Massad. The Gun Digest Book Of Concealed Carry. Gun Digest Books. 133 Dead link. December 2023. 978-0-89689-611-6.
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1- revolverTerminology
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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