How to check out a Colt Woodsman Match Target

[Grayrock]

Been thinking about a Sig Trailside (6") and wandered into a shop the other day. They had a Colt .22 Match Target. How do those 2 compare? A brief internet search seems to indicate this Match Target is underpriced. What do I look at to determine its condition? The Trailside will most likely be new, but the Colt is old. What if any downside is there to the Colt? How do I determine its age (1st model, 2nd model, etc)? What wears out on these? Are mags available?

 

[usp9]

go here...

http://colt22.com/
This is a great site for info. I have a 3rd series 6" match target. I consider it the prize of my collection. I can't add any more knowedge than the above web site, other than an opinion;
Both guns are good, accurate shooters, but the Woodsman is a classic, an investment, a jewel.

 

[XavierBreath]

If the backstrap/mainspring housing has a checkered patch, it will not handle modern ammo. If this area has serrations it will.

Other than that, make sure the front sight is all there. Makes sure the bolt fits on the frame well without wobbling. The trigger should break exceedingly nicely.

Make sure you get the original magazine. Originals sell for $50-200 on ebay, and the aftermarket replacement mags are not very good. Bob Rayburn is an authority on these little pistols, and has a supply of parts. He is a joy to deal with. I own two Woodsmen (one was a gift), and I shoot them both. They are excellent,reliable pistols with the original magazine.

If this Match Target has the "elephant ear grips" take care of them. Do not expect to find the original elephant ear grips for under $500 if you can find them at all. Boxes with papers are running $250 or so.

I would also ask to shoot it first, but buying may not hinge on that. As far as compared to the Sig Trailside, They are really different animals, but the Colt in good shape will shoot every bit as well. For cool points, the Colt bodyslams the Sig, no question about that.

Plinker Shoot Out...Woodsman vs MKII

 

[ZBill]

Concur with spending some time on Colt22.com with

an unbelievable amount of information. I prefer the Colt WMT myself (mine is a 3rd series). Also a prized possession. Also please follow the other recommendations to get the correct magazine. Regards, Bill

 

[skers69]

I have a colt woodsman

But not the Match Target. It was my Grandfathers gun that I got after he passed. I consider it the prize of my collection as well. It shoots fine and is in perfect shape. I saw one at the Gun Room at Cabelas for 750 bucks. Mine was in better shape.

Great shooter with lots of class.
Good luck.

 

[Grayrock]

Well- went back and looked again at the Match Target in question. Thanks for the link to the Colt 22 site. From their info I determined the pistol I am looking at is a 2nd model. 6" barrel Match Target. Serial # puts it manufactured about 1949. Bore is in good shape. It is the pistol only with 1 mag. No box or papers. The gun seems to be in about 60% condition. It functions well (I am told) but looks like someone sandblasted the barrel and receiver to get rid of some rust. The finish is shiny blued (looks like a home made job), but looks pock marked all over. It feels good in the hand and has a hefty feel. They want $360 for it. I am tempted to hold out for a like-new Trailside with a red-dot unless someone can convince me that this old Match Target is "all that".

 

[Dienekes]

ZBill, I want that short MT Woodsman--and have since at least 1959. I picked up a 1940 production First Model Target a few years back, however, and that will suffice.

The Woodsman is a class act and a joy to shoot. My father was not a gun person but once admitted when he was about 90 that it was the one pistol he really wanted once upon a time. I only wish I had known that when I was young, single, and "my pockets did jingle"--sort of.

 

[Nail Shooter]

I own both of the 22's that you are considering. Both of mine are about the same as far as accuracy goes. My Colt MT is a 1953 second series w/ the button mag release (newer ones have a heel release, IIRC). It has older aftermarket walnut grips w/ a palm swell and thumb rest. I consider it to be the most beautiful gun in my whole collection. It is a weighty gun with the full underlug on the bbl.

While the Trailside is just as good a shooter, it is nowhere close in the classy dept. The Trailside is lighter and easier to hold out front of you.

 

[Grayrock]

Or here is another option. Get the pitted slide MT and have the sides engraved to hide the pits That would work- right? Are the Colts that great that I will kick myself later for passing on a gun that works fine, just because it is a little ugly?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've been looking for the right Woodsman Match Target for quite a few years now. I've come close a couple times, but close isn't all the way there.

Before you buy a grand old pistol, you need to accept two facts: parts are hard to find and expensive, and gunsmiths competent to work on them are even harder to find and more expensive.

I like High Standard match pistols more than the Woodsman. I still shoot mine, but they're old and tired and destined to become safe queens.

 

[CaptainCrossman]

old thread but worth reviving. If you are considering a woodsman pistol, get the serial number from it, then look it up in the blue book, and online. Find out what grips and sights should be on it. Find out what clip address should also be on it, and make sure it has the original clip. One problem with these fine old pistols is, the front sight often are broken or missing, and the grips and clip may have been replaced. If these parts are missing/changed or cracked, then it's a lot of money to restore it back to original, between the sight parts and the grips around $150- that's if you can find the grips. They make repro grips now for all the models, but that detracts from the resale value.

also test fire it if you can. It should feed, fire, extract, eject smoothly with no jams. If you run a few clips through it and it jams on each clip, there is something wrong. But usually they do not jam. It is one of the few semi auto pistols that was so well built and scienced out, that it usually doesn't jam. The only time they may not eject is, defective ammo, or low power ammo, such as hand feeding a 22 long or short and firing it. I also noticed they won't eject the old shotshells with crimped metal noses. The reason being, there's not enough bullet weight to create enough recoil and pressure, to work the slide.

 

[Grayrock]

Wow- old thread indeed. After all that hemming and hawing (which usually results in the object of my desire getting sold to someone else ) I was able to get the MT for $300. As stated, it has a pockmarked frame that someone reblued, but it functions well. The original magazine is a bear to fully load so I got 3 aftermarkets that work well from CDNN. I love this gun. The thumbrest grips fit me perfectly- though my left handed wife hates them!! My only complaint is the ancient sights. They are there- but we have made a few improvements in sights over the last 63 years. For now it is my favorite plinker- but if I win the lottery I'll send it back to Colt for a refinish. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/18297Picture_21.JPG