Serial # prefixes: Davis s/n start with “P” or “AP”. Cobra CA series s/n start with “CA” (this has been confirmed by the Cobra factory)
Buffers: The buffer system between the two manufacturers are different and cannot be interchanged. Davis buffers are T-shaped assemblies with two small springs on either side. Cobra buffers consist of a single large diameter coil spring with a buffer pin on the end. Both buffers are held in place with a stainless retaining pin, but the Davis Pin is almost twice the diameter of the Cobra pin. The shaft diameter of the the Davis buffer is smaller than the diameter of the Cobra buffer spring; this means you CANNOT use a Cobra buffer on a Davis frame. In addition, the Davis frame is notched (see red lines) to allow the buffer to travel back into it while the Cobra frame has no cutout whatsoever. (NOTE: In these photos the Davis’ buffer springs are stuck in the frame.)
Barrels: Davis barrels appear to have a different rifling than Cobra barrels.
Slides: Other than the roll marks, Cobra and Davis slides appear to be the same. Weigh-wise, my Cobra slide weighed five ounces LESS than both my Davis slides (this was a surprise to me as I had always thought that Cobra had beefed up the CA380 slide (as they had the Lorcin L32/L380 slide). My guess is that Cobra’s engineers felt the Davis slide design was robust enough and that a beefed up recoil buffer was sufficient to mitigate slide failures. But this is only a guess on my part; I don’t know this for a fact).
Pictures for your viewing pleasure:
. As promised pictures will follow as time allows.
