1909 Colt USMC

[DWalt]

I have two M1909s, both in 90%+ condition. They do not come around very often and even then they are usually in well used and abused condition. I wouldn't consider a price of $750 bad for a M1909 in complete and shootable condition (especially the USMC version), given that they are so uncommon. Most of them disappeared into the Philippine jungles and never made it back to the USA. The 44th Edition (1990) of Gun Digest has a fairly good article on the M1909.

 

[druryj]

Coolest gun-thing I've seen in a long time.. OOHRAH!

 

[bmcgilvray]

Thanks DWalt for the recommendation on the 1990 Gun Digest article on the Model 1909. I don't recall that one and doubt I have that "Gun Digest" issue. I'll have to hunt one up now.

 

[AJ]

I have two M1909s, both in 90%+ condition. They do not come around very often and even then they are usually in well used and abused condition. I wouldn't consider a price of $750 bad for a M1909 in complete and shootable condition (especially the USMC version), given that they are so uncommon. Most of them disappeared into the Philippine jungles and never made it back to the USA. The 44th Edition (1990) of Gun Digest has a fairly good article on the M1909.

From what I have read a lot of the USMC M1909's were left in Haiti. The Corps set up the Haitian Gendarmes ( Gendarmerie of Haiti - Wikipedia ). If the Corps did leave them there to arm troops that the Marines had trained it would not surprise me.

 

[6518John]

Can you imagine the stories these old warhorses could tell if they could speak?

 

[DWalt]

From what I have read a lot of the USMC M1909's were left in Haiti. The Corps set up the Haitian Gendarmes ( Gendarmerie of Haiti - Wikipedia ). If the Corps did leave them there to arm troops that the Marines had trained it would not surprise me.

Many M1909s were also left behind in the Philippines to arm local paramilitary groups, such as the Philippine Scouts and the Philippine Constabulary. Few were issued to stateside Army units, a very high percentage being shipped directly to Manila. Not surprisingly, many otherwise knowledgeable gun enthusiasts are not aware of the Colt M1909 and its history. So far, I have not been able to find a nice unopened box of the .45 Model of 1909 ammunition, but I do have several individual cartridge specimens. Hackley, Woodin, and Scranton's book on U. S. Military small arms ammunition has a fairly complete history of the Model of 1909 .45 cartridge, which was manufactured only at Frankford Arsenal.

 

[AJ]

Many M1909s were also left behind in the Philippines to arm local paramilitary groups, such as the Philippine Scouts and the Philippine Constabulary. Only a few were issued to stateside Army units, a very high percentage being shipped directly to Manila. Not surprisingly, many otherwise knowledgeable gun enthusiasts are not aware of the Colt M1909 and its history. So far, I have not been able to find a nice unopened box of the .45 Model of 1909 ammunition, but I do have several individual cartridge specimens. Hackley, Woodin, and Scranton's book on U. S. Military small arms ammunition has a fairly complete history of the Model of 1909 .45 cartridge, which was manufactured only at Frankford Arsenal.

Those were the M1909 U.S.Army. The U.S.Army trained the Scouts and Constabulary. The M1909 was initially ordered by the Army, some place I have the specifications of the Army Board. Most of the entire production was sent to the Philippines (all except about 300). These revolvers were to be a stop gap between the aging M1873 Colts and ineffective .38's. The M1911's weren't accepted for service yet, they were still in development. These were the ones left there.

The Marines and the Navy also wanted .45 Colt revolvers. However, theirs are a bit different than the U.S.Army revolvers American Rifleman | Last of Its Kind: The USMC Model 1909 Colt

All are scarce commodities. But the USMC and Navy versions are much scarcer than the Army versions. IIRC the Army bought approx. 18,000 M1909's. The Marines bought 1400 of their version. The Navy bought approx. 1000.

To own two USMC M1909's count yourself very lucky. I own a M1909 Army and consider myself as doing good even though it has been rebarreled with a NEW SERVICE barrel.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I've probably related the tale on most firearms forums I haunt, even here, but I acquired the Model 1909 that I have pictured above from the "original" civilian owner, who was about 13 in 1920 when his dad went to the San Antonio Arsenal and purchased five Model 1909 revolvers and 500 rounds of ammunition.

The family's main residence was in San Antonio at the time. His dad wanted four of them to arm nightwatchmen at an ice and ice cream plant where he was superintendent. He brought one extra home for family use. The revolvers cost $5 each and the 500 rounds of ammunition cost an additional $5. My old gun club buddy immediately claimed it as his own. The revolver made trips to family's ranch outside Kerrvillle and their even larger ranch west of Victoria, Mexico. The revolver was carried in their 1926 Willys Knight touring car on a big family excursion "out West" to Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon in 1927.

It's only conjecture, but I suspect that this revolver was likely one of the few Model 1909s that was never issued and later sold as surplus. The wear it exhibits probably resulted from the next 70 years of civilian use before I acquired it in the early 1990s.

 

[les.b]

Me jealous? Nah. Envious of M_conrad_0311, well yes. My buddy, tennexplorer, will call me occasionally to tell me and brag about another S&W goodie he had found. I think it upsets him when I tell him "Good for you!"

Hey, guys, the journal of the Colt collectors association “The Rampant Colt” has a great article this quarter, about the 1909....

Best Regards, Les

 

[Valmet]

Very cool- those USMC 1909s are scarce guns.

 

[usmc2427765]

As I look at that old USMC revolver, I think of where it might have served. WWI, Banana wars and maybe even the second war. I wonder if Chesty Puller might have carried it in Nicaragua hunting the Sandinistas. It is a real treasure and I hope you will get a Colt letter on it and share with the forum. If it could only talk and tell stories of it's service.

 

[Muley Gil]

As I look at that old USMC revolver, I think of where it might have served. WWI, Banana wars and maybe even the second war. I wonder if Chesty Puller might have carried it in Nicaragua hunting the Sandinistas. It is a real treasure and I hope you will get a Colt letter on it and share with the forum. If it could only talk and tell stories of it's service.

According to one biography, Chesty carried a 1911. I believe Herman Hanneken USMC carried either a 1909 or a New Service in Haiti.

 

[DWalt]

I somewhere have a book in which it relates that one Army officer used a M1909 against Pancho Villa's raiders at Columbus NM in 1916.

 

[jimmyj]

Question:
The serial numbers (?) inside the crane is not in line. Is this normal ?

 

[AJ]

Count yourselves lucky if you own any of the M1909 family of U.S.military revolvers. I know I do.