Savage 1907 Three Digit Serial - Excellent
I am not a Savage pistol collector. I just happened to run across a real gem. And I do like to research my purchases. But short of purchasing Bailey Brower, Jr.'s Savage Pistols book, the information on the Savage 1907 is rather scattered across the internet.
So, I've gathered together a few web-links below to help others research their pistols. And I also wish to provide a good pictorial reference for features and variants, so..
..please add pictures of your Savage Model 1907, 1915 or 1917!!! Offer as much information as you can about features and variants, too.
Also, if I have any erroneous or incomplete information, don't hesitate to correct me! I will edit my post as needed.
Mine is a rare early example with all of the original features, and in high condition. At serial number 902, it falls within the first 2000 units manufactured in 1908. Guns in this configuration represent 0.81% of the 245,750 total units. With such a small first production run, guns which were returned to Savage for repairs and upgrades, and with general attrition from wear and breakage, not many remain 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 full round checkered thumb pad in 1909, and 3/4 round in 1910
- Serial Number located of bottom of frame in front of triggerguard, later on front face of frame
- Early Frame with narrow and shallow cartridge feed ramp, wider and deeper ramp introduced in 1910
- No 'SAFE' and 'FIRE' stamped on rear frame, introduced in 1910, 'SAVAGE' stamp on left frame 1913
- No Trigger Block Safety Bar or channel cut inside frame for bar, trigger block introduced by 1913
- Early Barrel with thick lug No Loaded Chamber Indicator, thinner lug added 1909, loaded indicator collar added 1913 to 1917
- 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 with only one mag catch hole at bottom of mag spine, later catch hole moved upward.
- 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.
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://americansocietyofarmscollecto..081_Goulet.pdf
http://www.vintagepistols.com/1907/index.html
http://averagejoeshandgunreviews.blo..07-32-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/ear..ols/savage-45/
And a quick way to date your pistol. Just enter your serial number and submit.
http://www.savage99.com/savage32_dates.htm