Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage pistol magazine differences?

I'm confused (a condition that happens alot) about the differences between the 1907 mag and the 1915 mag. I know that the 1915 mag will hold open a 1915 Savage after the last round but how does it do that? Does anyone have a photo showing the difference between the 1915 and 1907 magazines? Thanks!

John

Theres a lip on the edge of the 1915 mag. Here's a pic of my 1907 mag and my 1915 mag, you can see the lip on the 1915 mag (right side mag).



I know this is a long shot but does anyone have a spare hold open release bar they wanna sell. I've got another 1915 in 380 sitting here that needs one.

Wow, never noticed just how much dust I had in between the serations before I took that picture. Got the Marbles gun oil out and did some cleaning with a Q-tip before I put it back in the safe.

Joe; I cannot see from your picture if your 1915 magazine has the lower catch hole; as far as I know the 1915's were only made with one type magazine catch and would never have needed the second hole. It' been my understanding that early pistol magazines had only the single lower hole, mid-production had both and late production had only the upper. That makes me wonder if a late factory replacement magazine for a 1915 would only have one hole? Has anyone seen any with only one hole?

Gene, not really sure what you mean but if your talking about the hole on the backside of my 1915 mags there is only one hole on both of them.

Mad dog,

Thank you for the photo - that's exactly what I needed.

On another note, what's engraved on the right side of your Savage?

John

The engraving says: "24 hour sarcastic S.O.B."



Mike...

Hoping it was the original owners name "A.W. Arthur". Talked with Mr. Brower about that as well and after I sent him pics he confirmed that it was not done at the factory.

I didn't even know you could have it done at the factory back then but according to Bailey it could have been, thats why he wanted the pics.

I had a savage 430 factory engraved with the buyers initials. Letter stated. Shotgun is long gone now...!!!


Mike...

Haha, ya it should!

Maybe I'll get that done on my shooter 1915 in 380. Something screwy with that one. Serial # MD 84X. Also the 9mm marking was punched off so I'm gonna have to take it to my smith and have him cast the chamber to make sure it's still in 380. It chambers a 380 round easy enough but I'm kinda leary to let one go out of it. Been shooting my good one but once I make sure the other one is good I'll be taking it to the range instead.

That sounds interesting. Keep us posted. What did Bailey say about the serial?

Joe; Here's what I meant about the notches. Right magazine is for an early 1907 - you can see the magazine catch is on the bottom. They changed the catch at some point. Middle magazine is for a 1917 and has a hole in the new location but still has one for the old location. This style with both holes could also be used in any version pistol. I do not think either the 1917 or the 1915 ever were made with the lower latch yet the 1915 magazine still has that notch. I also think I had read that late magazine eliminated the lower notch. Gene

See what you mean now.

My 1907 mag has the two holes like your 1915 mag only no lip for the slide stop.

My 1915 mags have the one hole. They look identical to your 1915 mag only I have only one hole on the top, there is no bottom hole on neither of my 1915 mags.

Are your 1915 mags marked for caliber? Only one of mine is.

I have two .380's w/one hole and a .32 w/two.

Joe ..........I forgot a very important detail!!!! - Rick got it, mine is a 32 and I know yours are 380's. I think only 380's were stamped for caliber. If the magazine catch was changed by the time they introduced the 380 then there would not have been a backwards compatibilty issue with the 380 and no need for the lower notch.

Ya, that would explain it..

Sorry Rick, didn't even see that question!

Bailey figured someone screwed with the serial number. I don't think either one of us wants to make a definite call on that gun cause he told me to get J.C. to see if anything is in the folders on that serial number. I just don't get that if someone screwed with the serial number that it would still have the inspectors mark (circled R) still right beside it? If you were to grind down the original number you would think that the inspectors mark would go with it?

Just wondering: I have a Savage pistol magazine that looks very much like the 1907 mag illustrated by Mad Dog. It's a .380, single stack, but has a magazine catch recess on the front of the mag, just above the floor plate. Also, the magazine has four slots, each about 1/2" long, on the left side only. Would you guys by chance know which Savage pistol it is for?

Can be used in either a 1907 or a 1917 in 380 but not a 1915 because it doesn't have the hold open lip on the side.

is it good to go to run a 1915 mag. through a 1907? thanks! j