martin08
02-27-2019, 03:36 PM
First post here. Thanks for the fine venue.
I am a long time collector of military arms. And though the following pistol is not the 1907 US Trials or WWI French or Portuguese Military Contract, the commercial guns were derived from the military platform. I had wanted one of these artfully built pistols for a long time.
So, the opportunity arose last week in a multi-gun purchase. I just didn't realize what I had bought until I did some research.
It's a rare early example with all of the original features, and in uncommonly seen high condition. At serial number 902, it falls within the first 2000 units manufactured in 1908. Fewer than 1% of all Model 1907 where built in this configuration. And with such a small first production run, coupled with general attrition from wear, breakage, parting out and guns which were returned to Savage for upgrades, not many are left today with all of the following original early features:
- Steel Grips, replaced by hard rubber in 1910
- Safety Lever with scalloped half-round thumb pad, replaced with checkered thumb pad in 1909
- No Trigger Block Safety Bar or channel cut inside frame for bar, trigger block introduced by 1913
- No "SAFE" and "FIRE" stamped on rear frame, introduced in 1910, "SAVAGE" stamp on left frame 1913
- Early Barrel with thick lug, No Loaded Chamber Indicator, thinner lug in 1909, loaded indicator collar added 1913 to 1917
- Early Frame with narrow and shallow cartridge feed ramp, wider and deeper ramp introduced in 1910
- Early Slide with large lettering Address and more rounded ejection port, many later addresses and port design.
- Rear Sight fitted in dovetail, later rear sight incorporated into slide 1912
- Front Sight as blade insert, later forged as one with the slide
- Early Hammer (cocking piece) with cog lugs, later with spur style
- Mag Release operated from top of lever on front of grip strap, later located to bottom lever operation.
- Magazine, only one mag catch hole at bottom of mag spine.
- Serial Number located of bottom of frame in front of triggerguard, later on front face of frame
- Matte metal texture with Rust Blue finish, later with mirrored high-polish and bright Rust Blue, then Charcoal Blue
I bought this from an aging Korean War Veteran. He stated that he bought this from a retired insurance salesman who carried it in an inside vest pocket, in the cool leather pocket holster shown below.
https://i.imgur.com/ZDNsMlpl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/O0VY8j0l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/f3nswFql.jpg
The above list does not cover the Military Trials pistol or the similar commercial Savage Models 1915 or 1917, nor the .380 acp caliber option. But it doesn't mean they are less interesting or important. So here are a few links to provide more information and historical perspective.
http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Savage-Arms-32-and-380-semi-automatic-pistols-B081_Goulet.pdf
http://www.vintagepistols.com/1907/index.html
http://averagejoeshandgunreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/savage-model-1907-32-acp.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Model_1907
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9yX2nO-PxY
The 1907 US Military Trials in .45 acp (with video)
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/early-automatic-pistols/savage-45/
And a quick way to date your pistol. Just enter your serial number and submit.
http://www.savage99.com/savage32_dates.htm
Detailed pictures of Early Features will follow.
I am a long time collector of military arms. And though the following pistol is not the 1907 US Trials or WWI French or Portuguese Military Contract, the commercial guns were derived from the military platform. I had wanted one of these artfully built pistols for a long time.
So, the opportunity arose last week in a multi-gun purchase. I just didn't realize what I had bought until I did some research.
It's a rare early example with all of the original features, and in uncommonly seen high condition. At serial number 902, it falls within the first 2000 units manufactured in 1908. Fewer than 1% of all Model 1907 where built in this configuration. And with such a small first production run, coupled with general attrition from wear, breakage, parting out and guns which were returned to Savage for upgrades, not many are left today with all of the following original early features:
- Steel Grips, replaced by hard rubber in 1910
- Safety Lever with scalloped half-round thumb pad, replaced with checkered thumb pad in 1909
- No Trigger Block Safety Bar or channel cut inside frame for bar, trigger block introduced by 1913
- No "SAFE" and "FIRE" stamped on rear frame, introduced in 1910, "SAVAGE" stamp on left frame 1913
- Early Barrel with thick lug, No Loaded Chamber Indicator, thinner lug in 1909, loaded indicator collar added 1913 to 1917
- Early Frame with narrow and shallow cartridge feed ramp, wider and deeper ramp introduced in 1910
- Early Slide with large lettering Address and more rounded ejection port, many later addresses and port design.
- Rear Sight fitted in dovetail, later rear sight incorporated into slide 1912
- Front Sight as blade insert, later forged as one with the slide
- Early Hammer (cocking piece) with cog lugs, later with spur style
- Mag Release operated from top of lever on front of grip strap, later located to bottom lever operation.
- Magazine, only one mag catch hole at bottom of mag spine.
- Serial Number located of bottom of frame in front of triggerguard, later on front face of frame
- Matte metal texture with Rust Blue finish, later with mirrored high-polish and bright Rust Blue, then Charcoal Blue
I bought this from an aging Korean War Veteran. He stated that he bought this from a retired insurance salesman who carried it in an inside vest pocket, in the cool leather pocket holster shown below.
https://i.imgur.com/ZDNsMlpl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/O0VY8j0l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/f3nswFql.jpg
The above list does not cover the Military Trials pistol or the similar commercial Savage Models 1915 or 1917, nor the .380 acp caliber option. But it doesn't mean they are less interesting or important. So here are a few links to provide more information and historical perspective.
http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Savage-Arms-32-and-380-semi-automatic-pistols-B081_Goulet.pdf
http://www.vintagepistols.com/1907/index.html
http://averagejoeshandgunreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/savage-model-1907-32-acp.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Model_1907
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9yX2nO-PxY
The 1907 US Military Trials in .45 acp (with video)
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/early-automatic-pistols/savage-45/
And a quick way to date your pistol. Just enter your serial number and submit.
http://www.savage99.com/savage32_dates.htm
Detailed pictures of Early Features will follow.