Colt Woodsman Match Target 2nd Series .22 LR Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1953 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,285.00
LSB#: 191025DC60
Make: Colt
Model: Woodsman Match Target 2nd Series
Serial Number: 124704-S
Year of Manufacture: 1953 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CAL. 22 LONG RIFLE”. The left side of the frame is marked with a rampant colt over “MATCH TARGET” between the slide and barrel. The left barrel flat is marked “COLT’S MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / U.S. PAT. D-121,317”. The right of the frame is marked “124704-S” over the trigger. The right of the trigger guard is marked “1”, the left is marked “R” and “VP” in triangle.
Barrel Length: 6? Fluted Slab-Side
Sights / Optics: This pistol is mounted with a flat topped square notch rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation and dovetailed into the slide. The front sight is a Patridge style blade that is pinned into a serrated, ramped base fixed to the top of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered “Coltwood” plastic grips with a rampant colt molded into the top of the right panel. The grips show minor handling wear wtih a few scattered light marks. The panels have shrunk as Coltwood grips tend to, with some warping at the indexing posts and edges. The checkering is mostly sharp and there is good detail on the rampant colt. Overall, the grips are in about Good-Very Good condition and would easily rate Fine but for the shrinkage.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is lightly thinning at all edges. The slide has a couple of spots of light surface oxidation on the right at the bottom edge. The sides of the frame show minor wear from the grip panels, visible due to their shrinkage. The grip straps show light handling wear. There are a few other scattered minor marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-Fine condition and would rate Fine but for the shrinkage in the grips.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide locks back on an empty magazine. The manual safety can be used to lock the slide forward. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in a faux-leather cardboard Colt box with model-matching label, manual, serial-matching test-target, sight adjustment tool, two Coltwood plastic backstrap extensions and a total of two 10-round magazines. The box has fraying and tears at edges and corners wtih scattered light storage wear, in about Good-Very Good condition. The backstrap extensions likely have shrinkage similar to the grips, we did not install them.
Our Assessment: This is a Colt Woodsman 2nd Series Match Target Model pistol, made in 1958. It has a 6″ fluted slab-side barrel, adjustable sights and a button magazine release characteristic of the 2nd 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, respectively). 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 ½” Sport Model, but the Match Target was the top of the line and a favorite of bullseye target competitors. The pistol is in Very Good-Fine overall condition with about 95% of its original finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. The grips show minor wear but, as is common with Coltwood grips, have shrunk some with some warping at the indexing pins and edges. Production target pistols of this quality are no longer made in the United States and will command a premium over most “new” currently manufactured pistols except those used for high-end competition. If you are looking for a rimfire target pistol, this is still a better choice than most “NEW” pistols on the market today, but as with with most Colts, they are now quite collectible. This 2nd Series with correct grips and original finish is sure to attract the Colt collectors. Please see our photos and good luck!