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LOT 479
Spectacular Cased Pair of Documented Factory Engraved Savage Model 1907 Semi-Automatic Pistols Special Ordered by Colonel P.J. Noel, Blue/Gold Finished with Pearl Grips, Factory Letters, and N.R.A. Silver Medal -A) Savage Model 1907 Pistol - Serial no. 35267, 32 ACP cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl., gold finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1911, this pair of extraordinary, factory engraved, Savage Model 1907 pistols were originally special ordered by renowned Kentucky gun collector, colonel P.J. Noel. Knowledgeable collectors have considered this set the finest known pair of Savage handguns. This pair, along with another almost identical pair are both documented as being part of his collection, and both of these sets are pictured and described on p. 157-161 of “Savage Pistols” by Bailey Brower Jr. The book discusses Noel’s connection with Savage, and that besides these two sets, he ordered other high end arms from the company, including a Monarch Grade Model 1899 rifle. Noel apparently kept excellent records of his correspondence with Savage, which Brower states eventually soured due to Noel being an extremely particular customer. Philip J. Noel was born in Kentucky in 1874, where his family owned a racehorse farm. After a brief stint as a school teacher he joined the army, where he took part in various minor battles during the Spanish-American War. He later got involved in insurance, eventually becoming a manager at a company in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which appears to be when he began to amass his collection of arms, which some newspapers at the time claimed was “the largest, finest, and most expensive collection of firearms in the United States”. It is noted in the book that Savage provided Noel with two holster rigs with the two sets of pistols, and that the two gold pistols were carried by him during a trip to Panama. In 1919 Noel unsuccessfully ran for governor, and in 1924 was made a colonel by the lieutenant governor. Both of the pistols in this lot include factory letters stating they were manufactured in 1911, both listing that they were “special grade”, with the letter for the “A” gun also noted the gold plating. Both pistols are listed in their corresponding letters as having shipped on 21 April 1911 to P.J. Noel.