POTD: Get a Grip…Safety! – The Savage Model 1915
Sam.S 11.21.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The rare Savage Model 1915 semi-automatic pistol was produced for only a couple years, with just around 6,500 units manufactured making it the most elusive of Savage’s pocket autos. The Model 1915 was a transitional design between the Model 1907 and Model 1917 pistols. It retained the compact size and 10-round magazine capacity of the earlier Model 1907 but added a grip safety inspired by the popular Colt 1911. Visually almost identical to the Model 1907 including the prominent cocking hammer, this hammer was actually just attached to the striker mechanism on both the 1915 and 1907. Only minor tweaks separated it from the nearly identical Model 1917 that followed. A handful of Model 1915s like this one ended up having unique histories, being issued by Australian forces during WWII. But with such a short production span and low numbers, the Model 1915 had an ephemeral existence, quickly sandwiched between stablemate designs.
“Manufactured from only 1915 to 1917, the Model 1915 is the most rare of the Savage pocket automatics, with only about 6,502 manufactured in .32 ACP. The top of the slide is marked with the standard two-line address, patent date, and caliber marking, while the left of the frame has the Savage trademark. It is fitted with the standard blade and notch sights, grip safety, and checkered hard rubber grips with Savage logos. Includes a scarce factory box correctly labeled to the gun. Provenance: The Bailey Brower, Jr. Collection, author of “Savage Pistols””
Lot 3509: Savage Model 1915 Semi-Automatic Pistol – Exceptional Rare Savage Model 1915 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Scarce Factory Box. (n.d.-d). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/87/3509/savage-model-1915-semi-automatic-pistol.
