Colt Woodsman

Serial Number Lookup

A Reference Tool for GunCollectorsClub.com

1915 – 1977

Identify Your Woodsman

Enter your serial number exactly as it appears on the pistol — including any prefix (MT) or suffix (-S, -C, S)

Use this Colt Woodsman Serial Number Lookup tool to quickly identify the year of manufacture for your pistol. For a complete breakdown of all models and production ranges, refer to the Colt Woodsman Serial Number Master Chart .

The lookup results are based on the same research and data presented in the Colt Woodsman Serial Number Master Chart , organized here for fast, single-serial searches.

Serial Number Formats

94500First Series (numeric only)
MT7000First Series Match Target
35750-SSecond/Third Series -S
40600-CSecond/Third Series -C
030700SThird Series Integrated

Complete Serial Number Reference Tables

Sport Model & Target Model — Numeric Only (No Prefix or Suffix)

Sport Model introduced at approximately serial 86,000 (c. 1933)
Year Starting Serial Notes
19151Production begins — Target Model only
1916850
19174,000
19186,400
19197,000
192020,200
192125,000
192227,200
192333,500
192438,700
192543,000
192646,650
192751,700
192855,800
192963,150
193071,300
193177,900
193284,400
193386,300Sport Model introduced (~86,000)
193489,200
193594,500
193699,200
1937109,100
1938121,300
1939131,000
1940137,600
1941144,400
1942157,037Wartime production ends (last serial)
1946–47157,038 – 159,024Post-WWII assembly from prewar parts
1946–47180,000 – 187,423Post-WWII assembly from prewar parts

Match Target "Bullseye" — MT Prefix

Total production: MT1 – MT16,611 · Flat-sided 6-5/8" barrel · 1938–1944
Year Starting Serial Notes
1938MT1Production begins mid-year
1939MT3,000
1940MT7,000
1941MT10,000
1944MT16,611Final serial (wartime end)

References & Data Sources

Primary Online & Archive Sources

  • Rayburn, Bob. Colt Woodsman Online Guide & Pocket Guide (8th ed.). Colt22.com, 1985–2020. [The definitive reference — based on original research in Colt factory records]
  • OldColt.com — Colt factory shipping date records and production data
  • Colt's Manufacturing Company — Official Serial Number Lookup. colt.com
  • Colt Archive Properties, LLC — Letters of Authenticity. Hartford, CT [For definitive factory confirmation on individual guns]

Books

  • Bady, Donald B. Colt Automatic Pistols. Borden Publishing, 1973
  • Brink, Edward A. Colt Rimfire Automatic Pistols, 1982
  • Serven, James E. Colt Firearms From 1836. Stackpole Books, 1954; rev. 1979
  • Sutherland, R. Q. and Wilson, R. L. The Book of Colt Firearms. R. Q. Sutherland, 1971
  • Wilson, R. L. The Colt Heritage. Simon and Schuster, 1979
  • Fjestad, S. P. Blue Book of Gun Values (annual). Blue Book Publications
  • Schwing, Ned (Ed.). Standard Catalog of Firearms. Krause Publications (Woodsman sections by Robert J. Rayburn)
  • Smith, W. B. H. Book of Pistols and Revolvers. NRA / Stackpole Books (multiple editions; "Colt Woodsman Series," pp. 74–82)

Periodicals

  • Rayburn, Robert. "The Woodsman Series." Colt Collector's Association Newsletter, June 1985
  • Hoffschmidt, E. J. "Colt Match Target Woodsman." The American Rifleman, May 1953
  • Bevan, Art. "My 50 Years With the Colt Woodsman." Gun Digest, 1988 Annual, pp. 14–19
  • Lisle, Larry. "Colt's Woodsman: a 60 Year Saga." Guns & Ammo, Feb. 1975, pp. 58–59, 84–85
  • Greeley, Horace IV. "Colt and the Old Model S." Man at Arms, Sept/Oct 1979, pp. 10–16
  • Anderson, R. "Classic Test Report, Colt Woodsman Series." Guns & Ammo, Apr. 1981

All serial number milestones are approximate. Colt did not assemble or ship guns in strict numerical order; overlaps of several thousand numbers between date ranges are normal. For definitive documentation, contact Colt Archive Properties, LLC.