Colt Woodsman Match Target 1st Series Bullseye 2nd Year 6 1/2″ Semi-Auto Pistol & Box 1939 C&R .22 LR

SOLD FOR: $3,730.00
LSB#: 1806828TA07

Make: Colt

Model: Woodsman Match Target 1st Series

Serial Number: MT4916

Year of Manufacture: 1939 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CAL. 22 LONG RIFLE” and with a Rampant Colt logo. The left side of the frame is marked “THE WOODSMAN” and the left barrel flat is marked “MATCH / TARGET” with a large bullseye in the center. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PAT. DES. 110,887”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with “P” and a “VP” inside a triangle. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “99” and the bottom of the grip frame on the left side is marked “MT4916”. The floorplate of the magazine is marked “COLT WOODSMAN / CAL. 22 L.R. / MATCH TARGET MOD.”.

Barrel Length: 6 1/2″ Tapered Slab-Side

Sights / Optics: This pistol is mounted with a flat topped square notch rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation and dovetailed into the slide. The front sight is a Patridge style blade that is pinned into a slotted base fixed to the top of the barrel. .

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is a one-piece checkered walnut that wraps around the front strap and has “ears” which extend below the bottom of the grip frame on each side. There are nickel plated Rampant Colt medallions at the tops of the grip on each side. The left side of the grip shows light handling marks with a compression on the bottom edge forward of the ear, there are a couple of light marks on the bottom edge of the frontstrap, the right side has a small compression immediately above the medallion, a light scratch at the bottom across the ear and light handling marks. The checkering shows light wear without mars. There are no chips or cracks. The grip rates in about Very Good-Fine overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is some very light scuffing on the left of the barrel and a few scattered light marks. The slide serrations are sharp. The screw heads are sharp, the pin heads are unmarred and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide does not lock back on an empty magazine but the manual safety can be used to lock the slide back for cleaning. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a one-piece maroon cardboard Colt box with proper end-label and serial number marked in pencil on the bottom face (though the hand of the writing does not appear original), manual, a two-piece cardboard storage box with wax paper and one 10 round magazine. The magazine is blued with the top ¾” left “In The White”. There is scattered light freckling in the otherwise strong finish and some spots of discoloration from oxidation in the unfinished portion with a strong spring and intact feed lips. Overall, the magazine is in about Very Good-plus condition. The storage box has a label marked with the pistol’s information and is in Excellent condition. The Colt box has discoloration on the top face, light wear on edges, moderate wear on corners and short tears on the back of the lid at the ribbon connecting the lid to the tray. The interior shows light wear and discoloration. Overall, the original box is in about Good-Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: This is a Colt Woodsman 1st Series Match Target “Bullseye” Model pistol, made in the second year this model was produced, 1939. It has a slab-sided barrel that tapers towards the muzzle, adjustable sights and a heel magazine release characteristic of the 1st Series (The Colt Woodsman pistols changed the location of the magazine release from the butt to the left side of the frame and then back to the butt for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Series – We guess they were going to keep changing it until they got it right). John M. Browning designed “Colt’s Automatic Pistol, Caliber .22”, later to become the Woodsman, with the design refined slightly by Colt employees George Tansley and F.C. Chadwick before it was released in 1915. The Woodsman stayed in production until 1977. Sportsmen favored the 4 ½” Sport Model, but the Match Target was the top of the line and a favorite of bullseye target competitors. The pistol is in Excellent overall condition with about 98% of its original finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. Target pistols of this quality are no longer made in the United States and will command a premium over most “new” currently manufactured pistols except those used for high-end competition. If you are looking for a rimfire target pistol, this is still a better choice than most “NEW” pistols on the market today, but since this is one of the rarer pre-WWII models, the Colt collectors are sure to price this pistol out of reach of most shooters, especially in its high condition and with a vintage box. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible handgun CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.