Colt Cobra with factory hammer shroud and real mother-of-pearl stocks

cubrock

cubrock

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I mentioned this revolver in another thread and finally got some pictures taken of it. In that thread, I said it was first year, but it is actually third year production (1952). I must have initially misread the serial number and thought it was in the 900 range instead of 9,000. At any rate, it is still a cool revolver.

I picked this up in Fayetteville a while ago, just as you see it. The gun doesn't appear to have been shot all that much - there is no endshake (which comes with shooting as the hand wears) and no case head imprinting on the recoil shield. However, it has been carried a good bit. There is high edge wear where you would expect it, plus heavy wear on the backstrap and the front toe of the grip frame. The most interesting thing on the gun is in the inscription:

"J. B. OAKLEY FROM NAC1 4-19-52"

My initial impression is this was given to J. B. Oakley by a military unit, but I have not been able to find any information on "NAC1." Perhaps someone here can shed some light or theories. I suppose it could be some non-military group, too. Google hasn't been much help with the name or the supposed unit ID.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

@BatteryOaksBilly @longarm4146

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cubrock said:
I mentioned this revolver in another thread and finally got some pictures taken of it. In that thread, I said it was first year, but it is actually third year production (1952). I must have initially misread the serial number and thought it was in the 900 range instead of 9,000. At any rate, it is still a cool revolver.

I picked this up in Fayetteville a while ago, just as you see it. The gun doesn't appear to have been shot all that much - there is no endshake (which comes with shooting as the hand wears) and no case head imprinting on the recoil shield. However, it has been carried a good bit. There is high edge wear where you would expect it, plus heavy wear on the backstrap and the front toe of the grip frame. The most interesting thing on the gun is in the inscription:

"J. B. OAKLEY FROM NAC1 4-19-52"

My initial impression is this was given to J. B. Oakley by a military unit, but I have not been able to find any information on "NAC1." Perhaps someone here can shed some light or theories. I suppose it could be some non-military group, too. Google hasn't been much help with the name or the supposed unit ID.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

@BatteryOaksBilly @longarm4146

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Nearly Adjacent Conway............like ...........HERE
 
BlackGun said:
Explain or demonstrate how the hammer shroud works.

You gonna keep it or sell it?
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The hammer shroud keeps the hammer from snagging, while allowing full use of the hammer for cocking and decocking. Great for pocket carry, or carry under a jacket, vest, etc.

It has been a keeper, thus far. If I find the right piece of land, though, a lot of keeper guns will be on the sacrificial list.
 
cubrock said:
I mentioned this revolver in another thread and finally got some pictures taken of it. In that thread, I said it was first year, but it is actually third year production (1952). I must have initially misread the serial number and thought it was in the 900 range instead of 9,000. At any rate, it is still a cool revolver.

I picked this up in Fayetteville a while ago, just as you see it. The gun doesn't appear to have been shot all that much - there is no endshake (which comes with shooting as the hand wears) and no case head imprinting on the recoil shield. However, it has been carried a good bit. There is high edge wear where you would expect it, plus heavy wear on the backstrap and the front toe of the grip frame. The most interesting thing on the gun is in the inscription:

"J. B. OAKLEY FROM NAC1 4-19-52"

My initial impression is this was given to J. B. Oakley by a military unit, but I have not been able to find any information on "NAC1." Perhaps someone here can shed some light or theories. I suppose it could be some non-military group, too. Google hasn't been much help with the name or the supposed unit ID.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

@BatteryOaksBilly @longarm4146

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The Man Killer Walker Bethea of Dillon County carried 2 identical to these with factory grip. One in each front pocket. He used them to Kill 4 men in his life time. He shot 4 fingers off a woman's hand once with one shot!
I worked for him in the summer time from about 12 to 15 years old.
Those shrouds were wonderful....they preceeded the S&W Bodyguard with the shrouded hammer.
 
Way cool, I have several really cool D frames, PD guns, U.S. marked DS, 3” nickel and have a 4” Cobra with factory shroud on the way. I think that makes 18 D frames. Keep me in mind on yours when you make up your mind.
 
longarm4146 said:
Way cool, I have several really cool D frames, PD guns, U.S. marked DS, 3” nickel and have a 4” Cobra with factory shroud on the way. I think that makes 18 D frames. Keep me in mind on yours when you make up your mind.
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One of these days, I need to come back up to the shop, hang out, and look at guns with you. I've got a couple engraved revolvers you haven't seen. I'll buy lunch. :)
 
MacEntyre said:
NAC1 is a cocaine-regulated transcriptional protein...

modern usage may mask any links to what it meant in 1952.
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Yeah - I've gotten a lot of google returns on that.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
The Man Killer Walker Bethea of Dillon County carried 2 identical to these with factory grip. One in each front pocket. He used them to Kill 4 men in his life time. He shot 4 fingers off a woman's hand once with one shot!
I worked for him in the summer time from about 12 to 15 years old.
Those shrouds were wonderful....they preceeded the S&W Bodyguard with the shrouded hammer.
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Billy, my mom's whole family were Page's from Dillon County (Lakeview). Between the local mob, Lumbee Indians and the locals it was a hardscrabble place to live!
 
I haven't tried it, but I believe that these are also the original "shoot from pocket" design.

I think some of the other hammerless models probably work better for this (642, LCR etc) but I suspect you could with these models.
 
vp9c said:
I haven't tried it, but I believe that these are also the original "shoot from pocket" design.

I think some of the other hammerless models probably work better for this (642, LCR etc) but I suspect you could with these models.
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We have shot from the pocket here several times...It Works and IS a viable plan.
 
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