Colt Model 1909
I acquired a Colt Army Model 1909. It's in v.good+ condition, all numbers match, all inspection marks are where they should be (RAC), final acceptance mark is there (FB), Colt address and cartridge markings are there, rampant Colt is there. EVERYTHING that should be on this revolver is there, EXCEPT - some previous owner filed off the U.S. Property marking under the barrel (he left the RAC and P) and filed off the stampings that should be on the butt strap. Serial number is on crane arm and crane recess, as they should be, and last five digits are on the back of the cylinder latch. This is a 35,--- serialed piece - meaning it was in the first batch of 6000 sent to the Philippines in Spring of '09. My question is: is there anybody out there who can professionally restore the markings under the barrel and on the butt strap? What nags me, though, is whether the restoration of these markings would be ethical. I am a collector and I know how carefull I am with originality vs. value. If these marks were restamped would I be violating my own code? Facts and opinions please. Thanks, Jim Hauff
0
-
Can anyone verify the DOB of this .45 Colt - SN 34637 I think its 1911, based on something I read years ago.
Thanks...0 -
according to what I can find if your pistol is Serial 34637 and either a New Service of Shooting Master then it was made in 1911 I know of models 1892.1894,1895,1896,1901,1903 and model 1905Marine Corps as well as a semi auto pistol model 1905 and 1909 But I don't remember a pistol as denoted as a model 1909 . I may have opened up more questions then I answered but Colt at one time ran all models off the same serial number base set so you could have different models with one serial number apart.
J.P. the date I gave you is correct it is a NEW SERVICE model 1909 and serial numbered as such0 -
Colt 1909 was the New Service .45 adopted as a stopgap Army sidearm until a suitable automatic could be found. I saw somewhere that serial numbers were in the 30,000 - 50,000 range over only a few years until the 1911s came in. I can't confirm 1911 but it isn't far off. 0 -
Both the Army, Navy and Marines had small numbers of New Services made under government contract, that they identified as Model 1909. After nearly 100 years their not commonly found, specially in descent condition. Could you possibly post photos of yours. 0 -
The one in the middle... 
Thanks for the info guys...
Another that I had...
My grandfather carried this Colt when he was in the Philippine Constabulary in the early 1900's.0 -
quote:My grandfather carried this Colt when he was in the Philippine Constabulary
That fits.
The reason 1909s are scarce is because so many of them went to the Philippines to be used up or left there.0 -
Right... But is it possible to date the year of manufacture from the SN of this model? 0 -
That piece is exactly like my Colt Model 1909. The give away is the three knurled bands on the ejector rod - with a hole in the last band. The Model 1917s had only two knurled bands. The other give away is the Caliber .45 Colt.
From my research, on my piece: Colt was contracted to produce these .45s in 1908 to supplant the .38 Long Colt cartridges then standard and the lack of serviceable Model 1873s SAA - to be sent to the Philippines, where the Moro insurgents were showing a physical disdain to the .38s (in other words - the .38s weren't stopping them.)
Colt began production for the Army contract at s/n 30,001. The first 6000 were ready for shipment in late March 1909 and ran to serial number 36,000. My piece, in the 35,000 range and your piece in the 34,000 range were ship mates on the way over. Estimates vary by source, and total production of this model (before 1911) ranges from around 13,000 to 15,000. All but 250 (sent to Springfield US Armory) were sent over to the Philippines. There is evidence that these pieces were eventually replaced by Colt M1911s, and the remaining 1909s were eventually returned to the US/Colt for refurbishment in 1916 or '17. Many were issued through WW1 as well as WW2 in the original .45 Colt chambering*. A further refurb was done on remaining stocks after WW2 on the less than one thousand remaining. According to "experts" this model is amongst the scarcest and one of the longest lived in service.
*I haven't tried modern .45 Colt cartridges in my piece - but according to "experts", the original cartridge presented extraction problems due to rim dimension - so the Army had Frankford Arsenal gin up batches with wider rims - and that solved the problem. Supposedly, these wide rim cartridges were made up to and slightly after WW2 - ????0 -
Thanks Perry...
32 Magnum... Thanks for all the info. I regularly shoot .45 LC (any kind) in mine and it seems quite happy with them - and its fun to shoot. I wouldn't part with it at any price. [:D]
Thanks again all...
Hawk... Yeah.. used up or left there.. OR swiped by somebody's grandpaw[:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by 32 Magnum
*I haven't tried modern .45 Colt cartridges in my piece - but according to "experts", the original cartridge presented extraction problems due to rim dimension - so the Army had Frankford Arsenal gin up batches with wider rims - and that solved the problem. Supposedly, these wide rim cartridges were made up to and slightly after WW2 - ????
My understanding of the matter of the rim diameter your referring to, is different. The early .45 LC cartridges for the SAA's that the U.S. Army used during the last quarter of the 19th Century were too large in diameter and gave functioning problems in the 1909's. This caused the Army to have the arsenals make the rim diameters smaller. If they didn't do this the 1909 would be 3 shooters with the old ammo instead of 6 shooters. With a pissed off Moro fixing to chop your head off with a bolo, this had a negative effect on the morale on the guys issued the 1909's.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments