Outdoor Canada’s gun guy appraises more of your vintage firearms

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This gun was my grandfather’s pistol issued by the North-West Mounted Police (above). The number C3034 is on the back of the holster; is that possibly his registration number? I would like to know what this gun would be worth to a collector. The inscription on the barrel reads, “Manufactured by Savage Arms Co. Utica N.Y. U.S.A. Pat Nov. 21 1905.”

MURRAY MCDONALD

SMITHERS, B.C.

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This appears to be a Model 1907 Savage pistol. This model was made from 1910 to 1917, although I can find no reference indicating it was ever issued by the NWMP. In fact, the NWMP was renamed the Royal Northwest Mounted Police in 1904, before the pistol went into production. It is certainly possible it was privately purchased by an officer, however. As for the markings on the holster, I can provide no information.

Under current Canadian law, your Model 1907 is a prohibited weapon due to its cartridge chambering and barrel length. That means it can only be sold to Canadians who already owned firearms in that class as of 1994 or earlier, according to section 12(6.1) of the Firearms Act. Under specific conditions, such guns can be passed on to direct descendants (see www.outdoorcanada.ca/gunheirs).

The fact your pistol is in the prohibited class severely impacts its value. Only a limited number of Canadians enjoy section 12(6.1) status, and that number grows smaller every year. And of those gun owners, most are not eager to spend money on something they may never be able to resell. Priced between US$250 and US$350, your Model 1907 could probably be of interest to a U.S. collector, but exporting prohibited firearms is an onerous process. To see if there’s any interest, about all you can do is try selling it at a gun auction.