3063

*RARE SAVAGE MODEL 1907 SEMI-AUTO TEST TRIALS PISTOL.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
*RARE SAVAGE MODEL 1907 SEMI-AUTO TEST TRIALS PISTOL.
SN 185. Cal. 45 ACP. Blue finish with 5-1/4" bbl, fixed sights and typical Savage Model 1907 ribbed rnd slide with grasping grooves at the rear edges, marked on the top rib "MANUFACTURED BY SAVAGE ARMS CO. / UTICA, N.Y.U.S.A.PAT.NOV.21.1905. CAL.45". Pistol has color case hardened trigger with thumb and grip safeties and is mounted with full checkered walnut grips. It has a slide lock in the right side. Thumb safety is marked "SAFE" and "FIRE". Accompanied by 1 orig nickeled body blue base magazine matching numbered to this pistol. In 1904 the U.S. Ordnance Dept. began planning to conduct tests for semi-automatic pistols to replace the military's revolvers. Tests were orig scheduled for September 1906 but were postponed until January 1907. Savage Arms was 1 of 7 manufacturers to submit entries for the test. The tests were conducted on the entrants with Savage pistols having any number of problems. Regardless, in May 1907 the Ordnance Dept. ordered 200 Savage automatic pistols at $65.00 each as compared to less than $30.00 each for the Colt Model 1907. Initially Savage declined to bid on such a small order, but finally acquiesced and agree to produce the requested 200 pistols. Savage accepted the order and agreed to deliver 200 pistols by July 1, 1908, however production delays pushed the delivery date through several extensions until Nov. 23, 1908. Early testing disclosed several deficiencies and the entire order was returned to Savage for correction. Finally on March 16, 1909 the pistols were returned to Springfield Armory and Savage was fined $850.87 for late delivery. The Ordnance Dept. issued 195 pistols to 3 different Cavalry troops, the School of Musketry and the Chief of Ordnance for field use testing. The field testing reports came back rather negative which, after lengthy correspondence, Savage made improvements on the pistols, referred to as the Model 1910. They subsequently returned five pistols to Ft. Meyer for testing, which was conducted on June 23-24, 1910. Savage pistols again encountered various problems and eventually the contract was awarded to Colt. The remaining pistols were sold as surplus which Savage repurchased and in most instances refinished for sale to the American public. In most instances the refinished pistols had the rib inscription removed during the refinishing process. This pistol was not so altered. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching including bbl, slide, breech block, frame, grips and magazine, a completely authentic and orig unit. Overall retains 97-98% bright, orig factory blue with only faint sharp edge wear and light muzzle edge wear on the slide. Trigger retains bright case colors on the sides, turned silver on the front edge. Left grip has a couple of dings and shows moderate diamond point wear, right side is extremely fine with light wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. A truly magnificent example of the rare Savage Model 1907. 4-47780 JR107