Went into a new gun store today with no intention of buying anything.There in the display case was a Savage model 1907 in 32 ACP in about 90 % condition for $350.00. Checked the serial number and it was made in 1919. IMO,it's a well made, beautiful little pistol in great condition. Anybody here ever own one ? How did it shoot ? thank you

My uncle owned either that or the 1917 model. Never saw it shot. They had a good rep. Portugal bought some for military use, I think the 1917 one.

Bat Masterson appeared in ads for them.

I've got one but it's not as nice as yours must be. I bought it several
years ago on one of the auction sites and it has some significant
finish issues but has a very good bore. It is accurate and also shoots
very close to point of aim, which doesn't always happen with guns of
this type. The gun has that feel of quality that many classic designs
have. They are trim and flat, a neat old gun to own just because.

I bought one in January that was made in August 1914 (lettered) and is in very good condition. It is accurate, reliable and shoots close to point of aim with both 71 gr. FMJ and 60 gr. JHP cartridges. check out The Savage Model 1907 Pocket Pistol web site. I found another site that sells reproduction boxes, owner's manual's and even copies of a little promo book written by Bat Masterson called THE TENDERFOOT's TURN. A note to Savage would snag you a free copy. Check out Backgrounds & Buttons. The Model 1907 was endorsed by Masterson along with Buffalo Bill Cody and William Pinkerton, among others. It was America's first staggered magazine pistol, which gave it a 10-round capacity in .32 ACP and one of the Savage selling points was "10 Shots Quick."

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I love the aesthetics of the little Savages, but they don't fit my big hand at all. I couldn't shoot them without taking an odd hold on the gun. Still, they are fascinating little pieces and a bit forgotten about when compared to the big pocket auto of the day - the Colts. The advertising Savage did for their autos was also pretty interesting, as noted. On one hand, Bat Masterson telling everyone he'd use one in a gun fight, on the other images of young girls and mothers defending their home cause it's so easy to shoot... Ten shots quick!

Mine dated to 1919, which was part of a batch they had to change to a matte finish due to chemical shortages created by WWI. If the one you are looking at is matte, it's a bit of an oddity.

I like mine. This was my father in law's nightstand gun. His wife asked me to help her get it out of the bank safety deposit box after he died; he had a little H&R .22 in there as well. Both were loaded, the Savage had a round in the chamber.
That's a White & Davis marked Heiser holster with it & an early box of cartridges I bought at the SWCA auction in Kansas City. I shoot it now and then along with a Colt pocket auto.

Same pistol with a Heiser holster.

Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

That's another gun I've wanted for many years. I've heard nothing but good reports about their reliability, and I love the looks.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Savage made nice little pocket pistols - very well made and reliable. All were offshoots of the pistols Savage entered in the pistol trials for the military before the Colt 1911 was selected.

This is one of the rarer ones. It's a Model 1915 that was a "hammerless" variation (no visible cocking piece). It also had a slide lock, a grip safety and a cartridge indicator. Only 6,500 were made in .32 ACP.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

That's a great example John. I still haven't put my hands on one, but I'd like to have the 1915 to complete my set.

Wonderful pistols and still to be found at good prices. Be aware that there were some engineering changes during production. Parts are not all interchangable.

32 cal


380 cal

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Dennis

I'm almost sure that my uncle's gun was a M-1917. Did it replace the earlier guns, or was it just an option?

Uncle was quite surprised to learn that I had been carrying it concealed at about age 12 when I visited him in Tulsa.

He acquired the Savage and a pair of Colt .32's after a couple of thugs beat him on his front porch. It was a normal middle class neighborhood, and no motive was ever determined, nor were the men caught. Would I have shot them, had they returned, at that age? Yes, definitely. I've long hated bullies and thugs. And it would just be the safe thing to do with violent creeps. Oklahoma probably didn't have a Castle Doctrine law then, if now, but basic rights of defense should apply. I hope.

I was soon reading Elmer Keith and was sure that a .32 was too light to rely on. When I got my first handgun at age 13, I chose a Webley MK VI altered to use .45 acp ammo. Both historical connections and the caliber influenced me. I was amazed but pleased when my mother bought me the gun.

But I still like the way that the little Savage felt in my young hand. I have no idea what became of my uncle's guns when he died. I hope they have a good home with someone who appreciates them.

Beautifully made pistols. Their high polish blue would rival anyone in the industry at the time.

They are a locked breech design w/a rotating bbl plus a separate breech unit. Very different
Easy to loose trigger parts out of during field stripping as they can just fall out of the frame after the slide & bbl is removed.
Not uncommon to find the disconnector sear trip missing.

They will go full auto and empty the entire magazine more than any other handgun I've seen. The delicate sear edge is to blame for that.
Careful putting the breech back in, turning it the wrong way jambs it in pretty good, but don't be tempted to go for the pliers,,it will turn back over.

What a awesome thread. I too like the looks and have always wanted one. The one I spotted in the the gun shop (and bought today) is made in 1919 and has a matte finish.It will look good in my collection of early pocket pistols. Next on my list is a Remington .380 Thanks for all the info. This forum amazing. I don't come here as much as I would like,but everytime I have had a question about a early firearm somebody here has a right answer.

Here's mine. It's a French contract gun from WWI, with a lanyard loop. That's the French issue holster, too. I had to get an extra magazine to fill it up, and it was not cheap.

The gun is accurate and reliable, although overly complicated. Doesn't break parts. It's not really a locked breech, but more a delayed blowback. I fire it with handloads, and even a flat nosed cast bullet feeds OK.

Don't dry fire it:I did and the striker tip broke. No problem about getting another, but reassembling it involved putting a muscular, two inch long spring into a one inch space; not fun.

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Cyrano-

That holster looks a lot like the Swedish design for the Browning M-1903 9mm Long, as I recall. Nice catch!

Thanks, T Star. There is some indication that these were originally made for a Portugese contract but diverted to France because France needed them more. There are actually two varieties of the holster; the difference is in the buttons securing the magazine pouch flaps. No, I don't have both varieties.

Well I might as well revive an old thread and add to it, than start a new one.

I spent a good part of the morning with my grandfather's old police duty Savage 1907. I wanted to give it a good cleaning. I have fired it in the past and my wife liked it when we did. Fun little gun.



According to this site and the serial number on the slide, it was made in 1913.

The Savage Model 1907 Pocket Pistol

It does have the shiny deep blue bluing and is in pretty good shape, no pitting and the rifling looks good too.

"Ten shots quick" was the Savage ad campaign slogan for these. Mine shoots great.

After I showed her these hilariously sexist ads for the Savage, my lady friend insisted on taking mine to the range to try it out. I had a hard time getting it back .

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Yeah, my wife refers to it as her gun now.

I've never owned one but I rather like the looks of them and would not pass one up if one were come across.

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Stay safe people!

I picked one up last year for about $275 with a old holster.

I wanted a 1915 .380 version, but found a 1907 first. Here it is with a .32ACP Colt 1903:

Now, I just need that Remington Model 51...

While we're on the subject of Savage pistols, does anyone remember the model 101? Although it appears to be a revolver, this 22lr is actually a single shot. The fake cylinder/barrel assembly rotates about 45 degrees to the right so you can load the single round into the chamber.

This one is a 1917 in 380 acp.

Very nice. Your slide is different than mine. I'm still learning about the variations. I really want to get a period holster for it, but from what Ive seen there around $100 or more.

The Savages are very cool and well made little pistols from a bygone era. If you have any interest in them I highly recommend Bailey Browers book Savage Pistols which is very reasonably priced (but could well skyrocket if it goes out of print like Brunner's book on the Colt Pocket Autos).
There are lots of variations out there and very affordable compared to Colt M1903's and M1908's which are through the roof these days.
Here's a nice 102 year old example. The quality of the polishing and bluing is every bit as good as a Colt from the same era.

I like the holster almost as well as I do the pistol. Old school cool.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I just missed picking up a 1915 on Gunbroker last week. It was listed as a 1907. I took a chance on the minumum bid and obviously only had one other watching it. They got me by about $5. Oh, well.

The 1915s are hard to come by.

Yes, I want to grab that book sometime.

Hello there,
I would be interested to hear about your Grandfathers Police service. At the time I would suspect that being issued a semi-auto pistol was cutting edge in equipment. Are there any agency markings on the pistol?

No, none that I know of. I'll check with my father to see if he knows more about it. I don't think he was ever on duty, but may have been. He repaired all of the radios for the PD in Lewiston Maine when my father was growing up. I don't know how long he was there, not long I would guess because he became an electrician and did that most of his career. He always had an electronics shop set up somewhere in the house and built a lot of things. I'll see what I can find out.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I included a chapter on these Savage pistols in my book 101 Classic Firearms. Look for that starting on page 50.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Well, hope to one day have it's Colt and Savage competitors, but for right now, only have this .380 Remington M51, c.1919

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I have them, and in my opinion, you already have the best of the lot.

I've got 6 of these little Savage pistols. 1 1917, a 1915 380 hammerless, a 1915 32 hammerless, 3 1907's in 32acp(1913, 1909, 1917). Love these things. Just found this page so will have to post up pictures later. the 1917 is out for rebluing right now.

Sorry you missed that one, it's worth 2X3 times what the other 1907 & 1917's are worth. I managed to pick up a 1915 in .380 for 850.00, with a 92% finish it's worth close to twice that. There were only 3,900 1915 .380's made. They made a 6,380 in .32. Needless to say I was happy to land it!

1915 Savage .380.jpg