Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns COLT (pre) WOODSMAN

And so I did. 6" Series 1 Woodsman, 1930 vintage, not altered for HS ammo use (don't care). You guys will be the death of me.

On a whim I bought a Triple K as a spare for my 4" Series 1 (immediate post-war). I guess I got lucky as it works flawlessly.

The Woodsman is THE handgun to have for the outdoorsy type. Many appear in Alaska. I will relate some tails of the owners of the John Browning masterpiece. One rancher on Kodiak Island carried a 4" Woodsman that was so worn that the front sight was missing and he practiced everyday. Coming around the barn he came face to face with a charging Kodiak bear. One shot and the bear's skin was on the barn wall. In an old Colt add it showed a man next to a large bull moose and his gun was a Woodsman. Saw another picture of a man with a large Dall sheep that he killed with a Woodsman. Read the story of a man that walked to Alaska in the 1930's and his only gun was a Woodsman. He said the only time he felt under gunned was when he killed grizzlies. WOW. I knew a trapper that wandered the mountains of Colorado since the 30's and his gun he carried everyday on the trail was a Woodsman. Man it was in sorry shape. I have carried a pre war for decades and it sleeps under the seat of truck every day. When I was guiding elk hunters I carried only a Woodsman. I used it to finish off quite a few, deer, elk and antelope. I killed 2 elk with mine, though I had another guide standing next to me with a high power rifle. Both dead before the echo vanished. Just about as easy to point shoot as pointing your finger. When I traded into mine I took it into the desert of Arizona to test it out. While approaching the target area a raven took off and flew away. A quick snap shot broke his wing while the truck I was a passenger in was still moving. Quite a first shot from my new companion. I have also shot a buck mule deer, badgers, fish, rabbits, ducks and a goose. Just a beautiful milled steel and walnut handgun from days when craftsmanship was king.

My well worn pre war Woodsman rides in a vintage lined Heiser flap holster that was found at a gun show in 1983 in Leadville, Colo. Forgot 3 other famous hunters that swore by the woodsman. Earnest Hemmingway said he afraid of no man while carrying his Woodsman and shooting solid bullets. General Patton has been photographed wearing a Woodsman. Lastly none other than the world famous African white hunter, Harry Selby had one with him on most of his safaris. When his cook kept complaining about a crocodile raiding the cook sharp, the cook set a snare for the offender. One evening the cook shouted he had the croc in a leg snail. Harry grabbed the Woodsman and rounded the corner and saw one of the largest crocs he ever saw. At this point he retreated for a more serious gun to finish the croc.

I also have a 1964 Match Target that was my Grandfather's retirement gift in 1964 to go with the "new" Targetsman. Still has the box, screwdriver, sight pamphlet and manual and basketweave holster but that hasn't kept us from carrying and shooting it a lot over the years.

The joy of these is they made them for so long and in so many varieties that they are interesting to collect and shoot and unless exceptionally rare, pretty affordable. Also nice that they are for the most part C&R eligible so getting them mailed to the house is handy!

My brother, circa 1980, with Grandad's Woodsman on his hip in Suwannee FL before heading out into California Swamp on the three-wheeler.

Very cool guys. Hope this thread keeps going. Yeah, it's addictive. I'll probably buy another!

I’m pretty thick on .22 handguns. My classic Colt is a 1938 Officers Model Match. But if I buy another .22 handgun, it will be a woodsman.

If I read it properly, Adam carried a Woodsman in The Garden of Eden. He had a snake problem.

To continue "famous people who carried and used Woodsman's". I have a WW 2 era Heiser shoulder holster for a Woodsman and it has written in ink upon the holster a Major Turner and his serial number. Read an account of a soldier that carried one on D- Day and "used it with effect on 2 occasions". I would love to find that account in print again but alas it eludes me. A trapper in Alaska wrote a narrative about "needs" of the trapper. His number 1 thing in his list was a Colt Woodsman in a flap holster. His rifle was not specific just something in the 30-06 power level. Said that was not important as it was used only one or 2 times a year, while the Woodsman was used daily. The old Alaskan sourdough Russel Annabel swore by a 22 pistol in Alaska use and I believe his was a Woodsman. I will try to remember more. And lets not forget about our forums own Huntsman 22.

I traded my prewoodsman to a guy in Alaska for a smith 34.....

Trying to keep this interesting thread going. Talking about famous people using the Woodsman pistols, read the story of the Alaskan sourdoughs that joined the army in WW 2 and were the forward observers for the Aleutian campaign.They were known as Castners Cutthroats. The were armed with about any make of 30-06 and to a man carried Colt Woodsman's. Something of interst about 22 LR ammo and military use. Since it violated the Hauge Convention rules the standard round nose lead ammo was not allowed so the government contracted with Remington to make full metal jacket ammo for military use. It was packaged in a standard 50 round box that was foil wrapped for protection from the elements.

Dayam, Jorge. Nice looking rock chucker. Congrats.

Hi I bought one yesterday A much later Woodsmen, its a Match Target from 1960, in very good shape, cant wait to shoot it! cant post pics but could text a pic to some one to post!

saddlerings MT.

Thanks Don for posting my pic.

Have it on good authority. OK, a text message. from gnoahhh that he acquired a nice Woodsman today as well. He and I and Roof will get together Sunday for a little rimfire shooting and pictures.

Garys Good Guy, Love to be at the range with you fellows! but plan to go to the range here also on sunday!

Just got back from the range, got some shooting in before the rain hit! shot Great realy Liking this Pistol! wife shot her Browning buckmark, and is doing very well with it! didnt care for the old Colt much , that Im glad of Lol This one has found a Home!