I'm shamelessly seeking gun porn.

I'm in the process of acquiring what was advertised as a 98% 1920 Colt New Service Commercial in 45 Colt. This is a model that's intrigued me for awhile, but I've never owned one. It'll be about 3 weeks before I have it in my hot not so little hands.

Do you have any?

If so, what do you know about them and can you share a picture to tide me over?

I don't have a New Service commercial .45 Colt revolver to show you, but I do have this Model 1909 service revolver, which is the military version. Both are New Service revolvers and are basically the same except the military guns have smooth wooden grips, a lesser finish and a lanyard ring.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

You’re going to love it! It may be my favorite model of revolver - big, sturdy, and simple.

I have two - a 7 1/2” .45 Colt that suffered through a reblue 40 years ago and a rugged old .38/40.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I had a New Service .45 Colt many years ago. Mine wasn't in good shape; never fired it and traded it off. By comparison, a huge revolver.

Is the one you are looking at 45 Colt of 45 ACP ?
This is a New Service shipped in 1940 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Here's a New Service in .45 Colt that shipped to the Commander of the Royal North West Mounted Police in late 1919!





Every time I look at it, I think of Dudley Do-Right...
"Oh Nell, you love my horse more than me"!

What do I know about them?
The cylinder spins backwards! They're my second favorite Colt DA revolver, next to the Shooting Master.
They're big, they have a funky grip angle that takes some getting used to and they're fun to shoot. My fondest memory shooting one was on a family farm in Ohio. We were aiming at an old heating oil tank from about 100 yards. It took a few shots to connect (lots of drop at that distance), but we made consistent hits once we got it figured out. The bullets made a rewarding "klank" sound when they connected, but none penetrated the steel. We found the slugs laying in the dirt at the base of the tank. They were flat as a pancake and about 2" in diameter!

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"I also cook."

"Mine " is a 5 1/2" in 45 Colt, not ACP.

Just wanted a big old thumper and I was impressed to learn that they were the largest revolvers Colt made, up until the Anaconda, and the largest ever made until the Redhawk.

You guys never disappoint.

Keep em coming, please.

I have two, a 6” .38 Special and a 1920’s revolver that Colt made up on 1917 frames. It’s .45 ACP and a beautiful gun.
I’m a big fan of the New Service.


Regards,

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turnerriver

I have a Colt Model 1909 U.S. Army in .45 Colt. In 1909 the War Department wanted a revolver to supplant the existing Colt 1873 SAA's that were being used in the Philippines, until the M1911's came into being. Will get some pictures tomorrow.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I enjoy my New Service Colts in .45 Colt with 7.5" barrels. They have the additional SD benefit of being able to be used as a club if you have missed six times.

This is my NS in .45 Colt. It didn't start out that way, it was originally chambered in .455 Ely, and had a 5.5" barrel. It's pictured with his grandson, the DS:

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There is a good book about the Colt New Service. That is al what I do have at this moment. I do like them to.

I have owned a couple of model 1909s, but never shot them. If I found a NS in 90% in 38/357 I'd be hard pressed not to buy it.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I really like Colt revolvers and almost recently bought another . I was looking for one in 44-40 to go along with my 1894 Marlin chambered the same . I found one , looked in decent shape , had a pair of stag grips . Before buying it , I asked the shop owner to have his gunsmith check the internal dimensions -- cylinder throats and groove measurement of the barrel . About a week later I went back . The cylinder throats were .427 , ok perfect . The groove dimension of the barrel was .433-.434 . Not so good . So I passed as I just couldn't figure out how to make that work unless I could find someone that could install a liner in the barrel bringing it back to the correct size . I would love to get a New Service , but if it's " on line " then it's a real gamble about the internal dimensions .
I discussed this on another forum and one of the regulars that's really into black powder said that " MAYBE- POSSIBLY " if I cast up a bullet out of soft lead sized .428 and opened up the cylinder throats to match . Loaded that dead soft lead cast bullet over black powder that it might " slug " up in size to fit the grooves of the barrel . It was just a thought . Regards Paul

This one is a 44/40 made in 1930. They are beautifully made but they are so big that I can hardly reach the trigger. I bought this one because it was in an unusual caliber, one of my favorites, and in such good shape. Turns out it’s a real fine shooter too.

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Everybody could shoot

Colt's version of the N frame, for a variety of reasons they chose not to resume its manufacture after WWII. I have an M1917 in .45ACP, a modified .445 British-target sights, rechambred to 45 Long Colt.

My Model 1909 Colt U.S. Army in .45 Colt. It has been rebarreled with a "NEW SERVICE" barrel and the cylinder latch has been replaced. Who did the work at this point who knows. It has been buffed at the trademark Colt and is more or less gone. Under a strong magnifying glass you can see some marks that may be remnants of the logo or scratches, whichever way you want to define them. Bottom line is, it is a shooter and I do not abuse it. But it does shoot better than this old boy can. I use a 250 grain cast lead bullet over 5.6 grains of Bullseye and that gives me 750 FPS, which is exactly what the War Department wanted in 1909.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

That 38/40 reminds me of the one used by Marie Gomez as Chiquita in "The Professionals"(1966). Jack Palance used one too. I've liked the looks of them ever since - very businesslike.

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Everybody could shoot

Here are some more.

Here are some more. The single revolver is a RNWMP from a 1919 shipment.

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I’ve just one a 455 Eley Brit proofed

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Quantity and quality eh?

Here's my 1930 nickel .45 Colt. And my bare metal 1917 .45 ACP snub nose. It's action is smoother than my 41 year old Python. I recently shot my short 1917 double action at 15 yards standing, two hand hold. To get in the black I aimed high where that black dot is. Lower test shots which were fired first were single action from a rest aiming dead center and it shot low. I was real pleased with it for a defense gun.

My two with home made grips... 1924 mfg 45 LC and a 1917 military 45acp.
I love to shoot both of them. The 7 1/2" bbl is the one to have when you run out of ammo...it's a heckuva CLUB !!

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

The top one I used to own.
the bottom one is still here.

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Charlie

Is that bottom "Fitz" a factory Fitz by chance? If not, sure looks like it.

WOW. Thanks for sharing these. That nickel 1930 is "popping" Brother.

REALLY like your use of the antiqued medallions on your 7.5". Thanks for sharing them both.

Some people complain that during recoil the back of the trigger guard strikes their center finger... painfully!

In post #3 the blue gun is wearing a Tyler Grip Adapter, that will cure the problem. (product 20 B #6, They say 4 -6 week current delivery time, but it has been as high as 8 months)

They also help if you are blessed with big hands as well as blessed with small grips, I have one on most J, K, & N frame S&W's with service grips (including my 1917)

Ivan

Not to hijack thread. Tyler Ts are great so are the ones madee by the forum member here with a lot less turn a round time. His are not made in stainless. Here is mine on a 66-1 bought in the 70s.

I am also a former 1909 New Service owner. I think some one shaved the cylinder. That one would accept 45 ACP moon clips and 45 Colt. It is long gone with no photo.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

I own a ww1 vintage 455 and a smoothbore 8” in 45 colt
These revolvers are difficult to shoot double action , actually they are kind of hard to shoot single action too LOL
Stiff action and a steep grip angle contribute to this
But I like them ;-)

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the rules? there are no rules

Back in the day everyone must has had 20/20 or better vision, that rear notch is skinny

If mine was as you describe, it would have saved me about $1750. I probably would not have purchased my 25 or 625.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

The November 1965 issue of American Rifleman has a three-page article on the New Service, with illustrations. You may be able to pick up a copy at a gun show.

Mine is a .38-40, 4.5 in barrel, walnut grips, 1906 patent date. It has a lanyard loop.

I was issued a Colt 1917 revolver by my PD. I adjusted the mainspring a bit and one year shot a 59/60 on the state qualification course. It was still a mite heavy in double action, but very smooth.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I have a Colt New Service revolver, .45 Colt, s/n 143XXX from 1917, marked RNWMP (Royal North West Mounted Police), with a holster.

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I read the Colt New Service was issued to the New York State Police until 1955 or so, and Charlie Askins said they were issued to the Border Patrol in the 1930s.

Calling Dudley Do-Right!

Paid $25 for my 1903 made New Service, chambered in .45 Colt of course.



She's been ridden hard and put away wet, but she still shoots.

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GOA FL Dir. & Nat. Spokesman

My Dad's primary duty gun for 39 years was a 6" Colt New Service in .357 magnum he bought new in 1939..... and shipped off to California for King adjustable sights and action job.

All told the finished Colt was still $5-10 less than a Reg Magnum ($62).

It was also his centerfire target pistol all the years he was on the Departments Pistol Team shooting "Master" (>640 out of 700)

Nice revolver. The "Black Dot" aiming point on your target is very familiar to me. In the Corps our issue M1911A1's never shot to where they told us to aim. We would aim at either center mass or 6 o'clock depending on the range. Once we could figure out where on the target the pistol was hitting, we would put up a "Spotter" in an equal distance from the center of the bullseye in the opposite direction. Since your "Spotter" is about 2 o'clock, your revolver was probably impacting at about 7 o'clock.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Just my luck, was given a September 1965 issue of AR, close but no cigar.

However, in the 1990 Gun Digest there is an article Colt's 1909 Military Revolver by John Malloy. It is a pretty good read.

AJ

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.