Colt Woodsman S Serial Number Lookups

And that many of these early guns had the trigger placed nearer the center of the trigger guard as seen below.

THERE ARE THREE DISTINCT SERIES (maybe even 4 or 5 depending on how fine you interpret it) This article is a brief rendition of the Colt Woodsman series, and will give the average owner insight to this series.

If you are a collector, then you need to do advanced searching Approximate Serial Number: Nov 1947: 1-C: Jan 1951: 20400-C: Jan 1952: 40600-C: Jan 1953: 63700-C: Jan 1954: 72850-C: Jan 1955: 75400-C: Dec 1955: 77143-C: The Huntsman replaced the Challenger in 1955, with the introduction of the third series.

Colt Woodsman S Serial Number Lookups

Why does the manufacture ship date on my letter not match what come up on Colts database, or in any of the serial number lookups Answer: All serial number lookups, including the one on the Colt website, utilize approximations.

As Colt firearms are almost never assembled or shipped in consecutive serial order, this is extremely common.

There are three basic series of Woodsman pistols, corresponding to three basic frame designs.

There are also some sub-series within the series, like different barrel lengths, sights or grips, etc.

The models referred to here are all those pistols built on the S frame as designated by the Colt factory.

The actual First model Woodsman (that had that name on it) as it existed prior to and during World War Two, was basically the same as the pre-Woodsman.

The Second Series includes all versions built on the second frame design from late 1947 until mid 1955, and the Third Series means the third S frame design as used from 1955 to the end of regular production in 1977.

The S series is the model number that the Colt factory assigned to this model.

Others model designations were P for the SSA (Peacemaker), G for the Government model (1911), I for the Python, M for the 19031908 32380 semi-auto and N for the 1908 25ACP, etc.

Pre Woodsman (1915-1927) The first Colt 22 RF automatic was marketed as Colt Automatic Target Pistol.

There was no inscription on the LH side of the frame at the location where the barrel threads into it.This pre-Woodsman and the First Model can be easily recognized by its distinctive profile, which resembles the German Luger and the later Ruger Standard model, both having the rakish rearward grip angle.

The serial numbers started at 1 which also provides a sure means of identification, with this serial number located on the front strap of the grip, and contains only numeric characters, with NO alphabetical suffix characters.

The slides were marked on the LH side Colt Automatic Caliber 22 Long Rifle in 2 lines.

There were no markings as to model or caliber on the frame or barrel.

These pistols were designed to use only Standard velocity ammo, which was the only ammo at that time and was identified by a checkered thumbprint on the upper rear web of the mainspring housing.

This thumbprint probably was not the intent at that time, but simply as a roughed area on the backstrap to better secure the gun in the shooters hand following the pattern on their other models.

The grip-frame bottom was 90 degrees to the magazine with the small magazine latch on the rear of the grip frame securing the upper rear of the magazine in the magazine well.

And as a side-note would many times, they could be mistaken and interchangeable with the High Standard A or B models.

You will note in the photo below that there is no writing on the LH side of frame where the barrel screws into.

Colt Woodsman Serial Numbers