Cobray 37mm Launcher

Cobray CM203 37mm Launcher

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Early Model CM2037 "IMP" mounted onto M16A1 - 37mm flare. The charging handle is a simple metal pin, later models would have a rubber sleeve placed over it (for cosmetic as well as safety purposes). The trigger guard is simply a bent piece of sheet metal pinned at only one end.

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Updated Model CM203 mounted onto the same M16A1 as before - 37mm flare. In the 1990s Cobray updated their CM203, adding a sturdier curved charging handle, and an M16 Style safety. Also the trigger guard is now screwed in at both ends and is thicker. Later models would have larger mounting blocks and some variants will have mounts designed to attach to RIS rails.

Cobray CM203 mounted to an M4A1 carbine - 37mm flare

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Late Model Cobray CM203, not attached to a rifle - 37mm flare

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Short-barreled Cobray CM203, not attached to a rifle - 37mm flare

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Late model Cobray CM203 37mm Flare launcher underslung on an AR-15 (A1 style receiver) with an early SP1 three-prong flash hider. Visible is the cocking lever on the side. Later models increased the size of the mounting block so that the launcher hung lower, farther away from the rifle barrel.

Cobray Co. (originally of Smyrna GA, but now currently of Westhope, ND) built many smooth bore 37mm Flare launchers that were smooth bore copies of the M203 grenade launcher back in the late 1980s (originally known as the CM2037 IMP). Versions were made by SWD (the predecessor of Cobray) and RPB, as well, but Cobray was the last, and most successful, company to sell the launchers. Throughout the 1990s, several improvements were made in the construction and cocking lever as well as shorter and longer length barrels.

The Cobray CM203 37mm flare launcher is not a grenade launcher per se as it is chambered in the 37mm civilian caliber, which lethal rounds are not manufactured in and which is not compatible with the 40mm military caliber. It can only fire riot control "grenade" rounds such as gas and smoke, purchase of which is usually limited to law enforcement buyers. However, since it looks like an M203 grenade launcher it is commonly standing in for one in the movies on this site. It was built for civilian use as an under slung flare launcher commonly mounted under M16/AR-15s variants and other rifles. It is preferred for most film use over a genuine M203 mainly because, unlike the M203, it is not considered a "Destructive Device" in the U.S. (unless possessed with 37mm direct-fire ammunition such as baton or beanbag rounds, or with a 37mm-to-12-gauge shotgun adaptor) and not subject to NFA regulations. Such weapons are thus more expensive and difficult for film productions to acquire.

The Cobray CM203 37mm flare launcher can be distinguished from the Colt M203 based on the following:

1. The M203 is a 40mm launcher capable of firing multiple purpose rounds, the CM203 is a 37mm launcher built specifically as a flare launcher for civilian use.

2. The CM203 has an M16 style safety switch (on later models), the M203 does not.

3. The CM203 lacks a second safety trigger in the front of the main trigger, which the M203 has.

4. The CM203 Flare launcher's trigger guard is more squared when compared to the M203.

5. The CM203 37mm had an external cocking lever on the side of the receiver, the M203 cocks on closure.

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The Cobray 37mm Launcher and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Death Wish V: The Face of Death		Henchman	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	1994
Cyber Tracker			Mounted on HK91A2, Seen in armory	1994
Never Say Die	Todd Jensen	Agent Mike Roper	Mounted on M16	1994
	Robin Smith	Angel	Mounted on visually modified Vektor R5
Crying Freeman	Mark Dacascos	Yo Hinomura	Mounted on M16(SP1) rifle	1995
Major Payne		US Marine	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	1995
Midnight Man	Michael Watson	Ilyia	Mounted on M16A1	1995
Midnight Man	Lorenzo Lamas	John Kang	Mounted on M16A1	1995
The One That Got Away	Sam Halpenny	"Legs" Lane	attached to M16A1	1996
The One That Got Away	Alexander Morton	Big Bob	attached to M16A1	1996
The One That Got Away	Paul McGann	Chris Ryan	attached to Colt AR-15 Sporter-1	1996
The One That Got Away	David Morrissey	Andy McNab	attached to Colt AR-15 Sporter-1	1996
The One That Got Away	Nick Brimble	Vince Phillips	attached to Colt AR-15 Sporter-1	1996
The One That Got Away	Steven Waddington	Dinger	attached to Colt AR-15 Sporter-1	1996
The One That Got Away	Simon Burke	Stan	attached to Colt AR-15 Sporter-1	1996
The One That Got Away	Hannes Muller	Mark	attached to Colt AR-15 Sporter-1	1996
The Rock	Tony Todd	Cpt. Darrow	Mounted on CAR-15 carbine	1996
The Rock	Bokeem Woodbine	Sgt. Crisp	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	1996
The Rock		Rogue recon Marines	Mounted on M16(SP1) and M16A1 rifles, with & without weaponlights	1996
Escape from L.A.		USPF guards	Mounted on FN FAL rifles	1996
The Ultimate Weapon	Hulk Hogan	Ben Cutter	Mounted on M16A1	1998
From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money	Raymond Cruz	Jesús	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	1999
From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money	Muse Watson	C.W.	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	1999
The General's Daughter			Seen in crate, mounted on M16A2 rifle	1999
Black Hawk Down		US Army Rangers	Mounted on M16A2 rifles	2001
Ticker		SFPD SWAT	Mounted on Colt Model 723 carbines, with laser pointers	2001
Ticker		Terrorists	Mounted on Colt Model 723 carbines, with laser pointers	2001
My Science Project	John Stockwell	Mike Harlan	Mounted on M16 rifle	2001
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever	Lucy Liu	Sever	Mounted on M4A1 carbine	2002
Basic	Samuel L. Jackson	MSG West	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with ACOG scope	2003
Basic	Brian Van Holt	Ray Dunbar	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with ACOG scope	2003
Basic	Cristián de la Fuente	Castro	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with ACOG scope	2003
Basic	Dash Mihok	Mueller	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with ACOG scope	2003
Basic	Giovanni Ribisi	2LT Levi Kendell	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with ACOG scope	2003
Hulk		US Army soldiers	Mounted on M4A1 carbines	2003
Hulk		Atheon security guards	Mounted on M4A1 carbines	2003
Hulk		Atheon security guards	Mounted on M249 SAW Paratroopers	2003
Without a Paddle	Ethan Suplee	Elwood	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	2004
Without a Paddle	Seth Green	Dan	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	2004
Jarhead	Brian Geraghty	Fergus	Mounted on M16A2 rifle	2005
Jarhead	Peter Sarsgaard	Troy	Mounted on M16A2 rifle	2005
Jarhead	Laz Alonso	LCpl. Ramon Escobar	Mounted on M16A2 rifle	2005
Jarhead		US Marines	Mounted on M16A2 rifle	2005
Painkiller Jane		US Special Forces soldier	Mounted on Colt Model 723 carbine, with Surefire Universal weaponlight	2005
Thank You For Smoking	David Koechner	Bobby Jay Bliss	Mounted on M16A1 rifle	2005
The Marine	John Cena	John Triton	Mounted on M16(SP1) rifle	2006
The Last Sentinel	Don 'The Dragon' Wilson	Talis	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with Surefire Universal weaponlight and fictional AI scope	2007
The Last Sentinel	Katee Sackhoff	Girl	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with Surefire Universal weaponlight and fictional AI scope	2007
Shooter	Lane Garrison	Donnie Fenn	Mounted on M4A1 carbine, with AN/PVS-17 night-vision scope	2007
Gamer	Gerard Butler	Kable	Mounted on Heckler & Koch G36C, firing fictional ammo	2009
Watchmen			Seen in closet armory	2009
Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling	Todd Robinson	Overton	Mounted on Colt Law Enforcement carbine with ACOG scope, erroneously shown able to fire grappling hooks	2009
Way of War	J.K. Simmons	Sergeant Mitchell	Mounted on M16 SP1	2009
Black & White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault		Secret paramilitary squad		2012
Black & White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault	Mark Chao	Ying-xiong Wu		2012

Television

Show Title	Actor	Character	Note / Episode	Air Date
Water Rats	.	Tactical Police	Mounted on M16A1	1996-2001
Stargate: SG1	.	.	Mounted on M16A2s and M4A1s	1997-2007
Seven Days	Kieran Mulroney	Cpl. Mick Kirkland	Mounted on M16A1 / Season 1, Episode 15 "Daddy's Girl"	1998 - 2001
	Todd Kimsey	Lt. Willis
	Gary Dourdan	Sgt. Mohmand
Ultimate Force	.	.	Mounted on various M16 and CAR-15 models	2002-2006
Ultimate Force	.	Various SAS soldiers	Mounted on Colt AR-15 SP-1s, M16A2s and mocked up CAR-15s	2002 - 2006
Stargate: Atlantis	.	.	Mounted on M16A2s and M4A1s	2004-2009
E-Ring	.	U.S. military	.	2005-2006
Continuum - Season 1	Luvia Petersen	Jasmine Garza	Mounted on a Colt Model 715 / "Fast Times" (Episode 2)	2012
Continuum - Season 2			Mounted on a Colt Model 715 / "Split Second" (Episode 2)	2013
Banshee - Season 3	Rus Blackwell	Gordon Hopewel	Mounted on a Colt Model 933 / Episode 10	2015
True Detective	Vince Vaughn	Frank Semyon		2015

Video Games

Game Title	Mods	Notations	Release Date
Medal of Honor		Mounted on M4A1	2010
Maximum Action		Mounted on M16A1	2018

Cobray CM79LF 37mm Launcher

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Cobray M79LF stand alone launcher - 37mm

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Cobray M79LF stand alone launcher (other side) - 37mm

Also an stand alone 37mm launcher was sold with its own pistol grip and folding stock. Since it resembled an updated version of the M79 grenade launcher it was 'unofficially' called the M79L or CM79 or CM79LF, despite the fact that most of Cobrays' receivers simply had the words "37mm launcher" stamped on them. Cobray had been through many ups and downs throughout the years, much of which was created by the unsure business environment brought on by politically motivated legislation.

(Though making the worst shotgun in history, the Cobray Terminator, and one of the worst pistols in history (insofar as the Lady's Home Companion, an eight-pound gun made mostly from Street Sweeper components chambered in .45-70 Government with no foregrip, could be called a pistol) did not exactly help matters)

Since a 37mm flare launcher cannot launch 40mm grenades, it was an uncontrolled item. However, politicians throughout several states have banned using the launcher in conjunction with AR15 rifles or added the launchers to items to be restricted, despite the fact that the devices only resemble destructive devices externally. Like many other items, the device's intimidating appearance prompted bans based solely on its cosmetic details and not based on its function.

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Never Say Die		A police officer	With sighting device	1994
Species	Michael Madsen	Preston Lennox	.	1995
The Rage	Tiani Warden	Cyndi		1997
Lake Placid	Brendan Gleeson	Sheriff Keough	Custom long barreled version	1999
The Rundown	Paul S. Power	Martin	.	2003
Lake Placid 2	John Schneider	Sheriff Riley	Customized version made to look like a rotary launcher	2007
Street Kings			Seen on the wall in Armory	2008
Black Dynamite	Darrel Heath	Militant #2		2009

Television

Show Title	Actor	Character	Note / Episode	Air Date
Stargate: SG1	Richard Dean Anderson	Col. Jack O'Neill	Season 5, Episode 4 "The Fifth Man"	2001-2002
Battlestar Galactica	Aaron Douglas	Chief Tyrol	.	2004-2009