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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  SAVAGE PISTOL MODEL 1907 .45 SN# 170
Maker/Manufacturer:	SAVAGE ARMS
Date of Manufacture:	1907-1910
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1380
Measurements:	OL: 23.1CM 9 1/8" BL: 13.3CM 5 1/4"

Object Description:

SAVAGE PISTOL MODEL 1907 .45 SN# 170
Manufactured by Savage Arms, Utica, N.Y. - One of five specially made up Savage semi-automatic .45 pistols that were tested against the Colt .45 on November 18, 1910. Blued finish with two-piece checkered walnut grips which are not original to piece. Lanyard loop on butt. Complete with 8-round detachable box magazine and spare magazine located in 207/12. This pistol was fired by Mr. Charles Nelson of Savage Arms. Breechblock is cracked.

Markings:
Slide: MANUFACTURED BY SAVAGE ARMS CO./UTICA N.Y. USA PAT. NOV 21 1905. CAL..45.
Bottom of slide: 170.
Lanyard loop: 158.
Mainspring: 166.
Magazine: 189.
Spare magazine: 19.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 8 February 1912.

Exhibit label: "SAVAGE M1907 .45 caliber, 1907-1911, 300 made. In 1907 the Savage Arms Co. of Utica, New York, entered the competition for developing an automatic side arm acceptable to the military. The result was a relatively simple and reliable pistol. Most of the 300 weapons produced were purchased by the military. When they were not adopted, Savage bought them and sold them on the civilian market."

Notes: Letter addressed to the Chief of Ordnance, Washington, D.C., from Colonel S.E. Blunt, SPAR commanding officer, dated 2 January 1909 (13092-963). "SAVAGE AUTOMATIC PISTOLS, CAL..45: 200 have been obtained by the Ordnance Department for issue for experimental use and have been delivered and inspected at this Armory."

"On June 18, 1910, Savage was requested to bring the pistols to Fort Myer for testing to take place on June 23rd.
The test actually took place on June 23rd and 24th. Savage submitted 5 pistols which had been improved/modified.
These were pistols numbers 5, 14, 90, 114, 170 and have come to be known as the Model 1910. - Edward Scott Meadows

"During the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1901), the United States Army issued its troops a .38-caliber revolver that proved to be woefully lacking in stopping power. Consequently, in 1904, the Ordnance Department began looking for a more powerful weapon in the form of a .45-caliber, semi-automatic pistol. Various American and European designs were tested, and by 1907 the contestants had been narrowed down to Colt and Savage. The Savage pistol worked on a delayed-blowback principle. The design was recoil-operated.
Test Models Broke - From 1907 to 1911, when the Ordnance Department made its final decision, both pistols underwent a large number of field tests, with subsequent modifications, alterations, and Government-ordered rules changes along the way. In June of 1910, Savage submitted five improved and modified pistols for testing at Fort Meyer, Virginia. Two were actually tested, but developed some breakage problems. A second series of tests was conducted in September and October of 1910. Savage came back with three pistols with improvements including a heavier slide. All were tested, and all ended up with two to three broken parts.
On November 10, Savage got its third chance. They submitted pistol No. 170, shown on this card. After an endurance test of more than 6,000 rounds, the Savage had eighteen broken parts plus cracks in the frame and breech plug.
At the final test on March 15, 1911, Savage came back with an improved pistol, entitled the Model 1911. But it was Colt's Model 1911 that won, with a perfect performance in the grueling 6,000-round endurance test. The Colt went on to establish an enviable 75-year record as America's Service pistol." - Atlas Editions


This pistol was also tested at Ft. Myer, Virginia, June-September, 1910.

See, Ezell pg. 305, Meadows, pg. 256 & Clawson pg. 41. Also, see Meadows, THE GUN REPORT, May 2006.

References:
Clawson, Charles. W. COLT .45 SERVICE PISTOLS. Charles W. Clawson. Ft. Wayne, In. 1993.
Flayderman, Norm. FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS...AND THEIR VALUES. 8th Edition. Krause Publications. Iola, Wi. 2001.
Ezell, Edward C. HANDGUNS OF THE WORLD. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg, Pa. 1981.
Kimmel, Jay. SAVAGE & STEVENS ARMS: COLLECTOR'S HISTORY. 5th Ed. CorMeadows, Scott Edward. U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS, 1894-1920. Richard Ellis Publications. Moline, Il. 1993.