.32 Revolver

[ltrouse]

I'm doing research for a story about a murder that took place in 1922. At the murder scene the police found what was described as a .32 Savage revolver in a dresser drawer. I can't find any reference to Savage Arms making a .32 revolver. Does anyone know what this pistol may have been? Was there another manufacturer that made a .32 revolver that was named Savage? ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

[ccmsd]

Hi ltrouse,

FWIW I think it was an automatic pistol rather than a revolver. Prior 1922 Savage produced 3 semi-automatic pistol offered in both .32 and .380 caliber: Model 1907 (hammerless, approx. 209,800 produced in .32), 1915 (grip safety, approx. 6,500 produced in .32) and 1917 (spur hammer w/o grip safety, between 27,000 and 30,000 produced in .32)

HIH

Cheers
ccmsd

[ltrouse]

CCMSD,

Thanks for the quick reply. I Was leaning that way too but the police report specifically describes it as a revolver. They also make mention that there were only five rounds in the cylinder. At the coroner's inquest the detective said it was a .32 Savage Revolver.

It's significant because I believe that the victim was in fear for his life and that he was not only keeping the gun in his dresser, but was also carrying it on his person, hence the hammer resting on the empty chamber.

Whether he was afraid or not is important because the most popular suspect is not someone he would have been in fear of.

I'm now wondering if it was and Iver-Johnson and the detective made a mistake.

[ltrouse]

Mystery solved! The gun was in fact a .32 Savage Automatic. It appears in the probate file as having been sold at auction along with the victim's other belongings. Unfortunately the SN is illegible in my copy so we don't know what the exact model was.

Thanks for your help!

[ccmsd]

Glad you solve it.

Additional stuff that might be helpful in case you 'bump' on additional details:
Model 1907 .32ACP made c. 1907 to 1926 numbered from 1 on up Model 1915 .32ACP made c. 1915 to 1916 numbered in range 103,000 to 136,500 (production and serial numbers from the regular run of the Model 1907)
Model 1917 .32 caliber made c. 1920 to 1926 numbered in range 229,800 to 259,472

See attached image (table) for details

HIH

Cheers
ccmsd