The new SS Colt Cobra I bought in August locally for $705 OTD wasn't a fluke - it was identical in fit & finish to the ones on display. It was certainly better than the last new GP-100 I looked over - nearly as nice as my S&W 60 Pro, in fact. This isn't my first DA handgun with 'Colt' emblazoned somewhere on it... that honor belongs to my first-ever S&W - a 625MG in .45 Colt. That taught me a valuable lesson, too... unlike the mix of Rugers I had bought, which were all delivered as 'works in progress', the S&W's were all functional as delivered. So is the new Cobra!
Good MIM parts are uniform and fine in my S&W experience - and the infamous IL is a non-issue to me, as well. So, what do I think of the new Cobra? It's an appropriate self defense firearm. Bigger than a J-frame, smaller than a K-frame - except for it's cylinder's chamber spacing - my HKS #10 speedloaders fit it as well as my 2" 10, 4" 64, & 6" 66. I keep them loaded with Remington +P 158gr LHPSWC's for self defense. I appreciate the Cobra's even flat finish - reduces reflection. The fiber optic front sight is appreciated, too... Tritium night sights generally are useless to me. The cylinder release is odd to me - pull vs push, as on a proper S&W - and that cylinder rotation is backwards (CW!), too. Reloading likely won't be needed in a 'protect your bacon' event, so that oddity shouldn't be important.
The SA trigger is easy to predict and fairly crisp, while the DA trigger is equally predictable and smoother than any other NIB DA-capable revolver I've owned... including PC shop S&W's. The Hogue rubber grips cover the backstrap and make the recoil of those +P Remi's easier to follow up with. Speaking of shooting those defensive loads, my larger fingers noticed the edges of the trigger guard - I'll have to ease it a bit (It's not the first revolver I've had to adapt!). Actually, wood/Dymondwood grips, like the new Cobra sports on the May 2017 American Rifleman front cover, would be a better fit for me. Those +P 158gr LHPSWC's seem to hit coincident POA/POI at 20/25 yd on steel plates when using a six o'clock sight picture.
My wife couldn't miss - even the smaller plates - very aggravating to be out shot by your wife! She liked the Cobra... maybe I can swap her for my 2" 10! (No way, I am afraid.) I need a Mika pocket holster for it - and some wood/Dymondwood grips. I need to make some calls... oops, I need to clean it, too (I shot it last week!). At 69 - I finally bought a 'Colt'.