Colt Woodsman First Series Target Model .22 LR Semi-Automatic Pistol, 6.625-Inch Barrel (1942 Production)
Produced in 1942—the final civilian year before Colt halted commercial sales for WWII—this Colt Woodsman First Series Target Model represents the pre-war peak of the legendary John M. Browning design. Its 6 5⁄8-inch straight-taper barrel, high-polish blued finish, and checkered walnut grips give it the classic look valued by collectors, while fully adjustable iron sights and a single-action blowback system make it a capable shooter.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
This pistol displays moderate scratching, scuffing, finish loss, and visible blemishes consistent with regular range use.
What’s Included
- Colt Woodsman First Series Target Model pistol
- One factory Colt 10-round magazine with concentric-ring follower button
Colt serialized this pistol in the 185 000 range, dating it firmly to 1942. That year marked the end of peacetime civilian Woodsman production, making late First-Series examples like this one comparatively scarce.
The 6.625-inch carbon-steel barrel has a straight taper that maximizes sight radius while keeping the gun well-balanced. Adjustable Patridge front and square-notch rear sights—introduced on Target Models after 1934—allow precise elevation and windage changes without tools.
Finished in Colt’s pre-war commercial blue, the carbon-steel frame and slide retain the vertical grasping serrations unique to early Woodsmen. A heel-type magazine release and frame-mounted manual safety reflect period design, while the single-action trigger maintains the crisp pull that helped establish the Woodsman’s reputation for accuracy.
Checkered walnut panels provide a secure grip and reinforce the pistol’s classic appearance. Contemporary records indicate limited U.S. Marine Corps training use of Woodsman Target Models, underscoring the design’s reliability and shootability during the WWII era.