TABLES OF FEATURES

These are tabulations of consistent features. They are useful for determining that a particular type of barrel (for example) is the type that originally came within a particular serial number range, or that the stocks, sights, or markings are correct for the era and consistent with one another.

The serial numbers represent ranges only, because the guns were neither assembled nor shipped in numerical sequence. Moreover, when a component was modified Colt usually continued to use old parts inventory, intermixed with the new, until stocks were exhausted. As a result, changes were phased in over a period of time and a range of serial numbers, sometimes extending over a serial number range of tens of thousands.

1915-47: First Series Colt .22 Target Model: 6-5/8" Barrel

Front sight adjustable for elevation, rear sight adjustable for windage.
1915-1922
Lightweight "Pencil" Barrel
SN 1-31000
Year, Approx. SN, & Feature
1922-34
Medium Barrel
SN 31000-90000
Year, Approx. SN, & Feature
1934-47
Straight Tapered Barrel
SN 90000-187423
Year, Approx. SN, & Feature
  • 1915, from SN 1:
    • No Woodsman Markings
    • Checkered pattern MS housing.
    • Diamond pattern at grip ferrule.
    • Bead sight standard (sq. available)
    • Smooth trigger, centered in TG.
    • 1903 pat. date only, top of barrel.
    • Rampant Colt aft of slide serrations.
  • 1919, from 7500: 1918 patent dates added at top of barrel.
  • 1920, from 14000: Rampant Colt moved forward of slide serrations.
  • 1923, from 35000: Grip ferrule diamond removed from grip checkering pattern.
  • 1927, from 54000: THE WOODSMAN on left side of receiver until after WWII.
  • 1930, from 70000: Square sight standard.
  • 1930, from 71000: Trigger grooved, curved to rear of trigger guard.
  • 1930, from 75000: 3/8" rear sight dovetail.
  • 1932, 81000 to 86000: Phase in heat treated mainspring housing for high velocity ammunition. Grooved pattern for identification.
  • The straight tapered barrel was phased in at about SN 90000, just after the Sport model was added to the line. There were no more significant changes to the Target Model until after WWII.
  • 1946, from 157038: All civilian production stopped during WWII. After the war a few thousand guns were assembled from leftover prewar parts. The “Postwar-Prewar” guns often were a mix of prewar and postwar type markings and finish. Most had plastic stocks left over from the Match Target military contract, while some had standard checkered walnut stocks.

First Series Colt Woodsman Sport and Match Target Models

Model
SPORT MODEL (4-1/2 inch barrel)
86000 - 187423 (1933-47)
MATCH TARGET "BULLSEYE" MODEL
MT1 - MT16611 (1938-44)
Barrel 4-1/2 inch. Colt markings and patent dates on side of barrel. Early Sports had medium weight barrel. 6-5/8 inch flat sided barrel, Bullseye on left side, patent dates on top to about MT2000, then PAT DES 110887 thereafter.
Sights
  • Front: fixed ramp, "half moon" on very early only. Adjustable available from 1938.
  • Rear: Windage adjustable.
  • Front: fixed
  • Rear: Stevens, fully adjustable.
Grips Walnut before WWII. During the Post-war/Pre-war parts clean up of 1946-47, plastic grips left over from the Match Target military contract were used, as well as standard checkered walnut. "Elephant Ear" walnut standard. Small number had regular Woodsman stocks. Plastic stocks used on WWII military contracts.

1947-55: Second Series Colt Woodsman Sport, Target, and Match Target Models

Model TARGET (6 inch barrel), SPORT (4-1/2 inch barrel), MATCH TARGET (6 inch barrel, 4-1/2 inch from 1950)
Sights Accro replaced Coltmaster in 1953; both types used from 118000-S to 130000-S. Sport Only: fixed sights from mid-1949 to mid-1950.
Grips Coltswood 1947-50 (to 71200-S), injection molded 1950-55. Initially wood grain color, later brown.
Other Features Thumb button magazine release, small trigger guard, lanyard ring in butt, grip adapter screw near base of mainspring housing, COLT'S MFG. CO. on barrel, magazine safety.

1950-55: Challenger (Second Series Only)

Barrel 4-1/2 or 6 inch, non-tapered.
Sights Fixed sights only.
Grips Some wood grain plastic in early models, brown plastic later. No thumbrest.
Other Features Butt clip release, smaller trigger guard than third series, grooved trigger. No automatic slide stop, no lanyard ring, no grip adapters, and no magazine safety.

1955-77: Third Series Colt Woodsman Sport, Target, and Match Target Models

Model
TARGET MODEL (6 inch barrel) and SPORT MODEL (4-1/2 inch barrel)
MATCH TARGET MODEL (4-1/2 or 6 inch barrel)
Sights
Accro
Accro to 208300-S, Eliason thereafter.
Grips Injection molded black plastic to 1960 (approximate serial number 189200-S), walnut thereafter.
Other Features Butt magazine release, larger trigger guard, no lanyard ring or grip adapter, non-grooved trigger, COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. on barrel again from 1956 on. Magazine safety dropped in 1956.

>

1955-77: Third Series: Colt Huntsman and Targetsman Models

Model
HUNTSMAN (1955-77)
TARGETSMAN (1959-77)
Barrel
4-1/2 or 6 inch, non-tapered
6 inch, non-tapered
Grips Injection molded black plastic to 1960 (approximate serial number 141094-C), walnut thereafter. No thumbrest. Injection molded black plastic to 1960 (approximate serial number 141094-C), walnut thereafter. With thumbrest.
Other Features Butt clip release, larger trigger guard than second series, smooth trigger. No automatic slide stop, no lanyard ring, no grip adapters, and no magazine safety.

DIFFERENCES:
POST WWII MODELS

F E A T U R E
Adjustable rear sight Ramp Front Sight Integral Front Sight Barrel Automatic Slide Stop Thumbrest
M
O
D
E
L
Woodsman Sport or Target
(Second or Third Series)
Yes Yes No Round, Tapered Yes Yes
Woodsman Match Target
(Second or Third Series)
Yes Yes No Heavy, Slab Sided Yes Yes
Targetsman
(Third Series)
Yes (Economy) No Yes Round, Non-tapered No Yes
Huntsman
(Third Series)
No No Yes Round, Non-tapered No No
Challenger
(Second Series)
No No Yes Round, Non-tapered No No


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