U D UC-NRLF $B 7E b^fi GIFT OF No. 1927 DESCRIPTION OF THE Coifs Double-Action Revolver CALIBER 45 MODEL OF 1909 WITH RULES FOR MANAGEMENT, MEMORANDA OF TRAJECTORY, AND DESCRIP- TION OF AMMUNITION (FIVE PLATES) SEPTEMBER 10, 1909 ^"^V^^^^f i^ REVISED JUNE 30, 1913 uNiVERSI'^V .^^1.,; WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1917 No. 1927 DESCRIPTION OF THE Colt's Double- Action Revolver CALIBER .45 I MODEL OF 1909 WITH RULES FOR MANAGEMENT, MEMORANDA OF TRAJECTORY, AND DESCRIP- TION OF AMMUNITION (FIVE PLATES) SEPTEMBER 10/1909 REVISED JUNE 30, 1913 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1917 ^^P A^ War Department^ Office of the Chief op Ordnance, Washington, June SO, 19tS. This manual is published for the information and government of the Regular Army and Organized Militia of the United States. By order of the Secretary of War: R. BiRNIE, Colonelf Ordnance Department^ Acting Chief of Ordncmee, 104719—17 (3) 303178 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/coltrevolverOOunitrich DESCRIPTION OF COLT'S DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER, CALIBER .45. (S FJL.A. . PIS.) The Colt's double-action revolvers, caliber .45, in service are marked *'U. S. Army model, 1909." and firing-pim COMPONENT PARTS. 1. Butt swivel. 24. Hammer-strut pin. 2. Butt-swivel pin. 25. Hammer-strut spring. 3. Crane. 26. Hammer, firing pin, 4. Crane bushing. rivet. 5. Crane lock. 27. Hammer pin. 6. Crane-lock screw. 28. Hammer stirrup. 7. Cylinder bolt. 29. Hammer-stirrup pin. 8. Cylinder-bolt spring. 30. Safety. 9. Cylinder-bolt screw. 31. Safety lever. 10. Hand. 32. Trigger. 11. Rebound lever. 33. Trigger pin. 12. Rebound-lever pin. 34. Mainspring. 13. Ejector-rod head. 35. Stock, right. 14. Ejector rod. 36. Escutcheon, threaded 15. Ejector spring. 37. Escutcheon, plan. 16. Ejector and ratchet. 38. Stock, left. 17. Side plate. 39. Stock pin. 18. Side-plate screws (2). 40. Stock screw. 19. Latch. 41. Barrel. 20. Latch pin. 42. Frame. 21. Latch spring. 43. Front sight. 22. Cylinder. 44. Recoil plate. 23. Hammer strut. Screw-driver. OPERATION OF THE PARTS. Plate I is a side view of the revolver. Plate II shows the revolver with the side plate and stock removed, and with cylinder and other parts cross sectioned to show construction. Plate III shows the component parts, except ths barrel, sight, and frame. In the plates, parts are given the same numbers as in the list of component parts and in the description that follows. The barrel (41) is firmly screwed to the frame (42). Tha bore is .445 inch. The front sight (43) is brazed on the barrel. The rear (5) sight is mereiy a loagitudhial groove in the upper surface of the frame. The lock mechanism is contained in the frame and consists of the hammer (26) with its stirrup (28), stirrup pin (29), strut (23), strut pin (24), and strut spring (25); the trigger (32) with its pin (33); the rebound lever (11) ; the hand (10) ; the cylinder bolt (7) with its spring (8); the mainspring (34), which also serves as a rebound-lever spring, hand spring, and trigger spring; the safety (30) and safety lever (31). The hammer (26) and trigger (32) are pivoted on their respective pins, which are fastened in the right side of the frame (42). The rebound lever (11) is pivoted on its pin (12) within grip of the frame. The lower end of the mainspring (34) fits into a slot in the frame, and its upper end engages the hammer stirrup (28). The lower arm of tjie mainspring (34) bears on the upper surface of the rebound lever (11), so that the latter, when the trigger (32) is released after firing a shot, carries the hammer back to its safety position and forces the trigger forward, bringing the hand back to its forward and lowest position. The safety lever (31) being pinned to the trigger (32) by this same motion moves the safety (30) upward in front of the hammer (26). The revolver may be used either single action or double action. In firing double action, pressure upon the trigger (32) causes its upper edge to engage the hammer strut (23) and thereby raises the hammer (26) until nearly in full-cock position, when the strut wiU escape from the trigger, and the hammer, under action of the main- spring (34), wiU faU and strike the cartridge. In firing single action, the hammer (26) is first pulled back with the thumb until the upper edge of the trigger (32) engages in the full-cock notch in the front end of the lower part of the hammer. Pressure on the trigger will release the hammer, which, under the action of the mainspring (34), will fall and strike the cartridge. The cylinder bolt'(7) is pivoted on its screw (9), which is supported in right side of frame. The cylinder-bolt spring (8) pressing upward causes the nose of the bolt (7) to project through a slot in the frame ready to enter one of the rectangular cuts in the surface of the cyl- inder (22). During the first part of the movement of the trigger (32) in cocking the revolver, the nose of the bolt is withdrawn from the cylinder by rear end of bolt coming in contact with lug on rebound lever, permitting the rotation thereof. The object of the cylinder bolt is to hold the firing chamber in line with the barrel, and also to prevent the cylinder making more than one-sixth of a revolution at the time of cocking. The hand (10) is attached by its pivot to the trigger, and as the latter swings on its pin when the hammer is being cocked, the hand is raised, revolves the cylinder, and serves with the bolt (7) to lock the cylinder in proper position at time of firing, i. e., the axis of the chamber containing cartridge to be fired coinciding with the axis of the bore of the barrel. The pressure of the rebound lever (11) on the lug on the hand insures the engagement of the hand with the ratchet. The cylinder (22) has six chambers. It revolves around and is supported on a central arbor of the crane (3). The crane fits into a recess in the frame below the barrel and turns on its pivot arm, which rotates in a hole in that part of the frame below the opening for the cylinder, and is secured by the crane lock (5) and crane-lock screw (6). The ejector rod (14) passes through the center of the arbor of the crane supporting the cylinder, and, projecting under the barrel, is terminated by the ejector-rod head (13). The ejector (16), of which the ratchet forms a part, is screwed on the rear end of the ejector rod with a right-handed thread and then firmly secured by upsetting the end of the rod. The ejector spring (15) is coiled around the ejector rod within the cylinder arbor of the crane, the front end bearing on a shoulder of the rod and the rear end on the crane bushing (4), which is screwed with a right-handed thread into and closes the cylinder arbor. The latch slides longitudinally on the left side of the side plate, and is connected to the latch pin (20) by latch-pin stud, causing it to follow the movement of the latch thumb piece. The latch pin slides in a hole in the frame, and when the cylinder is swung into the frame, the latch pin, under action of the latch spring (21), is forced into a recess in the ejector and locks the cylinder in position for firing. The latch spring (21) is contained in a hole in the side plate in the rear of the latch slot. The recoil plate (44) is driven into its recess in the frame and secured therein by slightly upsetting the rim. To Eject the Shells and Load. To eject the shells and load, push the latch to the rear and swing the cylinder to the left out of the frame; pressure against the front end of the ejector-rod head will empty the chambers, and the cylinder is then ready to be loaded; swing the cylinder into the frame, taking care that it is revolved so that the cylinder bolt will enter one of the rectangular cuts in its surface. To Dismount and Assemble Revolver. To dismount the revolver, remove the parts in the following order : Crane-lock screw (6) and crane lock (5); crane (3) with cylinder (22); stock screw (40); stocks (35 and 38); side-plate screws (18); side plate (17); mainspring (34); rebound-lever pin (12); rebound lever (11); hand (10) and trigger (32); hammer (26); cylinder-bolt screw (9); cylmder bolt (7); cylinder-bolt spring (8); latch pin (20); safety lever (31); and safety (30). 8 The crane and cylinder should not be further dismounted or the recoil plate removed except at ordnance depots. The crane and cylinder are dismounted as follows: (a) Unscrew ejector (16) from ejector rod (14), right-handed thread; (b) remove cylinder (22) from crane arbor; (c) unscrew ejector-rod head (13) from ejector rod (14); (d) unscrew crane bushing (4), right-handed thread; (e) remove ejector rod (14) and spring (15). To assemble, reverse the above order. Caution. In order that the trigger will return to its normal or firing position after each pull on the same, the pressure or grip on the trigger should be entirely released after each discharge. Failure to observe this caution may result in temporary blocking of the trigger due to the fact that the trigger must, alter discharge, move to its normal" or firing position in order that the cylinder bolt may be released irom the cylinder when pressure is applied to the trigger, leaving the cylinder free to revolve under action of the hand. PARTS ISSUED FOR REPAIRS. To Ordnance Officers of Posts and Regiments. For making repairs to these field and garrison the following officers ol posts and regiments, the maximum for 100 revolvers, necessary for ordinary repairs replacement of parts other than depots by expert workmen with revolvers in the hands ol troops in spare parts ar3 issued to ordnance The numbsr opposite each part is which has by experience been found per year. Repairs involving the those can only be properly made at the proper tools. Name of component parts. Crane lock Crane-lock screw Cylinder bolt Cylinder-bolt screw Cylinder-bolt spring Ejector-rod head Hammer with strut, strut pin, and strut spring assembled. Hammer stirrup Hamraer-stirrup pin Hammer-strut spring Latch pin Latch sirring Ma inspring : Rebound lever Side-plate screws Safety. Safety lever Stock, right 1 Stock, left I Stock screw Trigger (includes safety-lever pin) . Appendage : Screw driver Number. Includes escutcheons, plain and threaded. To Ordnance Depots. In addition to the above, the following parts and special gauges and tools are issued to ordnance depots: Crane bushing. Punch, set, and block for replacing recoil Cylinder, ejector, and ejector rod as- ! plates, sembled. j Range rod for testing alignment of the Ejector rod. Ejector spring. Gauge for space between cylinder and barrel. Hammer pin. Hand. barrel and chambers of cylinder. Rebound -lever pin. Recoil plate. Set to upset rod in ratchet. Stock pin. Trigger pin. In removing or replacing a hand in a revolver, lift rebound lever by inserting screw driver between it and frame, so as to free it from lug on hand, and it is important that it be so adjusted that the upward movement of the hand will not begin to revolve the cylinder before the trigger withdraws "the cylinder bolt. To insure this it may be necessary to file the hand slightly at the end which first engages the ratchet, and, as this may bring the two points of the hand which engage the teeth of the ratchet too near together, the lower projection may also have to be slightly filed. The length and thickness of this lower projection must be adjusted so as to bring the cylinder in proper position for firing. This can be done only hj expert workmen at the factory. PARTS NOT ISSUED. The following parts are not issued : Barrel. Frame. Crane. Latch. Cylinder without ejector and ejector rod. Side plate Ejector without cylinder. Sight. In the case of breakage or injury, disabling the revolver, to parts other than those that may be issued for repairs as designated, either separately or assembled, the revolver must be returned to an arsenal for repairs. IMPORTANT POINTS. (1) TJie revolver should he Icept clean, free from rust, and properlf oiled. The oil should not he used in excess. Waste oil left in the mech- anism will cause the parts to gum and worTc stiffly. (2) The lock mechanism must not he tampered with. The side plate should not he removed except under the supervision of a noncommis- sioned officer. (3) Never attempt to remove the side plate hy prying it out cf place. It should he jarred out of place hy smart hlows strucJc with a piece of wood on the left side of the frame where it is covered hy the stoclc. 10 (4) The side plate must he replaced from the rear so as to put the latch pin stud in the proper position, care being taken that the latch is drawn haclc, the latch pin forward and its stud upright, so that it may enter the hole in latch without forcing. See that the latch spring is in its proper position in rear of latch. (5) The crane and cylinder must not he dismounted unless suitable tools are available, and not then unless absolutely necessary. (6) Never attempt to open the cylinder when the hammer is coclced. (7) Never attempt to cocJc the hammer until the cylinder is fully closed and loclced in the frame. DIMENSIONS. Weight - rpounds.. 2 \ounces . . 7 Total length inches. . 10. 8 Barrel: Length do 5. 5 Diameters! bore do 445 Rifling, number of grooves 6 Grooves: Width inches.. .165 Depth : do 0035 Twist, one turn in do 16 Lands, width , do 065 Cylinder: ' Length .do. ... 1 625 Diameter do 1. 695 Chambers: Number 6 {maximum inches. . . 4873 minimum do 4803 Front sight above axis of bore do 697 EXTERIOR BALLISTICS. 1. Rapidity op Fire. This pistol can be fired 18 times in thirty-eight and two-fifths sec- onds, loading each chamber separately, and beginning 6,nd ending with cylinder closed and chamber empty. Firing at 25 yards' distance at the figm-e of a man, and using the pistol as a self-cocker, loading each chamber separately, 18 shots have been fired in one minute and ten and three-fifths seconds, making 15 hits, starting and finishing with the cylinder closed and the chamber empty. Firing at -the same figure at 25 yards, loading each chamber sepa- rately and using the pistol in ''single action," 18 shots have been Gred in one minute and fifteen seconds, making 16 hits, starting and finishing with cylinder closed and chamber empty. 11 2. ACCUKACY WITH FiXED ReST. Range. Mean radius. Mean ver- tical devia- tion. Yards. 25 50 75 Inches. 1.058 2.042 2.61 Inches. 0.692 1.724 1.681 The above figures represent the mean variations for a great number of targets. Targets with 50 per cent less variations have been made. 3. Drift. The drift or deviation due to the rifling is, in this arm, to the left, but is more than neutralized by the pull of the trigger when the pistol is fired from the right hand. T^he drift is slight at short ranges and that for long ranges is immaterial, inasmuch as. the pistol is a short-range weapon. 4. Velocity with Striking Energy. Bange. Velocity. Energy. Feet per Foot- Yards. second. pounds. 738.0 297.3 25 687.4 257.85 50 651.3 231.48 75 617.8 208.28 100 585.7 187.2 125 555.4 168. a*j 150 526.5 151.27 175 499.0 135.88 200 473.1 121.25 5. Penetration in White Pine. Range in yards .... 25 60 75 100 150 200 Depth in inches 3.45 1 3.38 3.22 3.15 3.00 2.18 A penetration of 1 inch in white pine corresponds to a dangerous wound. The penetration in moist loam at 25 yards is 19.2 inches. The penetration in dry sand at 25 yards is 8.28 inches. Plate V shows the trajectory, with ammunition model of 1909, up to 200 yards. The maximum ordinate for this range is 4.16 feet. The trajectory is very flat up to 75 yards, at which range the revolver is accurate. A close approximation to the maximum ordinate for any range may be obtained by multiplying the square of the range in yards by .000144, the result being the approximate ordinate in feet. 12 AMMUNITION FOR COLT'S DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER, CALIBER .45, MODEL OF 1909. Ball Cartridge. (Plate-IV.) The components of the ball cartridge consists of cartridge case, primer, powder, and bullet. Cartridge Case. The cartridge case is cylindrical, and is made of brass. It is pro- vided with a cannelure to prevent rthe bullet being forced down on the powder. ^ Prim J? R. The primer consists of a cup whi'ch contains the primer composi- tion, a paper disk, and an anvil which resists the blow of the firing pin. The anvil is provided with two vents, by which the flame is communicated to the charge. Ignition is produced by crushing the composition between the cup and anvil by a blow of the firing pin. Powder. The powder used is the R. S. Q., a smokeless powder. The charge varies with the kind and lot, but it is generally about 8.4 grains. Bullet. The body of the buUet is a cylinder having two rectangular canne- lures containing the lubricant, and the point is a truncated ogive. There is a recess in the base, by which the bullet is brought to proper weight without change pi exterior form. Inches. Length of bullet .0. 735 Diameter of cylindrical part of bullet 4575 Total length of cartridge 1. 575 The bullet is lubricated with Japan wax, and is sealed in the case below the cannelures so as to entirely cover the lubricant and protect it. To render the cartridge waterproof, the case is tightly crimped around the bullet, and the primer is shellacked. Packing. The cartridges are packed in pasteboard boxes containing 20 cartridges each. One hundred pasteboard boxes; or 2,000 cartridges, are packed in one zinc case, hermetically sealed, with handle for tearing open. The whole is inclosed in a wooden box, the cover of which is fastened with screw hooks and thumb nuts, and sealed. Pounds. Weight of 100 cartridges 5 Weight of 2,000 cartridges, packed 1 20 13 Blank Cartridge. This cartridge has the same case and primer as the ball cartridge. There is no bullet. A charge of 9 grains E. C. powder is pressed in the case and held there by a cup of shellacked paper, then a second cup is inserted about 0.16 of an inch from the mouth, and this cup is shellacked after the end of the case is crimped over. Between the first and second cups is an air space which is about 0.4 of an inch long. These cartridges are packed in a manner similar to the ball car- tridges. The packing-box cover has not the quick-opening screw- hook and thumb-nut fastening. A box of 2,000 cartridges weighs 48 pounds. Blank Cartridge (Present Design). The blank cartridge as manufactured since March, 1910, differs from the original blank with two paper cups in that only one cup is used, and the case is bottle-necked and closed the same as thQ caliber .30, model of 1909, blank. A charge of 3.5 grains of E. C. powder is used. A box of 2,000 of these cartridges weighs 38 pounds. Plate IV shows the blank cartridges of both former and present manufacture. War Department, Office op the Chief op Ordnance, Washington, June 30, 1913. September 10, 1909. Revised June 30, 1913. Form No. 1927. Ed. June 13-17—10,000. 13092/270O-Enc. 1. O ' PlateN 45 CAUBER RC\/OL\/£R CARTR/DGEiS. BALL C/tRTR/DG£. BLANK CARTRIDGE. (oBSOtereJ /.OS0//lf. GLmk- Cffemc>6£r ZS so 7S /OO fZS /SO FMNKFORD ARSEML U.S.A. AUCi,5,l90S, ' t/. '' ^ r^ THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINe'oP 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE To TJ^ THIS BOOK ON THP nl-rJC. ^° RETURN tJ. 0IC-13-J£i R^O L. _ ^TTTrnM" -^wiG^&jsea ^mw-g^gge HEfcCMUiLl* ^%fem NOV 15 1949 3Sep Itsr 4uaiQJ3S8 LD 21-100»n-7,'33 -\ Caylord Bros. 1 Makers 7 Syracuse, N. Y. i PirjAII.2l .1908 ! .YC 63163 UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA LIBRARY