Colt U.S. Army Model 1909 New Service .45 Colt 5.5” DA/SA Revolver 1911 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,250.00
LSB#: LSB260221TP043
Make: Colt
Model: U.S. Army Model 1909 New Service
Serial Number: 47555
Year of Manufacture: 1911 C&R
Caliber: .45 Colt & M1909 Cartridge. It will fire standard pressure .45 Colt, but there may be extraction issues. Avoid high pressure rounds, such as +P. The U.S. Army Model 1909 cartridge was developed by Franklin Arsenal in 1909 to resolve the extraction issue. It features a .45 Colt bullet but has a wider rim.
Action Type: Double Action Revolver with Swing Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT D.A. 45”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” / “PAT’D AUG. 5, 1884. JUNE 5, 1900. JULY 4, 1905”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY”. The left side of the frame has the Rampant Colt logo. The butt of the frame is marked with “U.S. ARMY MODEL 1909” / “No.47555”. There is an “R.A.C.” and a circled WCP inspector mark on the right side of the frame. “R.A.C.” is also stamped on the barrel and cylinder.
Barrel Length: 5.5”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a tall ‘shark fin’ style blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” shaped groove on the top strap.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece, smooth walnut. There are light handling marks, compression dents, and minor scratches. These are not the original grips. There is a lanyard loop attached to the bottom of the frame. Overall, the grips rate in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is defined, yet has smoothed. There is erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 4 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 60% of its current metal finish. There are scratches and minor nicks, with noticeable finish loss on the barrel, cylinder, straps, and leading edges. There is corrosion freckling and staining throughout the metal surfaces. The cylinder shows a turn line. The screw heads are sharp with minor tooling. The markings are clear and legible. Overall, this revolver rates in Good condition
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The single action trigger pull is crisp and the double action is smooth. The lockup is tight with no perceptible play at the chambers. There is no endshake. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: Colt’s New Service revolver was the company’s large frame, heavy duty double action platform introduced at the turn of the 20th century and quickly adopted by military and law enforcement agencies for its strength and reliability. By 1909, the U.S. Army selected this robust design as a replacement for earlier revolvers, pairing it with a revised .45 caliber cartridge developed at Frankford Arsenal to address extraction issues encountered with the standard .45 Colt. The resulting Model 1909 cartridge, with its wider rim, ensured more positive ejection under field conditions and represents an important transitional step in U.S. military handgun development prior to the adoption of the Colt M1911.
This 1911-produced U.S. Army Model 1909 New Service reflects honest service wear consistent with a martial revolver of its era, retaining a pleasing balance of original finish with visible thinning and handling marks throughout. The markings, including “UNITED STATES PROPERTY,” inspector stamps, and matching military nomenclature on the butt, remain clear and reinforce its government-issued history, while the presence of a lanyard loop underscores its intended field use. The bore shows age and use, and the grips are later replacements, but the revolver maintains solid mechanical function with tight lockup and smooth operation. Altogether, it stands as a tangible example of America’s pre-World War I sidearm evolution, bridging the gap between frontier-era revolvers and the modern semi-automatic pistols that would soon follow. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY