.45 cal Test Savage...
 

Sold by Old Town Station LTD recently for $ 11.5K...reportedly from the same 1907 US Trails where the .45 lugers competed...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...e_45_large.jpg

Pete,

It certainly must be, because as the known .45 lugers this one doesn't look like the photograph in the 1907 test report either :D

Here's another for sale on Gunsamerica for $17.5k I'd sure like to have one...

--Dwight

http://images.gunsamerica.com/upload/976573839-1.jpg

I have a pistol very much like this one in 380 ,it jams every other shot but is still kinda neat. clint

Yep, I have one of the .32 ACP's of this basic design. I've always admired it and think the .45 would be fantastic.

The articles suggesting or stating that the Colt won out because of the bias of those who made the decision have always intrigued me. I couldn't say if the allegation were true, but it does add interest to the Savage as far as I'm concerned.

Since 200 more of these were made for troop trials, over the initial 5 for initial testing (only 5 of the .45 lugers submitted) the prices reflect the relative numbers of these made. TH

Here's a "cheaper" 1910 test model

http://www.checkpointcharlies.com/sh...&categoryid=13

There's one on my neck of the woods for about 9k, also. I've seen it twice at a gun show in Springfield, MA. Last time was Dec 5, 2005.

Bob

I also have a 32 acp, like it and would love to own a 45. ;)

Here's is the photo shown in the US Trials report...different than the photo I started this discussion with...

Grip checkering pattern is different and this old photo may show what appears to be a "flat-slab" style of barrel...not a rounded barrel.

Differing front sight blade and no grip screws...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...e_trials_1.jpg

Pete,

It looks to me that the "flat-slab" barrel is an artifact of poor lighting and poor photo reproducton.

Remember that the test pistol was a one-off prototype, and the other guns illustrated are from a 200-piece production run. One might expect a few changes, improvements as a result of the test and slight modifications to facilitate actual production.

And thanks very much for the photo of the actual test trials piece, very interesting.

--Dwight

No grip screws are a characteristic of the later .32 And .380 pistols by Savage.