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Greetings Liberty Lovers,
This week’s FOTW is the Model 1909 Colt .45 Revolver.
To appreciate this weapon, we must go back in time to the Spanish American War.
On April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in the Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The U.S. also supported the ongoing struggle of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines for independence against Spanish rule.
This would be the first war fought overseas by the United States and it involved campaigns in both Cuba and the Philippine Islands.
In December 1898, the U.S. purchased the Philippines from Spain as part of the Treaty of Paris for the sum of $20 million, after the U.S. defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War. The U.S. government made plans to make the Philippines an American colony. However, the Filipinos, fighting for independence from Spain since 1896 had different plans and already declared independence on June 12, 1898, and had considered the Americans allies.
On August 14, 1898, 11,000 American ground troops were sent to occupy the Philippines; they were successful in defeating the Philippine Army in just over three years time, though sporadic fighting continued on to 1913.
Now, it is my understanding the standard issue sidearm was not adequate for jungle fighting and fighting the Moro’s people. The Moros were Muslim and for the most part not part of mainstream society in the Philippines.
The US realized the standard issue .38 Special was not adequate to bring down the jungle people who were often chewing the nut of the Areca palm. The locals would wrap the nut around a betel leaf and would become a mild stimulant. They needed a different weapon. John C. Browning had developed the Colt 1911, but it was being tested and had not been officially adopted by the Army.
The War Department placed initial orders for 6000 New Service revolvers Caliber .45, on December 17, 1908. These revolvers were intended as an interim solution to the lack of pistols created by the trials for the 1911 pistol and to provide for immediate needs in the Philippine Islands. They were officially designated as" Colt's Double-Action Revolver, Caliber .45, Model of 1909". The marking "U.S. ARMY MODEL 1909, No (Serial Number)" The serial number marked on the butt was the same number as was stamped under the crane on the receiver as well as on the crane. The cylinder latch was marked on the rear with the last 4 digits of the serial number. The stocks were hand numbered inside as well as marked on the butt with the inspectors initials "RAC" (Renaldo A. Carr.) The right side of the receiver was also marked with the initials of the inspector as well as with those of the "Army Inspector of Ordnance". Additional orders were placed in 1910 and 1911 for a grand total of 19,503 pistols. The pistols were serial numbered from 30001 through 49503. Pistols through serial number 42800 were accepted by the "Army Inspector of Ordnance" Colonel Frank Baker (F.B.) and the remaining pistols were accepted by Major Walter G. Penfield (W.G.P.) 350 of these pistols were shipped to Springfield Armory and the remainder (19153 pistols) were shipped to the Manila Ordnance Depot in the Philippine Islands. This revolver was designed to fire a cartridge similar to the "Caliber .45 Long Colt" but with a wider rim to insure extraction.
Enjoy, Big Mullet