There is an article in the 1990 edition of Gun Digest by John Malloy, titled "Colt's 1909 Military Revolver." There is one throw-away paragraph that has me wondering. On page 126, paragraph one reads:

"Reliability was another quality associated with the 1909. Most students of firearms history know that the semi-automatic pistol that was to become the 1911 Colt defeated its nearest rival in a final endurance test. During the test, the Colt automatic fired 6000 rounds without a malfunction, a performance for which it is deservedly famous. Less well known, however, is the fact that a 1909 revolver was used as a control standard during the tests, and it also turned in a perfect score." (Emphasis added.)

There is no mention of S&W's New Century Hand Ejector revolver in any form. Apparently, the NC HE was either not tested during acceptance tests for the 1909 revolver or it was tested and didn't measure up. What's the real scoop on the status/fate of S&W's big frame New Service competitor in this era?

Colt was the U.S. Army preferred provider at the turn of the 20th century. The Colt M1909 was a stop-gap solution to provide a .45 handgun prior to the completion/adoption of the M1911, which was under consideration. It was only made for three years and a limited number were produced, most all of which were immediately shipped to Manila, P.I. for use in the Philippine-American War - AKA Philippine Insurrection or Moro conflict.

I'm not sure any kind of competition or evaluation was even conducted prior to the M1909 contract. The caliber of the M1909 is commonly thought to have been .45 Long Colt, but this is incorrect. It was actually the .45 Army and had a thicker rim than the .45LC. Of course, the .45LC can be fired in the M1909 (you can't find .45 Army).

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Colt was the U.S. Army preferred provider at the turn of the 20th century. The Colt M1909 was a stop-gap solution to provide a .45 handgun prior to the completion/adoption of the M1911, which was under consideration. It was only made for three years and a limited number were produced, most all of which were immediately shipped to Manila, P.I. for use in the Philippine-American War - AKA Philippine Insurrection or Moro conflict.

I'm not sure any kind of competition or evaluation was even conducted prior to the M1909 contract. The caliber of the M1909 is commonly thought to have been .45 Long Colt, but this is incorrect. It was actually the .45 Army and had a thicker rim than the .45LC. Of course, the .45LC can be fired in the M1909 (you can't find .45 Army).

From changes appearing on the 1909 that did not appear on previous New Service revolvers, there was an evaluation before adoption; otherwise, no changes from modification of 1905. I'm unfamiliar with standard arms of the US Army that were not acquired from competition until World War II's M1 carbine. I think anything adopted without trials would have been substitute standard. And the 1909 was not substitute standard. It was just acknowledged to be a short term standard. Was the mechanical simplicity of New Service's Schmidt-Galland lock superior to the more sophisticated New Century's lock in harsh (military) service?

The U.S. Army put out an emergency call for a large frame DA revolver in .45 Colt cartridge for use in the P.I.. Colt responded with the New Service. There was a Transition/Old Model, ser. #21,000-23,000 and then an Improved Model, ser. #23,000-143,000 which used a new frame design. Both were manufactured beginning in 1909 and produced in various calibers for commercial sales. The M1909, ser. #30,000-49,000, falls within the improved model and total number produced is a matter of some conjecture, variously described as 18,303 or 13,000 or 22,000; your count may vary. The USMC and USN also ordered variations for themselves with 1,300 going to the Corps and 1,000 to the Navy.

So, the changes had already been made and adopted by Colt prior to the emergency call from the U.S. Army.

See:
Colt New Service Revolvers by Bob Murphy, 1985
Issue 45s of the Twentieth Century by John L. Marshall, 2003