Savage delayed blowback method

[Oleg Volk]

The Savage system theorized that the rifling in the barrel caused a rotational force that would hold the gun locked until the projectile left the barrel. It was later discovered that the bullet had left the barrel long before any locking could occur and that Savage pistols merely operated on a pure blowback basis; the rotation of the barrel might play a minor role by slowing the rearward motion of the slide as the slide cycled.

from http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Blowback_(arms)

Is that accurate? I always wondered why this apparently neat design did not survive past the 1920s.

 

[mete]

Nothing on the link ??? The Savage had a rotating barrel system but IIRC the rotation was only 5* so in effect the gun was just a straight blowback. In rotating barrel systems [which have been around about 100 years !] there are both locked breech and delayed blowback types and some rotated as much as 90*.There was a 45 design which never went into production but the smaller one had a reputation of high recoil !

 

[Old Fuff]

The "lock/delayed blowback" was more theory then practice. Savage eventually discontinued the pistol because it was more expensive to make and sell then its principal competitor (Colt) offered. During its time it was for the most part well received. Boosters included former western lawman, Bat Masterson and scout/showman Buffalo Bill Cody. Former U.S. President, Teddy Roosevelt sometimes carried one. Savage was also focused on long guns rather then handguns. After 1911, when they lost the U.S. Government's contract for a new service pistol they sort of returned to their roots. Remington did much the same with their model 51 pocket pistol.

While the delayed blowback system didn't work, Savage was the first to offer a double column magazine. Something that Colt never did.