Found a decent .32 Savage

Baltimore Ed · August 24, 2019, 08:46:10 PM

Stopped by Macky?s Firearms on the way home from ECSASS today. We shot our monthly cas match today but with a WB category. [1911s with 2x5rd mags, sg?s loaded at the loading table] Eleven shooters, about half and half, sa?s and 1911s. Anyway, I found a 1917 Savage .32 with nice blue and good grips but an aftermarket mag I think. Supposed to be from 1920 or 1921. This is a really neat pistol. It points a whole lot better than my Astra. I?ll try shooting it tomorrow and take some pictures for you enjoyment.

Tornado · August 24, 2019, 09:50:48 PM

Nice find Ed, I love my 1917. I wanted to handle both a 1907 and 1917 before I bought one, but I never could find a '07. I still have never handled a 1907 Savage, I love to compare it's grip verses the flared out grip of the 1917. These pistols were cutting edge back in the day, double stack magazines and striker fired. The only two things I dislike about mine is the awkward toe mag release and the stiff slide.

Baltimore Ed · August 25, 2019, 08:07:59 AM

They had a 1907 but it didn?t have any blue left and with my big mits the 1917 felt better. Plus I like the Art Deco look of the 1917.

Pitspitr · August 27, 2019, 10:31:52 AM

I'd love to get a M-1917. I agree about the mag release and I'm not overly fond of the safety/slide lock either. Overall they're really nice and really accurate.

Here are my '07's:

Tornado · August 27, 2019, 12:35:08 PM

Pits,
Since you have both, do you like the fine serrations on the slide or the course serrations better? I find my self having an easier time grabbing ahead of the ejection port.

Pitspitr · August 27, 2019, 01:42:54 PM

Oh, I think I like the earlier wide grooves better, but I like the later magazine release better.

Baltimore Ed · August 27, 2019, 09:11:27 PM

Tried it the other day and had a couple of mty cases not eject all the way. Are savage?s ammo sensitive? I?ve got some magtech sport 71 gr RN lead ammunition ordered from midway in case I want to use it in one of my club?s off the wall matches. When ever we do our 2 inch snubnose match I go gangster and wear my pinstripe suit, the Savage would look good. Without a slide lock I might not be able to use it though.

Pitspitr · August 28, 2019, 08:11:01 AM

I haven't found mine to be ammo sensitive, but then again maybe it just happened to like the cheap ammunition I bought for it. The one thing I found with mine is that a couple of them had many years worth of old gummy oil in them and that they functioned better after I'd gotten rid of it all....but that took a while.

When you say, "Without a slide lock" you mean slide lock on empty, right? I ask because they do have a slide lock to keep the slide open when you want to confirm that there isn't one in the pipe. Retract the slide and put the safety on and it keeps the slide open.

Baltimore Ed · August 28, 2019, 06:42:51 PM

Just picked this .380 up off GB. Not as pretty as my .32 but it?ll do. Plus it?s got extra mags.

Tornado · August 28, 2019, 07:59:11 PM

I didn't know about the slide lock trick.

Nice find Ed!

Pitspitr · August 29, 2019, 09:42:36 AM

Quote from: Baltimore Ed on August 28, 2019, 06:42:51 PM
Just picked this .380 up off GB. Not as pretty as my .32 but it?ll do. Plus it?s got extra mags.

Nice! I'd like to get a '17 some time

Baltimore Ed · August 29, 2019, 09:47:23 AM

Pitspitr, just tried the slide lock/safety trick on my 1917 .32, you are wise beyond your years. Thanks for sharing. I could use the Savage in our match. I would just have to manually lock back the slide before holstering or grounding. Just time on the clock but I shoot these old antiques for fun, not to win. Unfortunately they always have given away the engraved Colts at the last match anyway.

Pitspitr · August 29, 2019, 10:38:26 AM

You're welcome
I don't remember if I read it somewhere or if Bat 2919 taught me.

Tornado · August 29, 2019, 10:51:55 AM

I have two aftermarket TripleK magazines for mine but they hold 2 rounds less than the factory one. The legs on the follower are really long, I could trim them down, but I don't really need the 2 extra rounds. Plus I worry they will be less reliable. I wonder why TripleK designed them like that? The bad part is I have to say '8 shots quick'.

Baltimore Ed · September 13, 2019, 01:43:33 PM

Picked up my .380 Savage. It had 2 aftermarket mags and the original that needs repair, one of the little ears has worn/broken off the mag body so the base plate doesn?t have anything to grab onto on one side. I think if I build a tight brass inset to go in the mag and the put a screw through the hole in the base plate the one flange will hold it on. Anyway, I shot 7 rds out of it and hit my steel just fine but talk about a terrible trigger pull, wow. No way in the world would you ever get 7 rds off quick. Part of the problem is the too skinny trigger, no leverage. Can the gun be made easier to operate?

Found my trigger pull gauge and the gauge only goes to 8#, the pulls on both guns exceed the gauge. So I?m guessing 9-10# triggers? A very safe pocket pistol, just about impossible to operate.