Colt Woodsman First Series

The First Series Colt Woodsman is where the Woodsman story begins. It is the pistol many collectors picture when they hear the name: long, slim barrel; elegant grip angle; refined Colt blue; crisp rollmarks; and a feel that seems more carefully fitted than most modern rimfire pistols. Introduced before the First World War and carried through the end of the Second World War era, the First Series became the foundation for every Woodsman, Sport, Target, Match Target, Challenger, and Huntsman discussion that followed.

Collectors often divide the Woodsman family by series because the changes were more than cosmetic. The First Series has its own frame style, its own handling personality, and its own set of identification clues. Some examples are early enough that the word “Woodsman” had not yet become the dominant public identity. Others were made after the name was firmly established. Some are plain working pistols that spent decades in tackle boxes and hunting coats. Others survive with sharp edges, correct magazines, factory boxes, and finish that still looks like old Colt craftsmanship at its best.

Quick Identification Summary

A First Series Woodsman is most often identified by its early frame profile, slim barrel, early safety and magazine details, and pre-Second Series overall appearance. The easiest mistake is to call every old Woodsman a First Series without checking the specific features. The series distinction matters because parts, magazines, values, and collector expectations are not the same across generations.

History of the First Series Woodsman

The Woodsman grew out of the early twentieth-century demand for a refined .22 automatic pistol. Colt already had a reputation for serious handguns, but the rimfire sporting pistol market needed something different from a service automatic. It needed light recoil, good sights, practical accuracy, and enough polish to appeal to target shooters, small-game hunters, and the kind of buyer who expected a Colt to feel like a Colt.

The First Series met that moment. The pistol was trim, graceful, and unusually natural in the hand. It was not simply a cheap plinker. It was a serious rimfire automatic built during an age when target shooting, woods loafing, and informal marksmanship were part of American sporting life. A clean First Series still gives that impression today. It looks like a pistol designed by people who expected the owner to learn it, oil it, carry it carefully, and pass it down.

The name Woodsman itself became one of Colt's strongest rimfire identities. It suggested the pistol's dual purpose: refined enough for the target line, but practical enough for a camp, farm, or hunting coat. That combination is why the First Series has never been only a technical subject. It carries atmosphere. When one is found with an early box, a period instruction sheet, a small carton of .22 Long Rifle cartridges, or a marked target, the whole story comes alive.

Design Roots and Handling

The First Series belongs to the wider world of early American automatic pistol development. Its John M. Browning design heritage is part of the reason collectors give it respect beyond the rimfire category. The pistol has a clean mechanical logic. It balances lightly forward, points naturally, and rewards a shooter who understands sight picture and trigger control.

The slim barrel is a major part of the First Series feel. Later Woodsman pistols can be excellent, but the First Series has a livelier character. The long-barrel target versions steady well without feeling clubby. The shorter sport versions are easy to carry and quick to bring on target. That difference is why many collectors eventually decide they need more than one First Series example. A single specimen explains the mechanism; several examples explain the line.

The First Series is best understood as both a target pistol and a sporting pistol. Its slim lines and early Colt finish are central to its collector appeal.

Production Periods Within the First Series

Although collectors speak of the First Series as one generation, it is better understood in periods. Early production pistols have a slightly different collector personality than later pre-war pistols, and post-war First Series examples represent the final form before the Second Series changeover. The differences can be subtle, but they matter when value, originality, and correct parts are being judged.

Early examples are prized because they sit closest to the beginning of the model. They often show the charm of early markings and early manufacturing decisions. Mid-period pre-war pistols tend to represent the classic image of the Woodsman in full stride. Late First Series examples can be excellent shooters and may be easier to find in strong mechanical condition, but the buyer still needs to pay close attention to finish, magazines, sights, and grips.

Sport and Target Configurations

The First Series appears most often in Sport and Target forms. The Sport model is the handier field pistol, easier to carry and better suited to the practical woodsman image. The Target model, with its longer sight radius and steadier balance, is the version that most clearly expresses Colt's ambition to build a serious .22 automatic for precision shooting.

Neither one is automatically better. Condition and originality decide more than barrel length alone. A worn Target model with replaced parts may be less desirable than a crisp Sport model with its correct magazine and box. On the other hand, a high-condition pre-war Target model with honest finish and correct accessories can be a centerpiece in a rimfire Colt collection.

Rollmarks and Finish

Rollmarks are one of the first places I look on an old Colt. They tell you whether the pistol still has its edges. On a properly preserved First Series Woodsman, the lettering should remain clean and the surrounding metal should not look washed out. Rounded lettering, dished screw holes, softened edges, or a finish that looks too uniform can suggest later polishing and refinishing.

The original Colt blue on a strong First Series has depth. It should not look like flat black paint. It may show honest holster wear, thinning at the muzzle, high-edge silvering, or handling marks. That kind of age does not bother me nearly as much as aggressive buffing. A pistol can be worn and still be honest. A refinished pistol can be shiny and still be wrong.

Grips, Magazines, and Small Parts

Grips are often changed over a century of ownership. That makes them important. Correct period grips add confidence. Replacement grips may be perfectly serviceable for shooting, but they should be priced accordingly. The same principle applies to magazines. A correct magazine for the pistol's period is a significant plus, especially because magazine details changed across Woodsman generations.

Small parts also deserve attention. Sights, screws, safeties, and magazine releases can reveal whether a pistol has lived an easy life or been assembled from mismatched pieces. This does not mean every First Series must be a museum specimen. It means the collector should know what is original, what is replaced, and what the price should reflect.

How Condition Affects Value

Condition drives First Series values, but condition is not just percentage of blue. A pistol with 85 percent original finish, sharp rollmarks, correct grips, and a bright bore may be more desirable than a superficially shiny refinished example. The strongest examples combine original finish, matching period features, correct magazine, clean mechanics, and good provenance.

Boxes and paperwork raise the ceiling. A correct box with matching or clearly associated labeling can transform a nice pistol into a collection-grade package. Original instructions, hang tags, cleaning rods, and period sales material are all welcome. In many cases the accessories tell the story of how carefully the pistol was kept.

Shooting the First Series

Many First Series Woodsman pistols are still excellent shooters. The design is pleasant, accurate, and easy to enjoy. Still, these are collectible pistols, and the owner should be cautious with ammunition, magazines, and springs. A valuable high-condition example does not need to be treated like a modern range rental. Use appropriate .22 Long Rifle ammunition, keep the pistol clean, and avoid unnecessary wear on irreplaceable original parts.

The reward is real. A First Series that is mechanically sound has a calm, deliberate feel. The sights encourage careful work. The trigger is usually far better than one expects from a casual plinking pistol. It reminds the shooter that rimfire practice once occupied a respected place in serious marksmanship.

Common Buying Mistakes

The first mistake is buying the name without identifying the series. The second is paying collector-grade money for a refinished pistol. The third is ignoring the magazine. The fourth is assuming that every old part is correct simply because it is old. The fifth is failing to compare the pistol to the serial number resources before money changes hands.

I also see buyers overpay for a story. A family story may be true, but the pistol still has to stand on its features. A clean bore, correct configuration, honest finish, and documented serial range matter more than vague claims. Provenance is powerful when it is documented. Without documentation, it should not carry the price by itself.

First Series Compared With Later Woodsman Models

Where the First Series Fits in a Colt Collection

A Colt handgun collection can easily lean toward revolvers: Single Action Army, Police Positive, Official Police, Detective Special, Python, and the post-war snake guns. The First Series Woodsman gives that collection a different kind of Colt story. It shows the company building a refined sporting automatic rather than a service revolver or defensive handgun. It also gives collectors an affordable way, at least compared with elite Colt revolvers, to own a pre-war Colt with genuine design and finish appeal.

For a Woodsman-specific collection, the First Series is essential. It is the baseline. Later models make more sense after the First Series is understood. The grip angle, barrel balance, magazine changes, safety changes, and target-pistol identity all begin here.

FAQ

Was the Colt Woodsman First Series made only before World War II?

No. The First Series began in 1915 and continued through 1947, so it includes pre-war and post-war examples before the Second Series arrived.

Is the First Series the most collectible Woodsman?

It is one of the most collectible areas of the Woodsman family, especially in high condition, early production, desirable barrel lengths, and complete boxed examples. The Match Target also has a major collector following.

What is the best way to date one?

Start with the Colt Woodsman serial number lookup, then confirm context with the master serial number chart.

Should I shoot a First Series Woodsman?

A mechanically sound example can be a wonderful shooter, but high-condition collector pieces deserve careful use. Use appropriate .22 Long Rifle ammunition and correct magazines.

Colt Woodsman Research Cluster