POTD: Colt Model 1909 – Army Issue Before the 1911 Took Over

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a 1911-manufactured Colt Model 1909 double action revolver marked “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” on the barrel underside with RAC inspection marks on the barrel, frame, cylinder, and left grip.

The 1909 was the Army’s standard sidearm before John Browning’s semi-automatic changed everything. .45 Long Colt, 5.5-inch barrel, double and single action. It did the job it was asked to do. Then the 1911 came along and the revolver era in American military service was effectively over.

RAC marks indicate Rock Island Arsenal inspection. These went into service in 1908 and were already being phased out by the time this particular example rolled off the line in 1911. Some stayed in inventory as secondary and training weapons well into the 1920s and beyond, which is the kind of thing that happens with US military property. Refinished condition with moderate wear. A working gun that spent time in service or arsenal storage, which is exactly what it was built for.

Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!

“U.S. Army Colt Model 1909 Double Action Revolver.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5031/837/us-army-colt-model-1909-double-action-revolver. Accessed 28 May 2026.

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