MTM Cobra | A Premier Chronograph Tactical Watch

If you’re like me and aren’t opposed to a little man bling, then you need to check out the offerings from MTM Watch. With inspiration from the Special Ops community, these military style timepieces feature exotic alloys, carbon fiber and a heavy dose of sex appeal. A few years ago at Shot Show, I found myself gravitating daily towards the MTM Watch booth and their stunning displays. Unfortunately, they were not handing out free samples. The massive 47.5mm Cobra model, which instantly caught my eye, is one of the biggest, baddest timepieces that MTM currently offers.

While in the Ranger Regiment, I utilized the good ‘ole Casio G-Shock like everyone else. It was a good durable watch at a low price point. But it did nothing aesthetically for me. Once I left the military and was earning a decent salary, I wanted more of a statement piece. Like a Breitling Super Avenger. With Swiss blood in my veins and a love for aviation, it made perfect sense. Or so I thought. It also costs a shit ton of money and I quickly found myself wearing it less and less as fears of damage or loss crept into my head. Since then, I’ve bounced around various watch manufacturers looking for what I consider the perfect time piece. A watch that performs all the functions I feel are necessary yet won’t break the bank and is both durable and good-looking.

At home in a tactical environment

I settled on the Limited Edition MTM Cobra in a black DLC coating. This hefty time piece arrived in a tacti-cool Pelican style hard case and is individually numbered. The large 47.5mm case sculpted from a block of titanium is neither subtle, nor covert. In fact, it’s the largest watch I own. Although the MTM website states a weight of 7.1oz, my Cobra tipped the scales at 6.3oz after removing a few links from the bracelet. Which is surprisingly light for a watch this size. Thanks in part to the lightweight titanium construction. Removing the metal links from a watch band typically involves a trip to the jeweler. Not so with the user friendly band from MTM. Link removal was a breeze with the supplied tools taking me no more than 5 minutes to dial in the size.

Casual enough for off-duty

The MTM Cobra is a great daily driver looking good in various environments. Subdued enough not to compromise your position in a tactical setting, yet classy enough to accompany you for a night on the town. MTM Watch offers not only DLC Black, but brushed silver and sandblasted gray for a more traditional look. Furthermore, there are 5 different watch faces and dozens of watch bands in several colors and textures to choose from. The current MTM line-up features more than a dozen models, all with their own unique look and specific functions. MTM actually has a watch that can detect Gamma radiation with a Geiger-Muller tube! Great for your next vacation in Chernobyl. Most watches range in price from $300 to almost $2000. For me, that’s the price-range sweet spot. With a couple of Elite watches in the $2800-$12,500 range for the high ballers out there.

“The MTM Cobra is a pilot watch that contains a classic slide rule bezel for aviators. It can be used for aviation related calculations that can provide valuable metrics with out a calculator, such as flight time & distance, fuel consumption, the rate of descent/climb and more.” -specialopswatch.com

This mammoth watch has been comfortably on my left wrist for over a month now. It’s been banged around on the construction sites, spent time sub surface on a shipwreck dive, engaged in shooting sports, out to dinner and even bitten by my dog. The MTM Cobra is a large overt watch that will get some attention. If you’re looking for something more covert, take a look at the other offerings from MTM, I’m sure you’ll find something that suits your needs. Like the Air Stryk II, Predator II or even the Status if you’re looking for a smart watch.

Cobra specifications courtesy of MTM Watch