I picked up a 1926 pre-Woodsman in February and have had mixed results. Yet when it runs smoothly it is a comfortable or pleasurable gun to shoot. It easy to see why it had such a long run. It's demise was due to the expense of the machining and fitting required. Or so the story goes.

I have had mine to the gunsmith for new springs and a tune up. My present problems may be the velocity of the ammo I am using. It takes standard velocity or subsonic ammo only for the early guns.

I just bought two pre-Woodsman from a gun shop that is closing down. (Retirement). One is a 6.5 barrel and the other is updated with a 4.5 barrel and high speed assembly and slide. It also has what appears to be a little added custom checkering on the trigger.

Everyone wants pictures.

First the locally purchased 1926 6.5 barreled pistol.














Next photos are from seller's website. I'll get better ones when they arrive on Friday.

Six and a half inch model of 1926.



Four inch configuration.

Congratulations!

IMHO the Woodsman is the finest 22 pistol ever made, with some of the High Standards running a close second.

I use a 4" first model to introduce folks to shooting a pistol. My experience is that it is always their favorite.

I'm a fan. Sure are fun to shoot. Here's mine. 3rd edition.

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USN Submarine Service '66-'71

I to am a proud owner of a 1926 pre-woodsman and mine also has that checkered trigger i believe it was an after market trigger put on in the 50s not sure so be curious to see what you find out

I love the Woodsman. I have a 1951 production second series that my grandfather purchased new. He taught my mom how to shoot in a range they set up on the basement. It is picky about ammo and I have had to clean the firing pin channel to cure some light strikes.

The Colt Woodsman is a super .22. It is naturally pointing, has a great trigger pull, and is easy to hit the bulls-eye with. Certainly one of my favorites. Mine is from 1938.

I had bought a nasty Woodsmen three years ago that was a LE evidence gun.



I believe I named this one "Lazarus", as it needed to be brought back from the dead. It did not work correctly, regardless of the type of ammo I used. I wound up selling it and buying a Beretta 92 FS Inox.

My dad had a Huntsman that I shot quite a bit when I was a kid. Great gun. Would have inherited it but he lost it in a regretable way, I'm sad to say.

My wife, who is a naturalized citizen, admired one in Cabela's gun library. I tried to get her to buy it so she could enjoy one of our few remaining freedoms but she refused.

I think the cost to manufacture was their demise. Colt tried cheaper versions; Huntsmand and Challenger. But, after all, they weren't Woodsmen.

The huntsman had plastic grips and fixed rear sight. Any other differences from the woodsman?

The first Woodsman I ever bought was made in 1940. It suits my hand and eyes perfectly. Better be careful because if you're like me, you will eventually want an example from each stage in the pistol's series. Funny, my wife loves her first year Browning Challenger .22, Guess its the gold trigger!

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

I inherited a Colt Woodsman Series 3 from my dad. Purchased in 1971.

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-John

I have a 1956 edition Woodsman that I've had for years. Blue was faded when I got it... faded more now. Is one of the best shooting 22s ever made.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

I own a couple:

Pre Woodsman and 1st Series:



2nd Series:



3rd Series:



I'm still missing a couple of variations of all 3 series, but I'm always on the look-out. I found this trophy top of a Colt Woodsman in a sports awards store and had to have it. I made my own trophy with it.

Mine is my dad's pre-woodsman. He bought it new with a holster. I still have it and would shoot it more often if I could find standard velocity Long Rifle.

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Mike Maher #283

You are the guy to talk to about prices?

Like any other gun condition is everything. Are Woodsmans merely fun to shoot or do they have any investment value?

Beyond that, which are the most desirable series and models? How about pre-Woodsman. Are they like pre-model number S&W revovers and demand a higher price?

Magazine are another issue. Any thoughts on the topic?

Thanks in advance.

In my opinion, and since I collect antique Smith & Wesson not Colt Woodsman's; I really don't care about the honest condition of mine. It is a gingerly used pre-woodsman that has some evidence of use from my father. It's not ugly and not perfect either. It shoots nicely. I have no opinion about price as mine is not for sale but I like it.

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Mike Maher #283

The Woodsman is a fine semiauto and I love the cleanness of its design in any of its different configurations. I haven't found it to be more or less accurate that a Smith Model 41 or a Ruger MkIII target that also live in my safe. All of them are capable of better accuracy than I can generate, but I keep trying. Here are my two Woodsman specimens:



That one came out of the factory in 1940.

The other one is a Match Target from 1949. This one isn't quite as nice as the older one because it was shot a lot more, but a couple of replacement springs and a new grip adapter put it back in the pink of condition.



I also have a Hi-Standard Model B from 1946 that performs very well. Because of the greater mass and less refined finish it doesn't have the refined curb appeal of the Woodsman it resembles, but it is a fine utilitarian semi-auto in its own right.

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David Wilson