What would the price range on a savage automatic 32 caliber from 1905?

Answer 1

updated answer:

Savage made three production semi-automatic pistols and one prototype semi-automatic pistol marded with the Nov 21, 1905 date. As noted below, this is the date Elbert Searle received his patent for the pistol design that was the basis for all these pistols.

The three production modes were made in both .32 and .380.

The model 1907 was made in .32 from 1908-1920, in some 14 variations. It was made in .380 from 1913-1920 in 6 variations. One of the .32 versions was used by the French army during WWI, easily recognized by its lanyard ring. Other than the lanyard ring, the French army pistols are exactly the same as the commercial version of the model 1907 made at the same time (there are no special markings and they used the normal Savage grips). Because they are not especially rare, the French army pistols tend to be valued only a little higher than the commercial pistols. The same version made for the Portuguese military (in much smaller numbers than for the French) can sell for hundreds more, especially if they still have the original Portuguese grips instead of the Savage grips.

The model 1915, the so-called "hammerless" model, was made in .32 in 1915-1916, and in .380 in 1915-1917. These are a modified model 1907 with with a shrouded (hidden) hammer and a grip safety, and are the most rare (and expensive) of the production models. Only about 6500 .32 and 3600 .380 pistols were made.

The model 1917 replaced the model 1907, using most of the same parts as the final versions of the model 1907. The .32 model 1917 was made 1920-1926, and the .380 model 1917 was made 1920-1928.

A prototype .45 pistol was made for the US Army competition to determine its first semi-automatic pistol. After several years of testing, the only finalists were the Savage and the Colt pistols. In the end, the Colt won, and became the famous Colt model 1911. Only a few hundred of the Savage pistols were made, and these now sell for over $10,000 each.

The model names refer to when the pistols were designed, not when they began production. The earliest known model 1907 was made in 1908.

As of late 2011/ealy 2012, prices on the .32 production models tend to start at about $200 for common versions of the model 1907 and 1917 in OK condition (functions, but most of the bluing is gone, there may be scratches, replacement grips, etc) up to about $750 for excellent condition models. Because of their rarity, the .32 model 1915 tends to start at about $400-500 for OK condition pistols, and over $1000 for excellent condition pistols. While the model 1907 and 1917 can use the same magazines (except for the earliest version of the .32 magazine, which will only fit model 1907s made up to 1912), the model 1915 has a special version of the magazine, and factory 1915 magazines tend to sell for over $100.

.380 prices are usually a few hundred dollars higher than for a comparable .32 pistol, with the .380 model 1915 even higher.

Original pistol boxes and accessories, especially if they came with the pistol, can add hundreds to the value. WWI holsters for the French army pistols typically sell for about $50-75, depending on condition. Original Portuguese grips can sell for over $100 each.

The best current source for information about these pistols is Savage Pistols, a 2008 book by Bailey Brower.

original answer:

I AM ALSO TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT MY SAVAGE IS WORTH. SO FAR IT CAN VARY ALOT. FOR ONE THING I BELIEVE THAT THE 1905 YEAR THAT YOU ARE REFERING TO IS THE PATENED DATE (NOV 21, 1905). THIS DATE IS WHEN IT WAS PATENED. I CAN'T FIND WHERE THEY ACTUALLY MANUFACTURED THIS GUN UNTIL 1908. I AM GUESSING THAT THEY STARTED SETTING UP THERE MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT IN 1907 WHICH IS WHERE THE MODEL 1907 CAME FROM. IT APPEARS THAT THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY WERE MANUFACTURED WAS 1908, AND THEY MADE APPROX. 2000 GUNS THAT YEAR. THEY CONTINUED MAKING THE GUNS UP TO 1920. MAKING AS MANY AS MANY AS ABOUT 229,800 OVER THE 13 YEAR PERIOD. THEY MADE A FEW DIFFERENT CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF HANDLES, HAMMERLESS, AND LANYARD RINGS. THE LANYARD RINGS WERE EVIDENTLY FOR THE GUNS THAT THEY SOLD TO THE FRENCH ARMY DURING World War 1.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE MADE THE FIRST GROUP OF GUNS IN 1907 TO SHOW THE U.S. ARMY IN HOPES OF SELLING THEM, BUT COLT WON OUT. IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THESE GUNS MIGHT BE WORTH ALOT. ALSO I HAVE SEEN A 1907 THAT MUST HAVE BEEN USED BY THE FRENCH ARMY (APPROX. 27,000 WERE PURCHASED SOMEWHERE FROM 1913 TO 1917) FOR $1000.00. THESE GUNS HAD HOLES DRILLED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HANDLE AND HAD A LANYARD RING ATTACHED. ALSO THE FRENCH GOVT SUPPOSEDLY STAMPED THESE GUNS ON THE BARRELL IDENTIFYING THEM.

I AM STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN IS CORRECT.

I AM ALSO TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT MY SAVAGE IS WORTH. SO FAR IT CAN VARY ALOT. FOR ONE THING I BELIEVE THAT THE 1905 YEAR THAT YOU ARE REFERING TO IS THE PATENED DATE (NOV 21, 1905). THIS DATE IS WHEN IT WAS PATENED. I CAN'T FIND WHERE THEY ACTUALLY MANUFACTURED THIS GUN UNTIL 1908. I AM GUESSING THAT THEY STARTED SETTING UP THERE MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT IN 1907 WHICH IS WHERE THE MODEL 1907 CAME FROM. IT APPEARS THAT THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY WERE MANUFACTURED WAS 1908, AND THEY MADE APPROX. 2000 GUNS THAT YEAR. THEY CONTINUED MAKING THE GUNS UP TO 1920. MAKING AS MANY AS MANY AS ABOUT 229,800 OVER THE 13 YEAR PERIOD. THEY MADE A FEW DIFFERENT CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF HANDLES, HAMMERLESS, AND LANYARD RINGS. THE LANYARD RINGS WERE EVIDENTLY FOR THE GUNS THAT THEY SOLD TO THE FRENCH ARMY DURING WORLD WAR 1.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE MADE THE FIRST GROUP OF GUNS IN 1907 TO SHOW THE U.S. ARMY IN HOPES OF SELLING THEM, BUT COLT WON OUT. IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THESE GUNS MIGHT BE WORTH ALOT. ALSO I HAVE SEEN A 1907 THAT MUST HAVE BEEN USED BY THE FRENCH ARMY (APPROX. 27,000 WERE PURCHASED SOMEWHERE FROM 1913 TO 1917) FOR $1000.00. THESE GUNS HAD HOLES DRILLED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HANDLE AND HAD A LANYARD RING ATTACHED. ALSO THE FRENCH GOVT SUPPOSEDLY STAMPED THESE GUNS ON THE BARRELL IDENTIFYING THEM.

I AM STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN IS CORRECT.