A Colt 22 auto picture thread

W

Winchester_73

New member
I got a woodsman in the box recently from 1930. I decided to then bring out my other woodsmans for a family reunion so to speak, and take these crappy photos. There's nothing quite like a woodsman. I thought it would be nice to start a Colt 22 auto picture thread.

Upper left, 1971 3rd gen woodsman match target ANIB, upper right pre Woodsman target model aka 22 auto from 1921, middle left, 1st gen target model 1928, middle right 1968 3rd gen woodsman match target ANIB, and finally, another 1st gen target model from 1930. The bottom pic is the one I just got a few weeks ago. A nice find as its completely original. I've shot most of these before. I hope to get more Colt 22s, and for good reason ;)

Lets see pices of your Service Aces, Woodsmans, Match Targets, Challengers, Huntsmans, Targetsmans, "22 autos" and Cadets.

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If it was a Ruger photo thread or a glock photo thread, there would be 100 replies already lol.

I know someone out there has some of these.
 
The Woodsman is my favorite pistol. My late dad and I carried our Woodsman when hunting and he won a pistol championship with his long ago.

I have had a old model Target since 1957 when I got my permit. I carry it, chamber empty, when woods roaming in my back pocket with its barrel up.

Its as good as a .22 rifle if you practice.

With your shirt pulled out or a coat on its concealed.

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Very nice guns Savage 99. I always wanted (and still do) a "bullseye" match target.

Where are all the other woodsmans at yet? C'mon guys, reach past the rugers, glocks and tacticool accessories, and pull out some of your oldies!
 
Those are very well composed photos Winchester 73.
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Thanks. Its not a great camera either, a GE point and shoot 14mp to be exact but there was a lot of practice before those photos were taken. I thought they turned out well myself. I've found that lighting is key through trial and error for photo quality, although there are many other factors at play as well.
 
Nice.

I inherited a "DoubleS" Huntsman a few months ago, hadn't been shot in 30 years (if ever), still in the plastic in the box. Father had it hid away in a trunk forever. It's a beauty and not sure what I'm going to do with it... seems too nice to shoot :D
 
Here is a pair of my older Colts.

I love those old slab sided pistols. You guys probably know more about it the history of the Match Targets than me. All I know is it is a blast to shoot.


PSP, I REALLY like yours. I always wished I had one with a longer barrel. I like the longer sight radius, and major COOL factor too!

JPDopes, are those factory grips? Never saw black pastic before.

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Yes, they are original factory grips. They were introduced during the third series. They do seem to be fairly rare--I have no idea how many were shipped with them.
 
And there was much weeping and wailing about wood being replaced by plastic. There was no internet in those days to provide an outlet for the teeth gnashing, but gun shops heard it, long, loud, and often.

BTW, those who like those Colts and don't care for the .22 Rugers, might be a bit astonished at the features they share and to learn that Bill Ruger took some of his basic design ideas from the Woodsman.

Jim
 
Interesting comment

BTW, those who like those Colts and don't care for the .22 Rugers
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Ten years before I bought a Woodsman I found a Ruger in a pawn shop in 1963. I was single, no worries. I shot it to death and loved everything about it except putting it back together after take down. I would have probably kept it for ever except it was stolen in 1965. Long story short, along came a wife, kids, no money, etc.,
I saved enough in 1974 to pay $72.00 for a Colt Woodsman. I've had Brownings, High Standard HD Militaries, and Woodsman Target models.

For a rock hard knock around shooter I would still take the Ruger.

For an accurate, comfortable, class looking, well made .22 I would take the Woodsman

For an accurate rugged shooter I still go to a High Standard HD Military.
 
My Dad picked up the only handgun he ever owned in California in the 1950's, it was a 1951 Colt Challenger. For the uninitiated, the Challenger was the bottom base model of the Woodsman line, debuted in 1950 and ran to 1955 before they renamed it the Huntsman to better "fit" in the naming lineup.

The Challenger has fixed sights only, no magazine actuated slide lock on empty, heel magazine & no button release and was offered in 4.5" or 6-inch barrel lengths. All were second series pistols with plastic grip panels.
BTW, those who like those Colts and don't care for the .22 Rugers, might be a bit astonished at the features they share and to learn that Bill Ruger took some of his basic design ideas from the Woodsman.
Click to expand...
I had heard a blip somewhere that Colt actually named this base model "the Challenger" as somewhat of a response to the Ruger pistol that had been drawing so much attention and market share away from the Colt Woodsman. The Challenger was the lowest priced model of the Woodsman and was meant to "challenge" the rising sales of the Ruger.

Is there any truth or more detail to that bit?
 
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