Haven't been on a while and coming back with a question.
I bought a bunch of parts from a demilled Savage 1907 pistol (basically a parts kit minus the frame, slide, barrel, and magazine). I noticed that the breech block was numbered "314"
For the life of me, I can't remember if my 1912-vintage 1907 was numbered, nor the 1919-vintage I used to have.
The Book states that there are four different breech blocks for the 1907, .32's. I didn't see any thing on breech block markings but might of missed it.
Savage...never say "never". Rick...
Join the NRA...together we stand, divided we fall!
Finally got home with the parts, and I noticed that the breech block had an extra lug in the middle. I tried it in my 1912-vintage breech block and it didn't fit. So a quick check on the E-Gunparts shed some light on this--its a 1917 block!
I find this kind of odd since the grips that came with the pile of parts are obviously 1917 grips. I could post pictures if anyone cares.
No, it ain't a 1917 block, the 1917 had a spur hammer, that one has a burr hammer like a 1907. Looks like a variation 3 breech but I'd have to see the side of it to be sure.
The blocks from a 1915 and a 1917 have the same extra lug design, it has to be for a late 1907 but I do not have a late 1907 for comparison - and the very late ones had spur hammers if I remember right. None of the blocks in my guns have numbers but do have marks. I also noticed that the finish on it looks like paint - could this be from one of the pistols that they tried the paint finish on? (I miss the 1907 website - I now may have to buy a book!)
The beech bolt (I think it is the second version) and new style magazine release was added at 70,000. The hammer was changed to a spur at around 200,000.
Stern talks in his book about a small group of serial numbered bolts but they are full serials not just the last three numbers.
I asked Dave and Jim Koch and Baily Brower this weekend (all were at the KC show) and they said some pistols have the numbers, most don't and it is not totaly clear why. It might indicate that it was reworked before or after it left the plant. The numbers would have been added to make sure the correct parts got back in the pistol.
Savage...never say "never". Rick...
Join the NRA...together we stand, divided we fall!
Look at how the sear comes straight down off the breech and doesn't have the curve in it at the top. Also I can see what looks to be the hole on the side near the bolt face, the type 2's never had that hole.
Right now the parts are soaking in mineral spirits which should clean them up. The grips that accompanied these parts are indeed 1907 so I have to agree with you guys its from a late pistol.
That being said, are any of the parts backwards-compatible with my 1912-vintage 1907? I'm wondering if I should keep some spare parts to keep mine going, or just sell and cut my losses.
I would agree that it looks like a type 3 breech bolt. That would make it a 1907-13-2 variation. As far as being backwards compatible for a pistol made in 1912 (assuming SN range of 30,000 to 80,500 that includes 1907-10-2 and 1907-12 transitional variations), according to Carr:
1. The mag release shown was introduced at about SN 70,000. 2. The pin in the trigger was started with the 1907-12 (above SN 87,900). 3. The safety locking bar and safety with the hole for the bar were initiated just prior to the 1907-13-01 (somewhere around SN 79,000 according to Stern).
If you received M1917 grips with the parts, these parts did not come from one pistol. So the solution is to buy another couple of pistols that need these parts...
The grips were indeed Savage 1907 grips, someone on another message board wanted them, but I have not heard back.
All I know is the block will not fit my 1912-vintage, it slides in but will not screw, it also has a different magazine release--so would I be correct in assuming none of the other guts will fit?
I have some pictures of the sides of the mystery 1907 Breech Block.
The good news is that it looks like its in pretty decent shape overall.
The bad news is while the mineral spirits cleaned it up, when I rinsed it with MPro7 it removed the paint! As you can see its been stripped clean except for the "hammer" which still retains its bluing.
