Colt Model 1909 US Navy Double Action .45 Revolver

[varifleman]

Here for your perusal is my Colt .45DA Model 1909 USN revolver Colt serial number 53002 (1911 production date) USN serial number 1002. Looking forward to shooting it and getting the Colt Archive letter.
The Colt New Service Model 1909 revolver was developed by Colt to fill a contract from the U.S. Government for use in the Philippines where a large caliber handgun was needed. The development on the Colt 1911 auto had not been completed and a heavy caliber revolver filled the need for a couple of years. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps both liked the new 1909 and each ordered a small quantity with the navy being the smallest at only 1100 guns.

[oldfoneguy]

Very nice. The big boy new service. I'm not dead yet so one is still on my list. Congratulations.

[browningautorifle]

I never had one either but wouldn't have minded. I had the S&W 1917 made for Argentina...just about new like many were. The big punkin' ballers would sure pile a tribesman up I think...

Very nice.

[Low & Slow]

Nice find on a small issue revolver. If I recall, the USMC contract wasn't much larger. The US Army bought a bit under 20,000, and the British around 60,000 during the Great War. Love how so many of these Colts still lock up so tight after more than 100 years.

[RCS]

The cartridge for the M1909 revolver was similar to the 45 Colt single action cartridge but had the rim diameter enlarged about .030 inch to assure extraction. The Model 1909 45 Govt cartridge could not be loaded into the single action cylinder unless you loaded every other chamber in the cylinder, making the single action revolver a three shot pistol.

Even today, my S&W Model 25 revolver chambering the 45 Colt will sometimes miss or skip over a fired case during extraction due to the smaller rim diameter. The 45 Colt Govt cartridge was never manufactured commercially

my photos show a 45 Colt Govt with a 1912 FA headstamp

[browningautorifle]

my S&W Model 25 revolver chambering the 45 Colt will sometimes miss or skip over a fired case during extraction

I can see that, after all it WAS designed for a six gun that had a different ejection system.

[RCS]

Some years ago. I saw an excellent condition Colt Model 1909 revolver, but a very bad choice was made and the cylinder was shaved to accept the
45 ACP cartridge with half moon clips or the 45 auto rim. Also the Colt 1909 has the old bore diameter of .454

[browningautorifle]

the Colt 1909 has the old bore diameter of .454

That could be custom cast but beside the point.

[varifleman]

Under the grips are “JH,” “N” and “4” stamps; "N" for Navy contract, "JH" and "4"inspector's initials and number?

[RCS]

You can use 452/453 dia lead just make them hollow base - worked find in a S&W M1915 that was rechambered from 455 to 45 Colt