Colt Viper .38 Special, 4 inch, 1977 Model D Alloy-Frame Revolver — Rare Colt Snake Model
This 1977 Colt Viper is a scarce Model D-series revolver built on a lightweight aluminum-alloy frame with a blued steel 4 inch tapered barrel and six-shot fluted cylinder. Chambered in .38 Special, it features fixed sights, an exposed ejector rod, and the correct factory rollmarks. It comes fitted with aftermarket oversize finger-groove wood grips with black checkered rubber panels and circular "P" medallions. Overall condition is very good with an excellent bore.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There is wear on the cylinder from use. There is a small scratch on the barrel and light scratching on the frame. The bore is bright and clean.
What’s Included
- Colt Viper .38 Special revolver
- Installed aftermarket oversize finger-groove wood grips with black checkered rubber panels and circular "P" medallions
Part of Colt’s Model D lineup, the Viper is a short-run Colt "snake" model regarded as one of the scarcer variants. This example was manufactured in 1977 in the USA and reflects the lightweight Viper configuration built for the .38 Special cartridge.
The revolver pairs a black-anodized aluminum-alloy frame with a blued steel 4 inch tapered barrel featuring a serrated top rib, and a blued steel six-shot fluted cylinder. It retains the exposed (unshrouded) ejector rod associated with the model.
Sighting is straightforward and durable, with a fixed square-notch rear and an integral ramped front. The action is double-action/single-action, and the hammer is exposed with a checkered spur for positive manipulation.
Factory markings include the barrel rollmark "- VIPER - .38 SPECIAL CTG." and the Rampant Colt logo on the frame. While Vipers were cataloged in blue only—blued steel barrel and cylinder with a black-anodized alloy frame—this revolver presents the correct blued steel barrel and cylinder with a black-anodized alloy frame. The installed aftermarket oversize finger-groove wood grips with black checkered rubber panels add a distinctive look and hand-filling feel.