UBB.threads Forums General Militaria Historic and Period Firearms Forum 1907 U.S. Test Trials Savage .45 Pistol

This is a 1907 Savage .45. One of ~ 280 manufactured for the 1907 U.S. Test Trials. After a number of changes, years, and additional tests, the Colt 1911 was declared the winner.

I purchased it at a small local show about 2 months ago.

You can see the previous owners initials, and badge number pressed into the grips, as this pistol had a police history after its military retirement

Nice find ! not to bad on the condition either. any holster ?
jeff

Thanks, Unfortunately, No holster turned up.

I'll probably be going against the grain here but this is a pistol IMO that should be restored. If it were mine I would contact Savage and ask them if they would do it.
Jim

Hello, I have posted on several forums, and restoration is what the general opinion is. There are still a few who are dead set against it.

My concern is NOT losing the Police identity and history in the grip.

I will be talking to some collectors in Louisville about Who should do the restoration, and how far to take it, so as not to lose the historical look.

My mind is not firmly made up by any means.

The reason I suggested Savage is they are still in business and are the original maker. Refinishes by the original maker are not looked down upon by the collecting community as much as refinishes by others no matter how well done.
I would NOT ship them the grips unless they insisted upon it if they agreed to do the restoration.
Jim

Well, the reason I am considering a professional is I believe after Savage took back almost 200 from the Military, Savage sold them in total to a retailer who THEN had them refinished.

It is in this condition that I want it restored. If Savage originally did the restoration then I would agree with you.

I'd be in the "don't reblue it" crowd, but it's your gun to do with as you wish.

Leave it as it is! The years that brought it to it's present condition are just part of the gun's history.
Restoration is just a fancy word for refinishing.
Just my humble opinion....

I would not consider restoring it if it was Factory Original, but it has already been refinished once. I wish to restore it close to the refinished state it once was in.

I'm afraid you're after the proverbial needle in the haystack. To accomplish this you would have to locate the retailer that had these re-finished as well as the operation that re-finished them for the retailer. To find either of these still in business and able to precisely tell you how the re-finish was carried out is IMO expecting a lot.
You may have more success if you can locate another example that still retains it's finish and finding some operation that can closely replicate it.
Jim

Finding other examples is actually not a problem, and the professional restorers I am considering have actually done a few.

This is not one for sale, I will be keeping it in my own collection, and wish it to complement my other keepers.

Again signalman:
If this were mine I'd go for it. The only thing that would change my mind is if this in fact was the condition it emerged in after the trials which I think is very doubtful.
Jim

My guess is NO, the condition now is not how it emerged from the trials, it couldn't be.

After the trials the gun was returned to Savage, Sold to a Dealer who had them all REFINISHED with a light grey parkarized type finish, and then resold.

This pistol was then used in Law Enforcement until it was retired with the owner. I wish to give it back its refinished parkarized look without destroying the value.

My intention has never been to make a MINT gun, Just to make it Pleasingly acceptible in My, or an advanced, collection.

An original Savage finish was a high polish blue, and I do NOT believe it would be correct to restore it to that finish.

I understand what your saying signalman and I concur. Let us know how this turns out.
Jim