From the Vault: Colt Anaconda Revolver 

Brownells Gun Techs and Keith and Steve, our favorite fanciers of fine firearms, are back at Rock Island Auction Company to show us their latest find: a Colt Anaconda revolver in mint condition. The Anaconda was Colt's large-frame double action wheelgun built to handle the .44 Magnum cartridge and compete directly with the Smith & Wesson N-frames, Ruger® Redhawk®, and big Dan Wessons. Steve thinks the Anaconda's outward resemblance to the Python is no coincidence. However, the internals are NOT the same as the Python but more like the King Cobra or Trooper. All Anacondas were made of stainless steel, most with a dull, matte finish, but the Rock Island gun has a brightly polished finish. The Anaconda was introduced in 1990, just as revolvers were being supplanted by semi-auto pistols. The big wheelguns of Smith & Wesson and Ruger already had a loyal following, but the Anaconda never really caught on. It was an expensive gun to fit and finish, and Colt shut down production around 2002, though Anaocondas were available from the Colt Custom Shop for some years after that. The Rock Island Anaconda is a beautiful gun that belongs in a nice collection. We haven't yet determined if that collection is Steve's or Keith's!