HELP with Savage Corp .32 pistol

[Pearlina]

Hello,
I need some help in gathering information about this old pistol with the following information listed on the weapon.

Savage Arms Corp Utica NY U.S.A .32 caliber
Patented November 21 1905- 7 65 M-M
#202XXX

I'm not even sure how the weapon functions. The slide actually doesn't "Slide". After working on it for a while my dad was able to get it to just stay open (for cleaning purposes). I am confused to the how it operates since the slide doesn't appear to operate if I were to chamber a bullet. I posted some pictures of it, i'm not sure its ever been fired.. Any info on possible value, history, etc, would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

[cane]

Try this site: http://www.vintagepistols.com/1907/index.html

 

[Pearlina]

Thanks so much. I found the manual for this gun very helpful!

 

[barnetmill]

I do not understand the problem about the slide not working. Did you have the safety engaged to lock it?
There is one unique feature IIRC is that the barrel must slightly rotate for the slide to recoil. Use to be a very common handgun in the US. Very well made and if unfired might have some collectors value.

 

[gyvel]

Looks like you have a transitional 1907 model. It is a very late 1907 model with a late style cocking lever that was used on the 1917 model.

 

[Pearlina]

I looked up more info about how this weapon functions and found that model 1907 had "collared barrel and a "loaded chamber indicator", allowing the shooter to tell by touching the shell ejection port whether a cartridge was chambered." TRANSLATION PLEASE?!?
I have extensive training using my police issued .40 Sig Sauer model P229 but this is foreign to me. Thanks for any info just would like to try it out on range since I'm a big fan of semi-automatic pistols.

 

[Jim K]

The loaded chamber indicator was added part way through M1907 production, so not all of them have it. It is a spring clip, a bit like the pocket clip for a pen, that fits into a slot at the rear of the barrel. The bent-over end fits into the chamber and when the chamber is loaded it protrudes and can be seen and felt.

Just FWIW, the separate breechblock of the Savage was necessary because somebody had patented the idea of a slide and breechblock in one piece. Fellow named Browning.

Jim