I *thought* this was going to be a Turtledove question. I've looked high and low, and it does seem that this is Turtledoves conjecture. Tredegar was a real foundry, but they never made Rifles. I do suppose, as Mr. Turtledove does, that were the CSA to win the war of secession, Tredegar would be the most likely indigenous source for arms.
my question is, in the newest book (American Empire - The Center Cannot Hold), what is the .45 he makes reference to? with Utah and the Mormons in open rebellion, it seems unlikely that the USA would adopt a pistol designed by JMB. so, what pistol came in second in the 1911 trials(or whenever they were)? the Savage? the .45 Luger? btw, in the books, the USA is allied with Germany.