Whittling away at the ever shrinking bucket list: Colt Woodsman Sport

[mawkie]

-About a decade ago I made a lucky purchase of a beautiful Colt Woodsman Target with 6" barrel as a Christmas present for my wonderful brother. He didn't have a .22 pistol in his small collection and wanted to teach his youngest teenage son to shoot. Found a 2nd series example with stunning Coltwood bakelite grips. Ever since then I kept an eye out for one for myself. But something else always got in the way and it took this long for me to finally ramp up the search intensity.
-Found a nice example on GB and after a few counter bids it was mine. Paid about $100 more than I did back in 2012 so I'm satisfied that I didn't overpay. And got another safe queen in the process. The only difference is mine is the Sport version with the shorter 4.5" barrel. Expect it to shine at the range, like all my other Woodsmen do. BTW, my nephew is now in his late 20s, graduated college with a masters and still takes the Woodsman I got him to the range with us when we get together for a session. And he still adores it, money very well spent!

 

[JollyPedro]

Beautiful pistol!!!! This has been one of my bucket list guns for a long time, think I might have to get one soon!

 

[Doctor_M]

As always, you have a great eye. Congratulations!

 

[ChannelCat]

Beautiful piece, and it wont break the bank to shoot it.

 

[WatTyler]

This and the Huntsman were my teenage fantasy guns. Like most teenage fantasies, nothing came of them. Congratulations on this one!

 

[K31]

There's a video on YouTube about making magazines for those from new ones made for other firearms.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

Nice score!

 

[somd_mustangs]

Looks to be in super shape!
Did it come with the 2nd series "Tombstone" magazine?

 

[mawkie]

Looks to be in super shape!
Did it come with the 2nd series "Tombstone" magazine?

You know, I didn't pay any attention! Will have to open up the safe when I get home and check it out. At this point I'm happy that it's a factory mag. If it's a tombstone then that's a cherry on top.

 

[MaicoBill]

I have 2. One made in 1969 and one in 1977. Great shooters. I have the 4 1/2" barrel on both .

 

[BradMacc82]

We just took in a Woodsman Match Target yesterday, IIRC it was a 6" model - haven't checked mfg year, Colt magazine.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

My two Woodsman pistols...the Match Target version is from 1971...the pencil barrel model is from '63. One of my spare magazines is a tombstone mag.

 

[BradMacc82]

Pure uninitiated curiousity asking - what's a 'Tombstone' magazine?

**Little google-fu answered that question, learned something new today.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

Pure uninitiated curiousity asking - what's a 'Tombstone' magazine?

**Little google-fu answered that question, learned something new today.

The shape of the thumb piece.

 

[somd_mustangs]

They were unique to the 2nd Series Woodsman's (Woodsmen?) models.
2nd Series is the only version with a push-button mag release like a 1911; IMHO Colt went backwards with the 3rd Series which reverted to the heel release and small mag loading button. But I wasn't around back then to consult LOL.

 

[BradMacc82]

One we took in is a standard button-type, I take it the tombstone is more preferable to a collector?

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

It never made sense to me either...the 1911-type button release is much more user friendly than the heel release. It must have cost less to produce is the only explanation that makes sense.

Yes...the tombstone type magazine is far more valuable to a collector.

 

[somd_mustangs]

Looking back through my notes, Bob Rayburn's pocket guide shows 3 different variants of the 2nd Series magazine. Ideally a collector wants the right variant for the year of manufacture of their pistol but it's not an exact science (Colt shipped what they had on hand).
1947-49: Non-removable baseplate (no hole for the retainer)
1949-50: Removeable baseplate with a squared-off spine profile (flat rear surface)
1950-55: Removeable baseplate with a "scalloped" spine profile (curved inward rear surface)
There's something like 10 different magazine variants for the pre-Woodsman and 1st series, and the Challenger had different style mags too. Then there's the several variations of the 3rd Series, plus aftermarket mags.
It's a lot to keep track.

 

[ShafTed]

Here's mine, SN says 1974 vintage with 6" barrel. Inherited it from my dad.

 

[trailtoy]

Another beauty for collection! One day I will have a Model 41 and a Woodsman to go with the Browning Challenger and the High Standards.

Brad, what's the skinny on that Woodsman?