There apparently are no good records of dates of manufacture for the 1912's, a friend sent in for a letter on one and got told that by the Savage Historian - the letter he paid for just had basic dates of manufacture information - 1912 to 1916. You could guess at a date range from the serial number - numbers started at 1000 and the highest I have seen is just under 14,025, but most of the production could have been done in just the first couple years.
Following is a copy of a post I did on another forum,
Some 1912's
So, what if you ever need parts for one .......
.... two different cartridge guides & at least four different bolts ...
... four different variation of magazine, two different action slide assembly's, the early type had a spring to keep it in unlocked position and only relied on friction to keep the action open, later style snapped into either position.
... different barrel stamps ...
... this shows a milled relief used to support the action lock that was use on 1909's & pre-1914 1903's, it was eliminated in later 1903's $ 1914's. Since 1912's didn't use an action stop it's not needed and usually not found on 1912's. I know this is a 1912 part because I took the parts from it. The ejector is in a 1912 in Canada now. Even if it wouldn't have had the other parts it could be identified as 1912 because of the straight lower tang & four digit serial number, a 1909 would be the same but would have a 100,000 plus serial number, an early 1903 would also have a four digit serial & straight lower tang but would have a different design ejector. It also should be noted that the 1912 hammer is different than a 1903 & 1914 and I have been informed they do not interchange by a member who tried an 1912 in a 1903.
The 1912 being a modification of the 1903 had much of it's design covered by the 1906 patent for the 1903 which was stamped on the guns; here is the patent for the changes to make the 1912, I don't know if this patent was ever stamped on any 1912's - 1912 patent
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