Colt Woodsman 1939 1st issue

[Capt. F.]

After years of looking, foot dragging etc, I finally found one.
1939 4 1/2" Colt Woodsman 1st issue with adjustable sights.
For years I've owned a 3rd issue 6" with adjust sights but still wanted the smaller one, especially after reading Skeeter and the one his father gave him. He said it brought a lot of game to bag.
As for price, let's just say I "bought a bit too early" but all and all I'm still pleased:
So, here it is in all of its cuteness.

 

[Babysitr]

I love mine, from 1923...they are great shooters, and lots of fun

 

[bigmoose]

I have the Sport and the Target models from the 1930s. Both are very accurate, a blast to shoot, and have great trigger pulls. Enjoy, nice score.

 

[Rpg]

Wonderful handgun!

Mine was carried by a predator control officer before I acquired it.

He routinely used it to kill bobcat, cougar, black-bear and coyote.

I haven't killed any black bear with it, but I've killed some smaller predators as well as deer and elk with it.

 

[.357magger]

VERY NICE.

I'm still "foot dragging" and looking for my perfect Woodsman or pre Woodsman. One is definitely on my "soon list", but to be honest, it's been on there awhile.

Thank you for sharing yours.

 

[KalamazooKid]

My 3rd gen Sport is as fun as it gets!

 

[30-30remchester]

My 1937 issue 6" has been my constant companion for 40 years. Used it daily while guiding elk and deer hunters. It is amazingly accurate and has accounted for several big game species. Woodsman's were THE handgun for so many trappers and outdoorsmen of old. One old Colorado trapper carried his exclusively for 60 years in the mountains. Said he never felt he need anything bigger. His gun had zero bluing left and the grips were worn through to the metal on the right hand side. The great African PH had a 4" Woodsman that was on every safari with him. Hemmingway was a proponent of the little Woodsman as well as Patton. My Woodsman does not look as pristine as the OP's but if mine could talk.

 

[Beauetienne]

So much goodness. Love my 3rd Gen.

 

[alwslate]

I have a pair of Colt Challengers, both made in 1951 I think. Both 4/12" fixed sight guns. They are the same as the later Huntsman models except for having plastic instead of wood grips and the funny looking trigger known as the double curve trigger. I am not an expert on the Woodsman models but I believe some of the early ones were supposed to be used with standard velocity ammo only. They could be used with HV ammo if the main spring housing was changed. Some had a cross hatched checkering pattern and some did not. I don't which was which but I would want to check into it if I were you before using HV ammo.

 

[huntsman22]

The first series Sports with the adjustable sights like OPie's, are my favorite woodsman. I much prefer the longer, prewoodsman triggers, so have swapped them out on my pair.....

 

[huntsman22]

 

[Walter Rego]

Everyone needs a Woodsman. A First Series Sport Model has been on my short list for a long time. But every time I have seen a really nice one, they have been $1200. Maybe that's really what they are worth, at least here in California. I do have these examples, all of which are a joy to shoot.

 

[Capt. F.]

I have a pair of Colt Challengers, both made in 1951 I think. Both 4/12" fixed sight guns. They are the same as the later Huntsman models except for having plastic instead of wood grips and the funny looking trigger known as the double curve trigger. I am not an expert on the Woodsman models but I believe some of the early ones were supposed to be used with standard velocity ammo only. They could be used with HV ammo if the main spring housing was changed. Some had a cross hatched checkering pattern and some did not. I don't which was which but I would want to check into it if I were you before using HV ammo.

Yep, only standard velocity in mine. If I need high speed I have my third issue and a 1949 K-22.

 

[Capt. F.]

The first series Sports with the adjustable sights like OPie's, are my favorite woodsman. I much prefer the longer, prewoodsman triggers, so have swapped them out on my pair.....

I think you just may have a " thing" for Woodsmen. Nice group.

 

[Eltioloco]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=528311&stc=1&d=1629512031

Here is my 1938 Kings Gun Sight converted Woodsman. They are wonderful pistols! I need to get some better grips.
Ken

 

[S&W ucla]

Skeeter says the 1st series sport was the first handgun he ever fired and it hooked him for life. His dad would go out to the dump and shoot rats. The 1st series sport is a magic gun to me. It fits me perfectly, well balanced, accurate, and so much fun to shoot. You have a nice one! Sometimes you can pick up a grip panel or set on fleabay, good luck. There are some talented people who can splice a piece of wood and match it up too.

22 caliber rimfire semi-auto Colt pistol: .22 calibre Colt Woodsman Bob Rayburn's site with a wealth of info.

Thread with a bunch of nice woodsmans
COLT WOODSMAN 100 YEARS- Show yours | Colt Forum

 

[Capt. F.]

Skeeter says the 1st series sport was the first handgun he ever fired and it hooked him for life. His dad would go out to the dump and shoot rats. The 1st series sport is a magic gun to me. It fits me perfectly, well balanced, accurate, and so much fun to shoot. You have a nice one! Sometimes you can pick up a grip panel or set on fleabay, good luck. There are some talented people who can splice a piece of wood and match it up too.

22 caliber rimfire semi-auto Colt pistol: .22 calibre Colt Woodsman Bob Rayburn's site with a wealth of info.

Thread with a bunch of nice woodsmans
COLT WOODSMAN 100 YEARS- Show yours | Colt Forum

I'm going to see about having the chip repaired and the checkering re-pointed.

 

[2152hq]

The first issue Woodsman pistols made before 1931 (approx ser# 83,800) were made for Std Vel ammo.
That's all that was available at the time.

HiVel 22rf ammo came along so the pistol needed some help.
So Colt beefed up the pistol to handle to extra recoil of the HV ammo.

They did this by simply hardening the mainspring housing on the pistol which before that had not received
any heat treatment.

The orig unhardened part had an oval 'thumbprint' up on the web portion of the backstrap that was checkered.
The new style for use w/HV ammo has simple horizontal lines cut in that area.

Older pistols could be upgraded for use w/HV ammo by simply replacing the mainspring housing. You received a new mainspring as well from the factory when ordered as a replacement part.

The manspring housing was a factory ser#d part when the gun was assembled.
The replacement housing from the factory was sometimes marked with a 'A' for accessory. Sometimes unmarked.
If fitted at the factory it would be #'d to the gun

This difference in mainspring housings and the StdVel/HV ammo thing only applys to the early Woodsmans. The later first series, 1932 and on, all left Hartford w/ HS mainspring housings.
The 2nd and 3rd series Woodsmans are all just fine w/HV ammo .

 

[Capt. F.]

Wonderful handgun!

Mine was carried by a predator control officer before I acquired it.

He routinely used it to kill bobcat, cougar, black-bear and coyote.

I haven't killed any black bear with it, but I've killed some smaller predators as well as deer and elk with it.

Heck I was going to drag my Model 29 4" with us on a fly fishing trip to Montana in case of bear annoyance. Maybe all I need is the Woodsman?
It's obvious shot placement is everything.

 

[Capt. F.]

The first issue Woodsman pistols made before 1931 (approx ser# 83,800) were made for Std Vel ammo.
That's all that was available at the time.

HiVel 22rf ammo came along so the pistol needed some help.
So Colt beefed up the pistol to handle to extra recoil of the HV ammo.

They did this by simply hardening the mainspring housing on the pistol which before that had not received
any heat treatment.

The orig unhardened part had an oval 'thumbprint' up on the web portion of the backstrap that was checkered.
The new style for use w/HV ammo has simple horizontal lines cut in that area.

Older pistols could be upgraded for use w/HV ammo by simply replacing the mainspring housing. You received a new mainspring as well from the factory when ordered as a replacement part.

The manspring housing was a factory ser#d part when the gun was assembled.
The replacement housing from the factory was sometimes marked with a 'A' for accessory. Sometimes unmarked.
If fitted at the factory it would be #'d to the gun

This difference in mainspring housings and the StdVel/HV ammo thing only applys to the early Woodsmans. The later first series, 1932 and on, all left Hartford w/ HS mainspring housings.
The 2nd and 3rd series Woodsmans are all just fine w/HV ammo .

Bingo! Horizontal lines!
Thanks for the info.