Guns International #: 103224839
Seller's Inventory #: 25080106

Category - Colt Revolvers - New Service - .44 Revolvers

Category
Colt Revolvers - New Service
.44 Revolvers

Colt New Service M1909 Transition .44-40 Winchester 5.5-inch Mfg. 1915

Description:
Back in the day, the Colt New Service revolver was a very popular firearm, so popular in fact, that it even saw service with the U.S. Military before, during, and after World War One as the M1909 and M1917 revolvers. The New Service used the largest revolver frame built up to that time and continued to be the largest frame revolver until the Colt Anaconda arrived in 1990. The New Service, like the famous Colt Peacemaker, was offered in a variety of calibers including .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .38-40 Winchester, .44 S&W Russian, .44 Special, .44-40 Winchester, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .450 Eley, .455 Eley (aka .455 Webley), and .476 Eley. It was offered in a variety of barrel lengths ranging from 2 inches to 7.5 inches. From research, this New Service is a Model 1909 Transition. These are also known as the Improved Model to avoid confusion with the actual military model known as the U.S. Army Model 1909. The “Transition” or “Improved” version of the New Service ran from around serial number 21,000 to 325,000 (some sources will say the series runs till s/n 348,000, while others treat New Service revolvers above s/n 325,000 as the “Late Model”). The major feature of the Transition was the introduction of a “positive lock”, which took the form of a steel block between the hammer and firing pin. The steel block would lower when the hammer was cocked. When not cocked, the block would sit in the “up” position and prevent the hammer from hitting the firing pin in the event the revolver was dropped. It is interesting to note that while Colt introduced this feature in the New Service all the way back in 1909, it took Smith & Wesson until 1944, after the death of a U.S. Navy sailor, to install a similar feature in their revolvers. This New Service left the Colt factory in 1915 and is chambered in the Wild West favorite, the .44-40 Winchester. Although by 1915 the “Wild West” had long since become the “Old West”, there’s little doubt that, shortly after its purchase, this New Service was probably paired up with a Winchester Model 1892 lever action in the same caliber. There is no doubt that this revolver has seen a fair amount of use over the years. The barrel is 5.5 inches in length and is the heavy, “stovepipe” type. The front sight has been cut down in the back and is slightly bent to the right at the back. The original finish has become a grey-brown patina. Micro-pitting is present on the bottom of the trigger guard. Surprisingly, the Colt markings are clear and crisp. There are a handful of small marks and micro-dings on the front face of the frame and yoke.  Although the grips are replacements, they fit the frame well and are tight. A lanyard swivel is present on the bottom of the grip. The bore is in fairly good shape. There is some pitting present, but the rifling is well defined and deep. Despite all the visual wear and tear, the action is still rock-solid, a testament to the quality of the New Service’s design. The single-action pull is fairly light. If only this New Service could talk. The stories it could tell would be interesting. 

Handgun Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 WCF)
Manufacturer: Colt's PT. F.A. Mfg. Co.
Model: New Service M1909 Transition
Serial Number: 73164
Barrel Length: 5.5 inches (140 mm)
Bore Info: Rifled, 6 grooves, 1 in 20 inches (1 in 508 mm) LH twist
Chambers: 6
Ejectors: Manual ejection rod, simultaneous 6-round ejection.
Condition: Used - Good
Barrels: Carbon steel
Barrel Type: Heavy "stove pipe" barrel.
Action: DA/SA Revolver
Triggers: 0.3125 inches (7.94 mm) wide; smooth face.
Stock: Dark wood grips.
Finish: Grey-brown patina
Weight: 2 lbs. 9.5 oz.
Sights: Fixed Sights, sight radius 6.625 inches (168.275 mm)
Manufacture Date: 1915

Price: $1,500.00