Folks, I’ve been around long enough to see a lot of “limited editions” come and go, but every once in a while something drops that actually feels special. The 2026 Colt Boa is one of those guns.

Back in 1985 Colt did a one-year run of the original Boa for Lew Horton. Roughly 1,200 guns total — 600 with 4-inch barrels and 600 with 6-inch. They took the Trooper Mark V frame and action, dropped a Python-style full-lug ventilated rib barrel on it, added wood grips with gold medallions, and called it a day. Those guns were never common, and today they’re straight-up collector gold. I saw one cross the auction block recently for over $30,000. My jaw hit the floor.

Fast forward to 2026 and Colt is bringing the Boa back — but this time it’s built on the current production Python platform, not the old Trooper. It’s a proper modern revolver with all the strength and refinement we’ve come to expect from today’s Colt snake guns, while keeping the distinctive visual DNA of the original Boa.

What Makes the 2026 Boa Different

This isn’t just a Python with different markings. Colt and their partner CNC Firearms have done it right:

• Barrel: Classic Boa 2-vent rib profile (vs. the current Python’s 3-vent look). The rib spacing matches the original Boa exactly.
• Front sight: Traditional brass bead instead of the red ramp on the Python.
• Grips: Wood with gold medallions — proper Boa style.
• Serial numbers: Dedicated Boa range — special and easy to identify.
• Barrel markings: Authentic Boa roll marks, not the standard Python ones.
• No QR code on the frame (Colt, if you’re listening — please do the same on the regular Pythons).

Everything else you love about the modern Python carries over: the frame, the excellent adjustable rear sight, the hammer, the trigger, and the robust leaf-spring action with fully machined components. This is a stronger, more durable gun than the 1985 originals, but it still looks and feels like a true Boa.

Built by Colt, Handled by CNC

This is a genuine Colt product — built in the Colt factory, no outside builders involved. It ships complete from Colt. What’s different is the distribution model. CNC Firearms (Custom & Collectable Firearms) is Colt’s authorized partner for this program. They’re handling allocation, orders, customer service, and everything customer-facing. Colt is focused on the story, the heritage, and making sure the gun is right. It’s a clean partnership that keeps the focus where it belongs — on the revolver itself.

Production is strictly limited to a one-year run only. Exact numbers haven’t been finalized yet and will be decided as the program moves forward. Just like the original, this will notbe a mass-production gun. That scarcity is intentional.

My Take as a Shooter and Collector

If you actually like to shoot .357 Magnum Colt snake guns, buy a regular Python and run it hard. That’s the gun I’d carry to the range or the woods every weekend. The 2026 Boa? That one goes in the safe as a true collector piece.

These things are going to appreciate. I don’t expect them to hit the crazy $30k+ prices the 1985 guns are bringing today — those are museum-level rare — but they’re going to be solid, long-term investments. Limited production, official Colt, proper Boa details, and that unmistakable look… yeah, these will hold value.

Time will tell how many they ultimately make and how the market reacts, but my gut says this is one of the smarter limited-run Colts Colt has done in recent years.

If you’re a serious Colt collector or just appreciate the snake guns, keep an eye on this one. The 2026 Boa is the real deal.