Page 359 - 88-BOOK1

LOT 450
Incredibly Rare Documented
Savage Prototype Semi-Automatic
Pistol in .25 ACP as Pictured in
“Savage Pistols” by Bailey Brower
Jr. - NSN, 25 ACP cal., 2 1/2 inch round
bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips.
Development of these scarce pistols began
in 1912, with Savage feeling a need to make
a pistol to compete with the .25 ACP pocket
automatics offered by both Colt and FN/Browning.
These pistols, loosely termed the Model 1912, never
made it to full production, making them incredibly scarce. This
example appears to be from the second of two fairly distinct phases of production, pistols from which are believed to have been manufactured around 1917. These pistols are discussed on p. 136 of “Savage Pistols” by
Bailey Brower, Jr., and this specific pistol is pictured on p. 138. Unlike some of the examples pictured, this pistol bears no serial number and no slide legend, which the author theorizes means that this pistol may have been assembled by a Savage employee without company approval. This example has the distinct “second phase” numerous and narrow serrations on the slide, similar
to the Model 1907 as well as lacking the slide legend which was common for the phase. These pistols were a straight blowback design with a slide much the same shape as the Savage Model 1907, a grip safety, and a magazine capacity of six rounds. It is fitted with blade and notch sights and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with “SAVAGE” at the tops and the Savage logo at the center. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on handling areas. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered minor nicks and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Bailey Brower, Jr. Collection, author of “Savage Pistols”. Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
This rare Savage 1912 pistol is a transitional prototype, having the narrow slide serrations and no slide legend observed in "late-phase" pistols.
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK SAVAGE PISTOLS BY BROWER
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