Colt Woodsman Match Target US Marked 1st Series Early Blue 6 5/8″ Semi-Auto Pistol 1939 C&R .22 LR

SOLD FOR: $3,275.00
LSB#: 1806828TA08

Make: Colt

Model: Woodsman Match Target 1st Series

Serial Number: MT4461

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 “77”, the right of the frame is marked “U.S.” with a flaming bomb ordnance mark and the bottom of the grip frame on the left side is marked “MT4461”. The floorplate of the magazine is marked “COLT WOODSMAN / CAL. 22 L.R. / MATCH TARGET MOD.”.

Barrel Length: 6 5/8″ 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 grips are two-piece checkered brown synthetic panels with embossed “COLT” over a rampant colt in circle at their tops. The grips have a couple of light marks in the smooth borders and light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Excellent 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 light wear on the breech face and the front face of the slide and some light handling 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 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”. The magazine has very faint wear from removal and insertion on the front and rear, a strong spring and intact feed lips. Overall, the magazine is in about Fine-Excellent condition. The storage box is in Excellent 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. This pistol has U.S. and ordnance markings, which we do not see too frequently on these guns. 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 with uncommon markings, the Colt collectors are sure to price this pistol out of reach of most shooters, especially in its high condition. 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.

WARNING:

For more information go to https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov