Page 295 - 4094-BOOK2

293
According to "U.S.
Military Automatic
Pistols 1894-1920"
by Meadows, only 288
Savage Model 1907 Test
pistols were produced.
LOT 1312
Very Scarce Documented U.S. Test Trials Savage Arms Model 1907 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Holster - Serial no. 191,
45 ACP cal., 5 1/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. A very scarce example of a Savage Model 1907 pistol that was
manufactured for the U.S. military semi-automatic pistol test trials of 1907. Based on the poor performance of the Army’s .38 caliber revolvers
during the Philippine Insurrection, in January 1906 the U.S. Army Ordnance Chief, Brig. Gen. Crozier, issued a letter of invitation to the firearm
manufacturing industry to develop and submit new semi-automatic pistols chambered for the then new .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge.
Eighteen companies initially responded, with only eight actually submitting a test sample pistol. Of the competitors, only the offerings of Savage
Arms Corp., Colt, and DWM were found to merit additional trials, though DWM would voluntarily withdraw its Luger design due to concerns that
the U.S. wouldn’t pick a European offering regardless of virtue. At the conclusion of the tests and after several revisions, the Colt offering proved a
more reliable option over the Savage and was subsequently adopted as the U.S. Model of 1911. The number of Savage Model 1907 pistols produced,
according to “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Scott Meadows, is 288, many of which were destroyed
or misplaced during the course of testing. Aside from a small handful earmarked for retention by museums, all
the Savage pistols in government stores were released for commercial sale. Between the number destroyed from the
stress of government testing, the number “lost” in transit, and additional wear and tear from civilian buyers, good surviving
examples are rare in any condition. Featuring fixed oval blade front and rounded notch rear sights, heavy serrations at the
rear of the slide, ribbed hammer, smooth trigger, early thin/narrow grip safety, swinging lanyard loop, and the improved
Model 1909 markings of “FIRE” and “SAFE” at the rear of the frame. The top of the slide is marked with the two-line Savage address and
patent dates, as well as “CAL .45” ahead of the ejector port, which in conjunction with the safety markings were requested by the U.S.
Army partway through testing and were added to the pistols already made, as well as applied to those made after. Fitted with a pair of
checkered walnut grips and a nickel plated magazine with blued base. Numbered “191” with two circled “S” proofs on the underside of the
slide, along with matching “191” serials marked on the slide stop, magazine catch, both grip panels, and renumbered to match magazine
body. Based off of the number on the parts, this pistol is listed on p. 261 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols: 1894-1920” by Meadows, as one
that was known to be in private collections. Includes a well made reproduction “U.S.” embossed and “ROCK/ISLAND/ARSENAL/1911/
H.E.K.” marked brown leather flap holster with leather tie-down, and a brass hooked rope lanyard.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as professionally restored, retaining 95% blue finish and case colors with minor holster pattern edge
wear, some faint pitting and milky coloration visible under the finish, and limited minor handling marks. The grips are very good
as lightly sanded with a repaired crack on the interior of the right panel and defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The
reproduction holster is very fine. Overall an attractive representation of a U.S. test trials
Savage Arms Model 1907 pistol!
Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000