Make: Colt

Model: Woodsman

Serial Number: 138953

Year of Manufacture: 1940

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (serrated backstrap indicates that high speed ammunition may be used in this pistol)

Action Type: Single Action Semi Auto Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 6 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a slotted base at the front of the barrel, adjustable for elevation. The rear sight is a square notch sight dovetailed and set-screwed into the slide, adjustable for windage.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut panels. The grips have even light handling wear with some light marks and a couple of compressions on the left panel toward the bottom-rear. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The grips are in Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion and for the age, this bore rates about 9/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 92% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some finish wear at the muzzle on each side. There are some scattered minor nicks and small scratches with a cluster of scratches on the left of the frame behind the safety. There are infrequent spots of minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This handgun comes with a brown leather flap holster holster and a single 10-round magazine.

Our Assessment: This is a Colt Woodsman 1st Series Target Model pistol with a 6 1/2” barrel and checkered walnut grips. The magazine release is on the bottom of the grip, characteristic of the 1st and 3rd Series (The Colt Woodsman pistols changed the location of the magazine release from the butt to the left side of the frame and then back to the butt for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Series). John M. Browning designed “Colt’s Automatic Pistol, Caliber .22”, later to become the Woodsman, with the design refined slightly by Colt employees George Tansley and F.C. Chadwick before it was released in 1915. The Woodsman stayed in production until 1977. Sportsmen favored the 4 1/2" Sport Model but the 6 1/2" Target model gave a longer sight radius for more precise shooting.

This example was made in 1940 and is in Very Good-plus overall condition with a strong bore and good mechanics. The early 1st Series Models are quite collectible and we would expect this one to be no different. The fit and finish on these pistols is better than on guns made today, enhancing their collectability, but this should still prove to be a very capable target pistol. Please see our photos and good luck in your bidding!