Colt factory and ProMag replacement magazines for Colt pistol and rifles made to the same specifications as the original magazines that came with the gun. These replacement magazines use the same manufacturing process as the original pistol magazines, ensuring perfect fit and operation. Manufacturer: Colt Model: Huntsman Serial Number: 182904-C. See all listings by Terry Reigle Print this listing. Guns International #: 101592288 Seller's Inventory #: 149 1 of 8 2 of 8 3 of 8 4 of 8 5 of 8 6 of 8 7 of 8 8 of 8 Guns International #: 101592288 Seller's Inventory #: 149. Colt Woodsman.22 cal. Pistol, serial No.Colt Woodsman.22 cal. Pistol, serial No. 11037-S, semi-automatic, owner's name at top of grip, includes two clips and additional set wooden grips, COLT WOODSMAN THIRD SERIES AUTOMATIC PISTOL,COLT WOODSMAN THIRD SERIES AUTOMATIC PISTOL, Serial number 161133-S.22 caliber.

Colt Woodsman Series
Semi-Automatic
22 LR Pistol

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

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 First 'Woodsman' series would have NOT been marked Woodsman, however for general purposes it is a Woodsman, but for collectors it is called the pre-Woodsman as noted below. 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 1903/1908 32/380 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 grips were standard checkered walnut. 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 this pistol 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 shooter's 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. Most of these EARLY magazines had no identifying marks on the bottom. And as a side-note would many times, they could be mistaken and interchangeable with the High Standard A or B models.

Barrels were 6 5/8” long and a step down shoulder at the rear to a small diameter straight, “pencil barrel” (no taper).
You will note in the photo below that there is no writing on the LH side of frame where the barrel screws into. And that many of these early guns had the trigger placed nearer the center of the trigger guard as seen below.

Ammo Change If your pistol is pre-WWII, (and has not been altered) it will have a pattern on the mainspring housing, where the web between the thumb and forefinger touches when holding the pistol in firing position. If that pattern is checkered (photo on the left below), it was made for use of standard velocity ammo (as that was all that was available at that time). If it is a pre WWII gun made after 1931, the pattern was changed to horizontal parallel lines (center in the photo below), because these later designed guns all were all designed for the later high velocity ammo which came out in 1931 at about s/n 80,000 of these pistols.

Later the factory did offer conversion kits for usage of High Speed ammo in the early guns. This included a new mainspring housing and recoil spring. However it is possible to have an early standard velocity gun that has just had the recoil spring replaced with the newer high speed version, but the only way to tell on these is tear it apart and look at the recoil spring as identified below. It is not recommended to use the older pistols with the older weaker recoil spring when using the now common High Speed ammo because of possible internal damage to the slide.

After my having the opportunity to look over factory blueprints, the identifying difference of the newer High Speed recoil spring being is that it is wound LEFT HANDED, as compared to the older weaker Standard Velocity spring that is the common right handed wind. I came up with this after which I had the rare chance of looking at copies of original factory blueprints and am probably the only one around that knows this (until now).

Some say that the mainspring housing was made stronger. In all my years as a obsolete firearms parts replacement manufacturer, I seriously doubt this, and the change was simply the horizontal lines to easily identify one from the other. Also in my 60 plus years of gunsmithing, I have seem numerous of the older standard velocity guns still being shot using High Speed ammo. They still seemed to survive, adding to the excellent original design of this firearm, however the most common problem was that the slide would not go forward with enough energy to completely feed or chamber a round (common with a weakened recoil spring being the culprit).

The original standard Velocity ammo marking on Left, with High Velocity ammo marking on Right

Woodsman pre-war magazine

Woodsman First Series (1927-1944/1946)

The normally accepted serial number separating the pre-Woodsman from the 'Woodsman' is #54,000. This model is a carry over of the Pre woodsman with the following exceptions. The LH side of the of the frame at the location of the barrel threads is marked ‘The Woodsman”.

The model was the same, serial numbers carried on from the pre series, but at this time the addition of the 4 1/2' sport barrel and the first series Match Target which had a heavy flat sided barrel was introduced. This Match Target model also has a MT prefix to the serial number and these numbers are on the RH side of the bottom of the grip frame as the normal location on the front strap was covered by the larger wrap-around walnut grips.

Again after the introduction of the High Speed ammo in 1931 the recoil spring was changed and this thumbprint was changed to signify HS ammo, at about s/n 80,000.Conversion kits were made available for the older Standard Velocity guns.Some say the mainspring housing/slide stop was made of a different or casehardened material. However it is my educated guess that this is not the case, just that the horizontal parallel lines on the mainspring housing for identification, since they made the recoil spring stronger to accommodate the more powerful round there was really no need to change the housing.

There were 3 sub series, the

(1) Sport model which had a 4 ½” straight taper barrel and a fixed front sight.And the

(2) Target model with a 6 5/8” barrel tapered barrel with a small front sight base, and the front sight pivoting in with adjustment screw in front for elevation of the sight blade.

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

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

Colt Huntsman.22 Serial Numbers