Often theorized to be a product of a short-lived venture by the A.J. Savage company during World War I, these slides have long been an enigma among the Model 1911 collecting community. Much of this theory stems from the "S" within a flaming bomb marking found on the slides, which led to the assumption that, though the Savage company never reached full production on the Model 1911, they may have produced a number of slides which later found themselves fitted to various 1911 frames, either through arsenal replacement or private fitting. Recently, through information recently uncovered from various archives, it appears that these slides were more likely unfinished leftovers from Remington-U.M.C. that were transferred back to Springfield Armory, along with some of their manufacturing equipment, and later finished at the Armory in 1921 as replacement parts for the military. The writer believes this theory to be more likely as the "S" in flaming bomb symbol has been seen on Springfield manufactured replacement barrels for Model 1903 rifles, and the patent markings on these slides appear almost identical to those found on Remington-U.M.C. Model 1911 slides. Another piece of evidence in this mystery can be found on p. 202 of " Arsenal of Freedom: The Springfield Armory 1890-1948" by William Brophy, where 9,619 "Slides, fitted with front and rear sights for Automatic Pistol, Cal. .45, Model of 1911 (made from partially machined slides received from Rochester, N.Y.)" are listed as manufactured in the fiscal year 1921. It is the writers belief that these "partially machined" slides were leftover from Remington-U.M.C. production, which ended in late January 1919, and were then transferred to the Rochester Ordnance District before making their way back to Springfield Armory which was then in charge of small arms manufacture, maintenance, and development. The slide is marked on the left with the Remington-U.M.C. style three-line patent dates followed by the "S" in the flaming bomb while the right has the standard "MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY" nomenclature. The frame is marked with the standard large U.S. property marking on the left and the Remington-U.M.C. "eagle head/I38" marking on the left of the trigger guard. The bright barrel is marked "3" on the bottom in front of the lug. It is fitted with blade and notch sights, wide Springfield style checkered hammer, checkered slide stop and thumb safety, short grip safety, long smooth trigger, flat smooth mainspring housing with holes for a lanyard loop that is absent, diamond pattern checkered grips, and a pinned base two-tone magazine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection

Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish on the slide and about 30% of the blue on the frame with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina. The grips are also very good with some scattered minor handling marks and flat spots in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.