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LOT 3530
Scarce U.S. Army Second Contract Colt Model 1900 “Sight Safety” Conversion
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. 1613,
38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1900, this is a scarce example of
one of 200 Colt Model 1900 pistols manufactured to fulfill the second contract for the U.S. army. These 200 pistols were ordered by the Ordnance Department
to further augment the initial 100 pistols ordered for testing in 1900 and was partially due to the high demand by officers stationed in the Philippines for automatic pistols.
These pistols were serial numbered 1501 through 1700 and incorporated only two of the plethora of recommendations submitted after initial field testing, these being longer and deeper slide serrations
moved to the front of the slide and coarsely checkered, thicker grips. This pistol was part of the third shipment of 50 pistols which was sent to Springfield Armory on 24 January 1901 and included the
serial numbers 1601 through 1650. This pistol, like most of those in the contract, was inspected by Rinaldo A. Carr at the armory and stamped with his “R.A.C.” mark on the right side of the trigger guard bow. Apart from three of these 200 second contract pistols,
which were retained for cartridge testing, all were sent to New York Arsenal on 9 February 1901 in preparation for their shipment
to the Manila Ordnance Depot for issuance to officers stationed in the Philippines for further field trials. The pistols received more
mixed reports from officers in the field, including a multitude of complaints and recommendations. In May of 1909, 126 Model 1900 pistols (not all second
contract) were turned in at Rock Island Arsenal for inspection. On 18 June 1909 the Commanding Officer of Rock Island Arsenal was approved to sell the
pistols, with the price being set at $7.50 for a pistol, magazine, and holster. Of these 200 second contract pistols, only 49 known surviving examples are
listed on p. 35 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows, making this an incredibly rare U.S. military automatic. This example is marked with
the correct two-line, two-block “Browning’s patent” and Colt address followed by the circled Rampant Colt on the left of the slide, while the right has the
standard two-line caliber marking. Both sides of the slide feature the forward oriented, longer, and deeper slide serrations, as previously mentioned. The
left side of the frame is marked with the serial number “1613” and the trigger guard bow is marked “U.S.” It is fitted with a blade front sight and notch rear sight that has been converted
from the original “sight safety” configuration, spur hammer with arched bottom checkering, coarsely checkered grips, and a full nickel magazine with base marked “PAT’D SEPT.9.1884”. The
included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as the previously mentioned shipment date to Springfield Armory.
CONDITION: Very fine as factory converted, retains 75% plus of the factory refinished blue finish with the balance having mostly thinned to a smooth brown-grey patina, primarily on the
grip straps and top of the slide where there is also some slightly rough brown spotting. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered minor blemishes and dings in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3531
Very Scarce Documented U.S. Test Trial Savage Model
1907 Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 134, 45 ACP cal., 5 1/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This is a very scarce example of a Savage Model 1907 pistol that was manufactured for the U.S. 1907 military test trials. Based on the poor performance of the Army’s .38 caliber revolvers during
the Philippine Insurrection, in January 1906 U.S. Army Ordnance Chief B.G. Crozier issued a letter of invitation to the gun manufacturing industry to develop and submit new semi-automatic
handguns utilizing the, then-new, .45 ACP cartridge. Eighteen companies initially responded with only eight actually submitting a test sample pistol. Of the competitors, only the offerings of Savage, Colt, and Luger
were found to merit additional trials, though Luger would voluntarily withdraw due to concerns that the Americans wouldn’t pick a European offering regardless of virtue. The final result, which involved a few rounds of revisions and corrections for each pistol, was the adoption of Colt’s Government Model pistol as the Model of 1911, which in turn
would be America’s sidearm from World War I to the closing days of the Cold War. Estimates on the total number of
Model 1907 pistols varies in the 288-290 range, and many of those were destroyed or misplaced during the course
of testing. Aside from a small handful earmarked for retention by museums, all the Savage pistols in government stores were
released for commercial sale. Between the number destroyed from the stress of government testing, the number “lost” in transit, and additional wear and tear from civilian buyers, good surviving examples are desirable in any condition. This example is marked with
the one-line Savage address and “CAL .45” ahead of the ejector port, and the “FIRE” and “SAFE” markings on the side of the frame. These markings were an addition requested by the Army partway through testing and were added to the pistols already made, as well as applied to those made after. This pistol is listed by serial number on p. 40 of “Colt .45 Service Pistols: Models of 1911 and 1911A1” by Clawson as one of the pistols returned to the factory for these markings, which was likely when this pistol was refinished the first time, as it was subsequently refinished again at a later date by an unknown part. The slide shows the signature heavy serrations towards the rear. It has a ribbed hammer and smooth trigger. This example still retains the thin/narrow grip safety that is not integral to the rear of the frame, and it has the improved Model 1909 markings of “FIRE” and “SAFE” at the rear of the frame along with the wider checkered walnut grip panels. The pistol is numbered “134” with two circled “S” proofs on the underside of the slide. A swiveling lanyard loop is present, which can be folded into the magazine well if not needed, and the magazine is blue finished and has “148” marked on the spine.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% plus of the refinished bright high polish blue finish overall. The recheckered replacement grips are fair with repaired splits down both grips and light handling marks. Mechanically fine. A solid representative example of a very scarce Model 1907 Savage Arms Co. U.S. Army test pistol.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Collector’s Fact
One of only 200 Colt Model 1900 pistols produced for the second U.S. Army contract.
Collector’s Fact
One of only 288 Savage Model 1907 Pistols produced for U.S. Military trials.
LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE BOOK COLT .45 SERVICE PISTOLS BY CLAWSON
SERIAL NUMBER 134
280 Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500