The Philipine Insurgency in the first ten years of the 20th century emphasized the urgency of a serious caliber Army sidearm. This was the same experience fighting Moro guerillas that proved the lack of stopping power of the existing .38 Long revolvers, and necessitated bringing out old Colt M1873 .45 revolvers in storage.

The purchase of Colt New Service M1909 revolvers was indeed an emergency measure before the new service automatic pistol was adopted.