Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Proto type pistol

Another Searle proto type appears to have surfaced.

"This Searle prototype is fascinating as it has features consistent with Searle's 1905 patent drawings which were dropped during the development of the Model 1907. The slide serrations wrap all the way around the top, the magazine release is immediately below the trigger guard, and the grips are secured by screws. Significantly, as seen in the patent drawings, the slide is secured to the frame with a sprung latch in front of the trigger guard, a feature which would be extensively re-designed for the production models. It was found by one of Searle's descendants in his desk and is an intriguing and Rare piece to add to any collection."

Thanks Rick.

The grips would be a little easier to deal with but you would then need a screw driver.

That's cool to see. Glad it evolved from that, tho..

I like the wrap around slide serrations!

I like this pistol. In it's lines and parts you can definitely see the roots of the Model 1907. Particularly in the details in these photographs at

Prototype Searle Detailed Photos

The two descendent grandsons/brothers approached me in 2013 with the 1916-1917 squeeze cocker and the original drawings asking "at least $20K, maybe thirty, but we don't know". I was fighting cancer and had not money to spare. But I made an offer of $8,000. I sent them onto Bailey, though he thought they wanted too much also ... then. Think it brought $25K last year.

The brothers were very nice on the phone, but definitely focused on the money. "No one in the family wants them." We exchanged calls, e-mails and correspondence for about 2 weeks. They even let me keep a set of high resolution digital copies of the drawings and photographs they had taken of the pistol, and a photograph of Elbert that appeared in the NRA article last year.

With a 27% Buyer Premium and estimate of $10K-$20K , looks like this one may be passing me by as well.

Definitely ! Just like in the 1905 patent, though cut square. This pistol is 98% of the 1904-1905 Patent. I'd love to tear this one down all the way and examine the internals.

Hammer at $7250 plus about $2k in fees.
Great example of an early "Savage" pistol.

Did you pick that up?
Was not me, much as I’d have liked to.

Nope. That's the bad news.
The good news is now I know a little about another rare Savage pistol.
Knowledge is free. Pistols ain't.

So true.

Good luck with that other lead ! 👍