It's Been One of those Days!!!

[brucev]

Woke up with the senior cat standing on my chest purring. Fed her. Drank my two cups of coffee and was instructed by my CFO that I needed to go to the range! So, off I went with 18-3 and a RIA 1911 w/ a Marvel .22 LR Conversion Unit installed. Practiced one handed w/ the 18-3. Fired SA. Managed to shoot fairly well. Followed up with the RIA. Did have some problems with my right shoulder after about 100 rds. Had to start shooting some w/ both hands. All in all ... nice morning. Then, I decided to take a quick tour of the store. That is when it went from a nice morning to one of those days!

I checked my guns at the counter and was about to start the tour when in walks a man with a grocery cart. In the cart were ... maybe 20 rifles and shotguns. One was a Colt AR-15 M-4 style. Rest were various pumps, a Stevens double and ... at the bottom w/ it's barrel hanging out of the bottom of the buggy ... a Colt Woodsman.

He stated that he wanted to sell the rifles as part of his uncles estate. The counterman began to check the rifles/shotguns. I asked the gentleman if I could look at the guns and he said go right ahead. While I was looking he again said he was going to sell them to whoever would give him his price. I found the Woodsman and asked him "How much?" He looked at his list and said, "$250." I asked him if he was sure about the price. I told him I would like to buy it but he could probably get more money from someone else. He said he just needed to sell the guns and be done with them. So, I hopped in the car and drove back to the house, borrowed $20 from my CFO an grabbed some money I'd saved in the dresser drawer and headed back to the gun shop. He handed me the pistol and I handed him the money. I headed out the door. Outside I took my last $11 and bought a poppy from one of the DAV which I put in the button hole on my shirt.

Arrived home about 500 heartbeats later. Guess I was a little bit wound up about the Colt. It is not perfect by a long stretch. It has some casual rust/corrosion on the front sight, handling marks, etc. Grips are maroon looking plastic. Serial number is 21500-S. Bore is perfect. One magazine. Galco PRO 436 G919L holster. Looks like it was carried in someone pocket or something.

My wife had a wonderful lunch ready ... sausage, potatoes and onions! I saw she had also made little sausage balls, about the size of a large marble which were cooling on a rack. She told me I could have them later ... if I wanted them. Imagine that! If I wanted them! God I love that woman.

I'm about to go jogging/walking for the next few hours. Otherwise, I think between the pistol and the coffee I've drank, I just might explode!!! Thank you for allowing me a place where I can share about this little pistol. It's not something I ever thought I'd ever have the opportunity to own. It's a pretty little thing at a price that in my area I would have thought would be far more. Sincerely. bruce.

[JohnRippert]

Sounds like a darn good day to me.

[fiasconva]

I think you should run out and buy a lottery ticket before your luck runs out.

[Bald1]

I’d have looked at every gun and bought many. At his prices you could resell for a profit

[S&W ucla]

If your SN is correct it looks around 1948, that would be 2nd series. What model Woodsman is it, Sport 4.5", Target 6", Match Target heavy 4.5" or 6" barrels. Also should have push button mag release similar to 1911. Great deal, sometimes the stars align

[Doug M.]

Originally Posted by Bald1

I’d have looked at every gun and bought many. At his prices you could resell for a profit

*
I understand the sentiment, but that kind of volume is likely to attract BATFE attention and get one labeled an unlicensed dealer.

[brucev]

Originally Posted by S&W ucla

If your SN is correct it looks around 1948, that would be 2nd series. What model Woodsman is it, Sport 4.5", Target 6", Match Target heavy 4.5" or 6" barrels. Also should have push button mag release similar to 1911. Great deal, sometimes the stars align

This pistol is marked with the normal Colt address and the word "Woodman." It has a horse holding a arrow in its mouth. It has a push button magazine release ala 1911. Ser. no. is 21500-S. Barrel is flat at the chamber then round to the muzzle. Measures 4.5 inches. Would think this corresponds with the Sport 4.5 inch. Wiped the bore w/ a dry brush. It is pristine. Crown is nice and clean w/ no nicks, etc. There is some rust or corrosion on the front sight.

Magazine is built like a tank! Never saw a magazine made this strong and heavy for a .22 LR pistol. It has some superficial rust/corrosion. Looks like it might possibly to dismantle for cleaning given a little hole in the floor plate.

Rear sight is dovetailed into the slide and is adjustable for W/E via small screws, all of which are in perfect condition. There is a lanyard loop machined into the bottom rear of the grip. There is a small pin head sized chip at the bottom of the left grip panel. There is a Colt horse emblem molded into the top portion of the right grip panel. There is a screw in the back of the grip frame above the lanyard loop.

Question. There is a small number "95" stamped on the trigger guard immediately under the flat of the frame below the serial number. What if any is the significance of this number?
..
Apologize for such a long winded post about a non-S&W pistol. Still in shock about yesterday. Just not the sort of thing than happens to me. My wife made 14 cups of sausage balls yesterday. There is now possibly one cup left. The rest kept body and soul together through yesterday afternoon with the rest serving as breakfast washed down by a couple of big mugs of good coffee. I am now going to clean the house since I know it is low on the things she likes to do. Me? I am thankful she puts up with me. Sincerely. bruce.

[S&W ucla]

Originally Posted by brucev

Question. There is a small number "95" stamped on the trigger guard immediately under the flat of the frame below the serial number. What if any is the significance of this number?

I am thankful she puts up with me. Sincerely. bruce.

2nd series Woodsman Sport, mid 1948. Great gun and fun to shoot! The"95"is an inspection stamp. A Basic Woodsman Collection Click on "Basic Woodsman collection". You can scroll thru and see the various models.

..........You're a lucky man!

[cmansguns]

Man-o-man...$250? Lucky you didn't get in a wreck blasting back to the house to confer with your CFO (if she's like mine...also your Loan Officer). Even luckier that the guy held it for you. The store clerk must have been going nuts seeing that one at $250 while he's trying to keep a straight face on offering for the others.

Back around early 2000's up till 2014 I liked to collect Colts (before I really got into S & W) and I had a 3rd series Woodsman in real decent shape with box. 1st series was 1933-1948, 2nd series was 1948-1955 distinguished by the push button side mag release and the plastic grips. 3rd series ran 1955 to 1969, where the serial number used a dash (-) before the S, then Colt eliminated the dash until 1977 end of production.

I traded mine (s/n 214677-S) in 2014 for a S&W K22 Masterpiece. The S&W seller wanted $600, but took my Woodsman, which I was asking $525....so...here we are 10 years later and you snag one for $250.........great deal for sure.

[arjay]

Nice find and price! Soak the front sight and the magazine in some Ed’s red or krioil for a few days (I just use acetone +atf)