Inherited Colt .22LR from my grandfather - need help with details!

Brancasterr

Inactive
Hey All!

First time here.

I just received a few heirloom guns from my grandfather's collection and I'm over the moon! I've done as much research as I can on all three, but I'm still looking for a few more details and I have a few questions to ask of those more familiar with antique guns. (Also, I'd just like to share them!)

One of those guns is the following Colt .22lr

Colt Automatic 22 Long Rifle (Possibly 1919)

  • Serial: Back of grip - 113xx
  • Inscription on barrel - Colt's PT/FAA MFG CO. Hartford. CT. U.S.A. Pat'd Dec 22.1903, Aug 27.1918, Sept 3.1918
  • Backstory: This one is the most sentimental of the bunch because it is the very first handgun I have ever shot. I was 8 years old and my grandfather took me to the range after I spent the last two summers handling a Red Ryder in his backyard.
  • Questions::
    1. This one is still in pretty good condition, but as you can see I put some tape on one side of the grip. A small piece of the grip broke off and I have it taped on. Would it be better to try to repair the broken grip, or replace it with a period relevant part(I think the grips are original to the gun)?
    2. I'm almost positive this one is still serviceable, but I'd like to know how to double check?
    3. I'm pretty sure I've dated it to 1919, but the serial system for this gun is a little confusing. Can someone confirm that?
    4. What would be its value in this condition?

Link to photo album on Imgur because the photos are huge.
 
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You have the Colt .22 Target Automatic, sometimes known as the "pre-Woodsman" because it did not get that name until 1927.
Yours was indeed made in 1919 and has the "pencil barrel" standard until they went to the "medium barrel" in 1922.
If it has the cross-hatched mainspring housing, it should be shot only with standard velocity ammunition. Later guns got the serrated mainspring housing, heat treated for use with high velocity ammo. That part was available as an upgrade and a lot of guns got them to handle the very hot Super X of the day.
Read more at:
http://coltautos.com/woodsmans/Woodsman.htm

The gun is apparently in very good to excellent condition. I would not mind shooting it but a gunsmith examination might ease your mind. If you can find somebody acquainted with the little gun, that always seems to be the hard part of the usual Internet Play it Safe Recommendation.

Do not "try" to repair the grip. Unless you are a skilled woodworker, best to get it to somebody who is. There is a guy on the S&W board who gets a lot of good reviews. Check with him, he might be willing to take on a Colt.
DWFAN on that board
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/520952-stock-grip-repair.html?520952=#post139588858
 
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First, this is the auto pistol forum, but no harm done and since we are already here, I wiill try to answer your questions. First, the gun likely dates to the 1920's if not a bit earlier; I will try to see if I can narrow that down a bit. It was indeed nickel plated, as were many guns of the period, and the outside finish is in poor shape. The interior may be in better condition; those are fairly common signs of a police gun, carried a lot, fired very little. Obviously, I can't be sure at a distance, but I see nothing that would keep the gun from being fired, but it wouldn't hurt to have it checked out by a knowledgeable gunsmith (not the clerk at a chain sporting goods store).

The ammunition would be marked on the box as ".32 Smith & Wesson Long". The ammunition is still made and should be available on-line or at larger sporting goods stores; any dealer can order it for you. (.32 S&W (aka .32 S&W Short) will also fire in that pistol, though it has even less power than the Long cartridge.

I will note that the .32 S&W Long is at about the bottom of the cartridges considered adequate for defense today. (I don't know if people are tougher today or we just want to make sure, but that caliber was considered OK for defense and even police use a century or so ago.)

Value is tougher. While outward condition matters little when it comes to serviceability, it is important to value. I would estimate that the gun, as it is, and assuming it works, would be worth about $150-170, maybe a bit more on a trade.

Jim
Hey James!

Thanks for the info - I actually realized I posted the wrong gun and tried to quickly rectify my mistake. The post was actually supposed to be about a Colt .22lr (and it now is, as I've completely edited the post to be such)

I posted the S&W Revolver over on the other board here.

Thanks for being a good sport about my mistake though and giving me that valuable info!
 
You have the Colt .22 Target Automatic, sometimes known as the "pre-Woodsman" because it did not get that name until 1927.
Yours was indeed made in 1919 and has the "pencil barrel" standard until they went to the "medium barrel" in 1922.
If it has the cross-hatched mainspring housing, it should be shot only with standard velocity ammunition. Later guns got the serrated mainspring housing, heat treated for use with high velocity ammo. That part was available as an upgrade and a lot of guns got them to handle the very hot Super X of the day.
Read more at:
http://coltautos.com/woodsmans/Woodsman.htm

The gun is apparently in very good to excellent condition. I would not mind shooting it but a gunsmith examination might ease your mind. If you can find somebody acquainted with the little gun, that always seems to be the hard part of the usual Internet Play it Safe Recommendation.

Do not "try" to repair the grip. Unless you are a skilled woodworker, best to get it to somebody who is. There is a guy on the S&W board who gets a lot of good reviews. Check with him, he might be willing to take on a Colt.
DWFAN on that board
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/520952-stock-grip-repair.html?520952=#post139588858
Thanks for the great info!

and thank you for the recommendation on who I could contact to get the grip fixed. I'll be contacting DWFAN sometime soon!
 
No problem, I edited my reply and moved it to revolver forum with your question. (A poster can edit or move his own post, but not one by someone else.)

Jim
 
I'd take off the old grips and put them in a drawer somewhere. If the pre-Woodsman in average condition ever gets super valuable, you can still go back to original.

Meanwhile, these new grips will make that pW very pretty. Specify the diamonds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Colt-Pre-and-1st-Series-Woodsman-Fine-Black-Walnut-Checkered-Pistol-Grips-NEW-/263026046636?hash=item3d3d92f6ac:g:8i8AAMXQzr1R1vUO
That's not a bad idea! I'll see what it's going to take to get that small piece back on there, but replacing the true grips with cheaper alternatives will definitely make me feel more comfortable handling it.
 
Nice gun, mine shoots very well
Image assist
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