1st Series Woodsman Sport model, 1933-1947, Great choice.
All 1st Series Sport models are designed to handle Standard and High velocity ammunition.
Guns International (GI) is a good place to shop Woodsman's. GI is not an auction; buyer has direct contact with the seller.
If ever you would like to talk Woodsman, feel free to send an email for the exchange of phone numbers.

Regards,
Tom Platt

 

Got to start somewhere. Several [lol] is excellent but any Woodsman is da bomb. I prefer the 2nd series MT with either length barrel. I like mutts too. I do have some that aren't mutts. Welcome to the Woodsman club.

 

While, years ago, one could pick/choose from various model Colt Woodsman's, today the one to buy first is the first one you can find in good condition (preferably).

 

I’ve always preferred the second series myself. Somehow they just look “right” to me. That said, I do like the first series models as well. I warn you, you’re stepping onto a very slippery slope, and by the time you reach bottom you may have quite a few. To my mind no one has come any closer to creating the perfect .22 pistol,
Jack

 

I’ve always preferred the second series myself. Somehow they just look “right” to me. That said, I do like the first series models as well. I warn you, you’re stepping onto a very slippery slope, and by the time you reach bottom you may have quite a few. To my mind no one has come any closer to creating the perfect .22 pistol,
Jack

The second series match targets are the Pinnacle of The Woodsman!

 

I'm a fan of the early second series, 1948-50.
Why?
The multi-colored "Coltwood" (bakelite) and injection molded plastic grips just look right and add a lot of life to the pistol.
That and the 1911 style mag release.
Not really a fan of the solid (dull) brown or black plastic grips of the later second series though.
Third series are certainly ok with their wooden grips.
Funny what strikes one's fancy.

 

I am just like you and just got my 1st Woodsman. I got a Sport 1st Series and LOVE IT! They are super accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I love the pre-war bluing, they are so beautiful. I did not mind it did not have adjustable sights. Mine was more than accurate enough. I can hit a 12 in steel at 200 yards with mine (my Ruger Mark IV buddy's get real mad when it is competition time at the range).

I just ordered a 1952 Sport because I have a crippling Colt addiction, and I wanted a last round hold open, and a thumb mag release. They are more addictive than drugs, and maybe as expensive of a rabbit.

I like Guns International as well. They are a little more expensive, but I love that it is not am auction, and they usually have more of a selection than Gun Broker. And you can make an offer

 

Curious?
Why does the 3rd photograph state 1939 Colt Huntsman Sport?
Huntsman is a 3rd Series manufactured from 1955-1977.

Regards,
Tom Platt

 

My mistake I have it updated now.

 

I bought my 3rd series brand new. Must have been about 1965, GI Joe's in PDX.

 

They just feel "right" in the hand!

 

My favorite has always been the 3rd generation, but I'm currently without any.

 

Also a big Series III guy here. I did just get my first Series II a few weeks ago. It's slightly rough (externally) 4.5 inch Match Target.

A DARN good shooter BUT, for all of the touting of the 1911 style mag release, just try activating it when your gun has thumb rest grips on it.

That begin said, she's a good shooter and not a defensive piece so, who cares?

That being said, it made me even more of a Series III guys.

 

Thanks for your response. I shot a 6" series III a couple of months ago and liked the way it held. Very accurate too.

 

Sir, whichever Series you pick, they are GEMS....all of them. I recommend starting with II or III but that is personal preference, me leaning toward III.

 

I like the first series Sports best. The smaller grip fits in a Carhartt inner vest pocket better than the others, and also in the back pocket of my Wranglers....

 

I've had quite a few of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Match Targets and standard Woodsmans, my personal favorite is the 2nd model match 6".

In the 70's I was at the Culver City Gun & Indian show, before we took them off the box of butter and kept the land. This old man who was 3 years younger than God, was walking around with a Colt 22 pistol in a holster rig. I asked to see it, when he pulled it out, this was quite possibly the biggest bubba'd abortion of a gun I'd ever seen.

It was a 6" 2nd model Match Target with 7 mags, but someone had cut the bottom 1/2 of the barrel off, milled the frame to mount a hunk of steel for weight, straightened the trigger with a rock, a ground down safety and slide stop with a rasp file, electric tape holding the grips on and then stuck a compensator on the muzzle.

I laughed and asked him if he drug it behind the car on his way to the show. He told me this was the best shooting 22 pistol he'd ever had and he said "I'll sell it all for $100". Even in 1976 that was a good deal, so I bought it because the mags were worth that. When I showed it to my shooting buddies they thought I was retarded for buying this POS, until I beat them and their model 41's, 17, Colt MT, HS 106 & 107 and a few others.

I still have it and if I can dig it out I'll post pics, like most of us, it hasn't gotten better looking with age, but it out shoots almost ever 22 pistol I've owned.

 

You mean like this?

 

You mean like this?
View attachment 576070
View attachment 576071

I wish mine looked that good, yours is a museum piece compared to mine.

 

I still remember my first time to see a Colt Woodsman Target pistol. This would have been back in 1965. I had just become totally interested in guns and there was an old fellow who was probably in his late 80s and in his day he had been a pretty good target shooter, both .22 semi-auto and .45 1911. He was a gunsmith and his shop was in his basement. I remember him showing me his Colt Match Target and it had a set of the elephant ear grips that came down below the grip frame. I don't know what generation it was but the lower lug didn't come clear out the the end of the barrel.

 

I sort of worked my way up to the Match Target, buying up the Huntsman and Challenger. Finally found one that I liked.

 

2nd series for me..

 

I love the one I have, but I would add a Match Target if I could find one in good condition at a reasonable price.

 

I like my 1st series as well.........aftermarket grips of nice quality. The originals were broken beyond repair. I "think" this is a pre-woodsman.