A total of 181 of these .45 ACP pistols were returned to Savage after the testing and sold on the civilian market.

This is the date Elbert Searle was awarded one of his firearm patents, which were the design basis for all the Savage semi-automatic pistols.

Much of the advertising in the popular press played on the ability of an otherwise defenseless woman to use the Savage to subdue burglars and "tramps".

A safety lever is located on the left side of the pistol, at the upper rear of the grip.

In a notable innovation, the pistol uses a staggered ("double stack," or "double column") detachable box magazine which allows for a 10-round capacity in .32 ACP caliber and a nine-round capacity in .380 ACP caliber.

A prototype run of about 40 smaller vest pocket pistols chambered in .25 ACP were made in 1912.

These pistols operated by simple blowback with a fixed rather than rotating barrel, and there was no cocking lever "hammer" as on the larger Model 1907.