Colt New Service .45 Colt Army Model of 1909

[varifleman]

Here for your perusal is Colt New Service .45 DA Colt Army Model of 1909 serial number 30443 which was 1 of 750 shipped to United States Government Commanding Officer Ordnance Depot Manila, The Philippines on June 17, 1909. Army Inspectors of Ordnance R.A.C (Rinaldo A. Carr) is visible underneath barrel; on back of cylinder and left side of frame and FB (Col Frank Baker) is seen on left side of frame.

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[Lee Enfield]

Here for your perusal is Colt New Service .45 DA Colt Army Model of 1909 serial number 30443 which was 1 of 750 shipped to United States Government Commanding Officer Ordnance Depot Manila, The Philippines on June 17, 1909. Army Inspectors of Ordnance R.A.C (Rinaldo A. Carr) is visible underneath barrel; on back of cylinder and left side of frame and FB (Col Frank Baker) is seen on left side of frame.

congrats on the ARMY 1909!

1909s are very hard to find here, I have not yet managed to accumulate one - and worse than that, I have missed 2 Navy/ USMC 1909s during the last few years.

[browningautorifle]

Nice, excellent shape. Wonder how it's survived so pristine when so many were used hard...

[rcathey]

Nice, excellent shape. Wonder how it's survived so pristine when so many were used hard...

Pretty sure these were blued from the factory. I think even early 1917s were.
Still, mechanically it looks great...even it has been refurbished.

Love these 1909s and their history. Really interesting stopgap firearm.

[browningautorifle]

these were blued from the factory.

That makes more sense, my great Uncle was USMC in PI and DR back in 1919 to 1921. This in theory would have been one of the issue revolvers then. I wonder how it made it from there to here without being beat to crap is more my thinking, wonder if it never actually made the shipment? Wonder if it was issued to a REMF instead of line?

[Lee Enfield]

Pretty sure these were blued from the factory. I think even early 1917s were.
...snip....

Yes, all New Service revolvers were originally blued, including M.1917s.

With the M.1917s, colt stopped polishing the parts and left a "brushed" finish (looks kind of like a wire wheel) and the bluing tends to be thin.

Here is one in really good condition (almost perfect I think)
https://www.oldcolt.com/collections/...05522-mfg-1918

S&W M.1917s are generally better finished than the Colt M.1917s, and there is an (amusing??) anecdote regarding that - The US Government actually seized management of S&W during WWI (to our US cousins April 1917-Nov11, 1918) (to speed production as much as possible) because S&W refused to reduce their finish quality.

[varifleman]

Here is the butt strap with Model/serial number and a few original US Army issue 20 round ammo boxes from the Frankford Arsenal.

[varifleman]

Took the revolver out to a friend's range and shot some 40 rounds and the old Warhorse performed flawlessly and was spot on every time. Yes, tight as a drum and a real hoot to shoot! Since this range has only metal targets no photos but next time will have photos of paper targets at another range. Used this modern factory cowboy loaded 45 LC ammo shown here.

[varifleman]

Looks like my 1909 got a parkerized refinish perhaps by the Ordnance Dept in the Philippines. I found a second Model 1909 with a similar parkerized finish so maybe more of them were reconditioned for WWII service in the Philippines.