Colt New Service - School Me Please

[.357magger]

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?

 

[PALADIN85020]

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

 

[sigp220.45]

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.

 

[rockquarry]

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.

 

[Toyman]

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.

 

[s&wchad]

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!

 

[.357magger]

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.

"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.

 

[turnerriver]

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,

 

[AJ]

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.

 

[mi2600]

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.

 

[RobertJ.]

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:

 

[Thuer]

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.

 

[Old_Cop]

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.

 

[cowboy4evr]

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

 

[Wyo]

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.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

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.

 

[AJ]

My Colt 1909 with pictures

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.

 

[Wyo]

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.

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.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Here are some more.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

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