Colt Targetsman Question???

steamloco76 · Sep 10, 2013

My LGS has a pristine Colt Targetsman .22 LR Pistol with box, and original sales receipt from 1977, the last year of production.
The gun has a feature neither I, nor the very experienced shop owner has ever seen on a Colt before.

The heel type magazine release is smooth, not grooved or serrated and it operates in a positive 'Click-open, click closed' method instead of spring loaded. Appears to be 100% factory.
My Colt books mention nothing about any change from spring loaded to click-type and neither does any web reference.

Anybody have any info about this, or at least a Targetsman or Woodsman with the same type of magazine release action?

Rule3 · Sep 10, 2013

Yes, my Colt Woodsman(around the same year)has the same type of bottom magazine release. Kinda like the European design. It is a positive latch closed, latch open with no "springy" action

The guns are all variations of basically the same gun, different names and some features.

22 caliber rimfire semi-auto Colt pistol: .22 calibre Colt Woodsman

rog8732 · Sep 10, 2013

I believe the Colt's Woodsman came in three series, or versions. The first series had the mag release button at bottom rear of the mag well/grip. The second changed to a button mag release at top left of grip frame, similar to a 1911. The third series reverted back to the bottom.
..Some, but not all, mags interchange, ( and are costly little devils).
As Rule 3 noted, basics the same,with small variations.
All I ever encountered were more than fair target .22s

J. R. WEEMS · Sep 10, 2013

Have had this, and a few other versions at times. They are long gone now, but ran across a magazine the other day. I guess I should put it up for sale- would $25.00 shipped be a fair asking price??? I have lost track on what such things are worth these days.

fat tom · Sep 10, 2013

More like $65 J.R.,so anything less would be more than fair,imo.
f.t.

rog8732 · Sep 10, 2013

Where are you going to sell it JR ? Which series is it ? Fat tom is pretty close on the price for an original,clean, no rust, although, Triple K, who usually is considered a holster supply, often has some in SS for about that price. Fine little target semi-autos, and more than difficult to come by.

steamloco76 · Sep 10, 2013

PM me and I'll share where the Targetsman I asked about is located. We were stumped about the mag release and the replies here definitely helped. Everybody that's looked at it says "Too bad its not a Woodsman in that kind of shape."

824tsv · Sep 10, 2013

Hello,
Sorry to jump in a little late. The later versions of the Targetsman had the snap catch from about the late 60's. All 3rd series Woodsman's had the snap catch with the exception of the early Huntsman and Targetsman. The Targetsman was introduced in 1958, and here's a pic of mine from 1959. Note the early style serrated magazine catch that you are used to seeing. They are nice little pistols and relatively scarce.

Here is a couple of pic's of my 1957 vintage 3rd series Woodsman Match Target. Note the snap magazine catch that came with all 3rd series Woodsmans.

Colt Targetsman Question???

steamloco76

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Rule3

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rog8732

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J. R. WEEMS

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fat tom

Absent Comrade

rog8732

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steamloco76

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824tsv

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