Make: Savage

Model: 1917

Serial Number: 252415

Year of Manufacture: 1921-1928 (“Savage Pistols” by Bailey Brower Jr.)

Caliber: .32 ACP (7.65 Browning)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol fed by Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 3 3/4"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade dovetailed fore-to-aft at the top of the slide. The rear sight is a u-notch in a raised boss at the top rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are black checkered hard rubber and are trapezoidal in shape with a “Savage Quality” Indian Head logo molded at the tops of the grips. The smooth borders show a few scattered light scratches. The checkering and lettering are well defined. The grips rate in Fine overall condition.

Type of Finish: Matte Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is somewhat bright and the rifling is defined. There is minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong. There is oxidation on the mag release. The case color on the trigger is strong. The action shows operational wear. There is light oxidation on the backstrap. The screw heads are tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has a frame mounted safety and a spur hammer as used on all M1917 pistols. The slide is snug to the frame. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 10-round double stack blued magazine. The body shows light-moderate operational wear with scattered light surface oxidation. The feed lips are intact and the spring is strong. Overall, the magazine is in Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The Savage Model 1917 was the successor to the Model 1907, though it did not actually enter production until 1920. Its most noticeable updates were the wider, flared grip frame and grip panels secured by screws; by contrast, the Model 1907 used screwless grips that snapped into place. Like the earlier Model 1907, the Model 1917 retained several distinctive features that set it apart from other small automatic pistols of the period, most notably its double-stack 10-round magazine. The external “hammer” is not a true hammer, but rather a cocking piece.

The design traced its lineage to the .45 caliber pistol Savage submitted for the U.S. Army trials of 1906–1911. Among early American semi-automatics, the Savage pistols were ahead of their time in their use of a double-stack magazine, a feature heavily promoted under the famous advertising slogan, “Ten Shots Quick!”

This example is in Excellent condition. Far from being “just another Browning copy,” the Savage Model 1917 is a distinctive and mechanically interesting early American semi-automatic pistol. It would make a fine addition to a collection focused on early U.S. autos, particularly alongside its Colt and Browning contemporaries.