Colt 1911 Commercial & Pre-Woodsman

[CZU]

This was made in 1923 and appears to be correct in every way. The finish could be better but the way I look at it is I know that it is original. When you go looking for these it seems all you see are perfect to near perfect examples. It's ugly but it is tight and the bore is nice as well. The finish on these from what I have read is somewhat fragile and it doesn't take much for them to end up as this one has. It looks like in some areas the blue just peeled right off. There is absolutely no pitting anywhere, the gripstraps are brown which shows it was handled quite a bit. The mags are correct from what I can see, no markings anywhere. My LGS had just gotten this one in and I got to check it out before it went out for sale. I had them put it back for me on layaway as well as the pre-woodsman that came in with it.

OK, I've been chewin' on this for a while and kicking myself for selling my Clawson book on the 1911 Commercial Models a few years ago. Dang it! Then I remembered that I also have the book by Goddard "The Government Models". Let's see if there is anything about this era of Commercial models in this book. Goddard didn't touch on the Commercial models but he does list several pages of serial numbers, ship dates, and receiving parties. I started looking, found my range and to my surprise found this serial number listed. It shipped on Sept. 12 1923 to a Post Exchange, Lt. O.K. Robbins. Goddards nomenclature for shipping shows that if it has 2 names it means delivery to the first for delivery to the second. I now have a name and will have to have my LGS ask the lady that brought both of these in if Lt. Robbins was her or her husbands Grandfather or Great Grandfather. I'm betting that this is the case and also betting that the pre-Woodsman was delivered at the same time as the 1911. If this happens to be the case it is a shame that these family guns' history have ended in the way they did.

 

[CLASSIC12]

Nice old Colts with character and history you found there, congrats.

 

[CZU]

Nice old Colts with character and history you found there, congrats.

Thanks, I think once I get them home they'll clean up better than they appear now.

 

[daddio202]

Very nice! I am not a big 1911 guy but for an original finish that old, it looks pretty good to me and as you say they will clean up a little more yet. The pre woodsman is very accurate, mine can hit the same hole every time if I do my job. Those magazines for the pre Woodsman are like gold. Very dificult to find them for reasonable prices I feel lucky with 2 for mine. I have seen the 2 tone mags for up to $175 a piece but they are way better then the just blued aftermarket versions so I see about five hundred dollars worth of value for just your magazines alone. Letters from colt take a long time to get (3 months) a picture of my pre woodsman with King sight treatment and letter dates it to 1922. Enjoy!

 

[CZU]

The pre woodsman is very accurate, mine can hit the same hole every time if I do my job. Those magazines for the pre Woodsman are like gold. Very dificult to find them for reasonable prices I feel lucky with 2 for mine. I have seen the 2 tone mags for up to $175 a piece but they are way better then the just blued aftermarket versions so I see about five hundred dollars worth of value for just your magazines alone. Letters from colt take a long time to get (3 months) a picture of my pre woodsman with King sight treatment and letter dates it to 1922. Enjoy!

The magazines for the pre Woodsman pretty much sold me for getting both pistols. I knew they were desirable and expensive and figured at the time that they alone were worth more than half for what I am getting both the 1911 and the Woodsman for. I got lucky, the pre Woodsman will clean up better than the 1911 I think, it's got a shiny bore and should be a good shooter. I'll have to stock up on std velocity for it. Can't wait to get them home.

 

[Dave IL]

I have heard the mags for the Woodsman are expensive but luckily I ended up with 2 just that one isn't the signature 2 tone.

 

[RichCapeCod]

I understand the early "Woodsman" style Colt .22s should not be fired using high-velocity ammo. Not sure of the years that applies to.

Rich

 

[CZU]

I understand the early "Woodsman" style Colt .22s should not be fired using high-velocity ammo. Not sure of the years that applies to.

Rich

About a third of the way down on the link below gives all of the pertinent info about sv and hv ammo.

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

 

[Rod727]

Congratulations on two beautiful Colts

 

[S&W ucla]

Very nice!! Two of my favorites

 

[2152hq]

Very nice!
The bluing is Carbona Blue,,same type and process that S&W was using at the time.
Same proprietary American Gas Furnace Company equip (rotating gas furnace) and Carbona Oil process.
Colt stopped using open hearth Charcoal Bluing in 1912/13.
The very first of the 1911 Colt autos were charcoal blued. Then the switch to Carbona Bluing. Side by side w/excellent original finish on both you can see the very subtle difference.

Winchester also used the same Amer Gas Furnace Co equip. till about 1939.
Then most everyone went to Hot salt bluing. DuLite was the most common.

The Carbona process blue has a tendency to flake off the surface of some steels and probably the heat treatment given to them prior has something to do with it to.
The Winchester leveraction frames are noted for this flaking effect as are some of the Colt semiauto pistols.
I think Savage continued to use open hearth charcoal blue till the switch to Hot salt bath. They have a bit brighter blue color than the Carbona Blue process.

 

[CZU]

Very nice!
The bluing is Carbona Blue,,same type and process that S&W was using at the time.

Thanks!

I had told the guys that I needed to take these outside for some pics and when we got them out there they knew why. Even in the condition that they are in they were pretty impressed at the bluing. There is a big difference between natural and artificial light when evaluating the finishes on these older guns. More so when your looking for the signs of touch-ups or re-blues.

 

[Bakebfr480]

Very nice!