March 14, 2021, 06:38 PM | #1 |
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1949 Colt Woodsman
Went out yesterday morning before the snow storm hit & came home with a sweet 1949 vintage Colt Woodsman. Got her field stripped (a bit tricky) & cleaned up while we're snowbound today. It's been well taken care of & wasn't very dirty at all & a nice bright bore. One more John Browning design to the collection, I'm working on getting the whole set
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March 14, 2021, 06:51 PM | #2 |
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Postwar fixed sight Woodsman is an uncommon find.
Most such are simplified (No slide stop.) models Challenger and Huntsman. |
March 14, 2021, 07:29 PM | #3 |
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From my research only the 2nd generation Woodsman Sport model had fixed rear sights from mid 1949 to mid 1950 before they switched back to adjustable rear sights. It’s amazing all the different variations there are of these, if you ever started trying to collect them there would be no end to it. All I want to do is shoot & treasure it.
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March 15, 2021, 01:52 PM | #4 |
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Lay in a stock of "standard velocity" ammo. Also today called "target ammo". The usual high speed /high velocity ammo today is not what the gun was built for.
Not saying it will damage your Colt, but it might, and even if it doesn't, its not good for it. It would be a shame to damage/batter that fine piece shooting the wrong ammo in it. Why risk it?
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March 15, 2021, 08:15 PM | #5 |
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Appreciate the cautionary warning.
Here’s what I’ve learned about shooting target/high velocity 22’s in the old Woodsman models: All Woodsman pistols made after 1933 will handle high velocity 22’s with their stronger recoil spring & case hardened mainspring housing that takes the brunt of the recoil. All post war Colt’s are OK to shoot high velocity 22’s & some of the pre war ones could too if there are horizontal lines on the mainspring housing rather than checkering. https://www.colt22.com/faq.html I’m not planning on shooting tons of Stingers or Mini-mags & have a lot of suitable ammo that I’ll have to see which shoots best. Last edited by Schlitz 45; March 15, 2021 at 08:20 PM. |
March 16, 2021, 12:27 AM | #6 |
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That one was built for high velocity ammo. MY Dad's gun, built in 1953, differs only in grips and having an adjustable rear sight. It's more reliable with MiniMags than with standard velocity ammo. I believe most of the pre-war models were made for standard velocity. The finish is good on that one...
Look for vintage Super-X ammo to go with it; may as well shoot the best. |
March 16, 2021, 12:30 AM | #7 |
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P.S. Do you have the original box with the manual and the factory-shot-and-signed target?
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March 21, 2021, 04:54 PM | #8 |
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No box, but I did acquire an original grip adapter for $8. They shipped with two of these, one small & one larger. I believe this is the larger one, it really feels good & anchors the pistol in your hand-just have to get out out & shoot her.
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March 21, 2021, 05:15 PM | #9 | ||
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Quote:
Only the First Series Woodsman require a bit of caution https://colt22.com/ Quote:
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March 22, 2021, 07:40 PM | #10 |
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Nice gun. I've got a pre Woodsman and it definitely was not built for high velocity ammo. Yours, as mentioned above should be just fine.
Thats a great catch for you and deserves to be taken out and shot now and again.
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