[Bigfifty]

Re: Colt 1909s & 1917s:
I know (atleast I think) that the serial number on the frame/crane area of a 1917 is a whole different animal than that of the serial number on the butt frame; they don't match as the one on the crane is Colts # and the one on the butt is the Army's #.
However, I have seen a Colt 1909 .45 with corresponding #s on the frame and on the butt. Is this common?

Thanks,
B50

 

[JohnnyP]

You are correct that the numbers on the butt of the Model 1917 don't match the number under the crane. Colt maintained their serial number under the crane on both the Model 1909 and Model 1917 Revolver, and the butt of the Model 1917 revolver had a military serial number starting at 1.

The Model 1909 came in an Army, Navy, and U.S.M.C. configuration. As mentioned, Colt maintained their serial number under the crane on all three models, and the same serial number was used on the butt of the Army revolver. The Navy and U.S.M.C. Model 1909 started with number 1 on the butt.