So I know the two-handed version of this perk works...but about 4 hours of playtime ago i took Savage Strike for my first ever one handed weapon wielder (got tired of my mage after 74 hours of playtime) who has an Exquisite Skyforge Steel Sword and Exquisite Steel Shield and the beheading effect never proc'd.

Im uncertain if this is a glitch with the perk, a glitch with my current equipment set up, or just that this perk has a lower chance of activiating than I was expected (although it would have to be like 5% chance to behead or lower for all the dozens of tests I ran).

EDIT: Not a perk glitch, by which i mean if i use a different sword and unequip my shield I can make it work. Did testing with Ghostblade. So now its either: my shield, my sword, the combo of sword and shield, or the fact that I improved them that was making it not work. Need to do more testing.