Colt Model 1909 US Navy Double Action .45 Revolver

[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