Very Sharp Pre-War Colt Woodsman Target Model 1st Series Semi-Automatic Pistol & Matching Box, MFD 1940 C&R

SOLD FOR:$1,901
LSB#:
150320MC09
Make: Colt
Model: Woodsman Target Model First Series
Serial Number: 136432
Year of Manufacture: 1940
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” and with the Rampant Colt logo. The left side of the frame at the chamber is marked “THE WOODSMAN”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PAT’D DEC. 22, 1903. AUG. 27, 1918. SEPT. 3, 1918.”. All of the previous lettering is filled with white. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with “X” and with a “VP” in a triangle, and the right side is marked “30”. The front strap is marked “136432”.
Barrel Length: The barrel is 6 5/8” in length.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Patridge style blade pinned into a slotted base on the barrel and adjustable for elevation. The rear sight is a flat tapped square notch dovetailed into the slide and secured with a set screw.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut. The checkering shows extremely light wear and is still sharp to the touch. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. The barrel shows a few very light handling marks, a very light scratch down its right side, a tiny spot of surface frosting and a few scratches through the finish on its underside just in front of the frame. There are also a few very light marks on the right side of the slide. The slide serrations, safety knurling and magazine release serrations are sharp. The grip screw and rear sight screw are sharp but the front sight screw shows marks of a screwdriver. The markings are clear, and those on the barrel, slide and left side of the frame are filled with white. Overall, this pistol rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 10 round magazine and a factory box. The magazine floorplate is marked “COLT WOODSMAN / CAL. 22L.R.”. The magazine is blued with the top inch of the magazine “In The White”. The magazine shows minimal wear with a few tiny spots of surface frosting on the floorplate along with a tiny spot of finish loss at the back from the magazine release. The magazine is in Excellent condition. The box is cardboard with a dark purple vinyl looking finish, a section of which is attached to the back of the box to serve as a hinge for the lid and bottom piece. There is a label on one end of the bottom section which correctly identified the make, model and caliber of this pistol and another label on the top marked “TARGET” and “PATRIDGE SIGHT”. The bottom of the box is marked with the serial number of this pistol in pencil. The corners are frayed and there are a few spots of surface loss on the edges as well. One end panel is torn in both of the top and one of the bottom corners. The hinge is intact. The inside of the box shows abrasion from the sights. The box is in about Good condition. Included with the box is an instruction sheet with parts list and schematic, an unused black nylon bore brush with wire handle, still in its cardboard sheath, and a test target. The test target shows a 5 shot group shot at 15 yards of about -.782” edge-edge.
Our Assessment: The Colt Woodsman was made in three different series starting in 1927. Of note is the fact that Colt changed the magazine release from the bottom (1st Series) to the left side (2nd Series) and then back again to the bottom in the 3rd series. This pistol is a 1st Series Target Model Woodsman that was made in 1940 after the main spring housing change to accept high-velocity ammunition. The pistol is in Excellent condition with about 98% of its original finish remaining. It shows a few light marks on the barrel and the right side of the slide, with a few scratches through the finish on the underside of the barrel at the frame. The checkering on the walnut grips is still sharp to the touch and the bore is bright with sharp rifling. This is a VERY nicely preserved pistol for being over 70 years old, and its condition should garner a lot of attention from the Colt collectors. The pre-war Woodsman pistols are highly sought-after, and it’s getting hard to find one in this nice of a condition. It even comes with its original box, complete with instruction sheet, test target and an unused nylon bore brush.

Very Sharp Pre-War Colt Woodsman Target Model 1st Series Semi-Automatic Pistol & Matching Box, MFD 1940 C&R
Very Sharp Pre-War Colt Woodsman Target Model 1st Series Semi-Automatic Pistol & Matching Box, MFD 1940 C&R