Start Here: Colt Woodsman Serial Number Lookup
Use this Colt Woodsman serial number lookup to estimate a manufacture period, identify the likely series, and choose the correct reference for Woodsman, Match Target, or Huntsman details. Record the entire number—including a prefix, suffix, and dash—before comparing it with the lookup and tables.
For additional model and manufacture-year context, visit the Woodsman date-confirmation research in the Colt serial-number lookup tool.
The Colt Woodsman serial number is the first clue, but it is not the only clue. To identify a Woodsman correctly, compare the serial range with the pistol’s production series, magazine release, grip style, barrel type, sights, markings, and overall configuration.
This page is built as a practical collector lookup for the Woodsman family, with special emphasis on the post-war S-suffix Match Target ranges that cause many identification questions.
Quick Woodsman S-Suffix Lookup
Enter a post-war Match Target style serial number such as 146137-S, 193300-S, or 204500-S. This tool checks the S-suffix ranges shown in the table below.
Factory shipment dates can differ from estimated manufacture dates. For high-value documentation, use a Colt Archive Letter or Colt’s official serial-number resources.
How to Read a Colt Woodsman Serial Number
Start by recording the serial number exactly as it appears. Include suffixes, prefixes, dashes, and spacing. Enter covered post-war S-suffix numbers in the quick lookup above; for First Series, later Woodsman, Huntsman, Challenger, and other serial formats, compare the complete number with the Woodsman serial number master chart.
A serial range narrows the likely Colt Woodsman date of manufacture, but it does not identify every model variation by itself. After finding the range, compare the result with the pistol’s visible features:
- Series: Series I, Series II, and Series III Woodsman pistols have different collector clues.
- Suffix: Many post-war Match Target pistols use an S suffix.
- Magazine release: Second Series Match Target pistols use a frame-mounted release behind the trigger guard; Third Series Match Target pistols use a heel release.
- Barrel and sights: Sport, Target, and Match Target pistols should not be valued from serial number alone.
If the number and physical features point to different periods, stop at a range estimate rather than forcing an exact year. Recheck every character and determine whether the pistol is a Woodsman, Match Target, Huntsman, Challenger, or another related Colt .22 model before relying on the result.
Colt Woodsman Series Identification
| Series | Approx. Production Period | Collector Identification Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Series I | 1915–1941 | Pre-war Woodsman production; early sporting-pistol styling and classic Colt finish quality. |
| Series II | 1947–1955 | Post-war production; Match Target pistols are commonly identified by the magazine-release button behind the trigger guard. |
| Series III | 1955–1977 | Later production; Match Target pistols use the heel-style magazine release and revised post-war features. |
Colt Woodsman Match Target S-Suffix Serial Number Table
The following S-suffix table is intended for post-war Woodsman Match Target identification. It is most useful when paired with the physical clues on the pistol.
| Year | Beginning Serial # | Ending Serial # | Estimated Number Made | Series Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 1-S | 249-S | 249 | Series II |
| 1948 | 250-S | 35749-S | 35,500 | Series II |
| 1949 | 35750-S | 68899-S | 33,150 | Series II |
| 1950 | 68900-S | 86199-S | 17,300 | Series II |
| 1951 | 86200-S | 100099-S | 13,900 | Series II |
| 1952 | 100100-S | 123699-S | 23,600 | Series II |
| 1953 | 123700-S | 137649-S | 13,950 | Series II |
| 1954 | 137650-S | 142599-S | 4,950 | Series II |
| 1955 | 142600-S | 146136-S | 3,537 | Series II |
| 1955 | 146137-S | 147138-S | 1,002 | Series III transition |
| 1955 | 160000-S | 161599-S | 1,600 | Series III |
| 1956 | 161600-S | 172199-S | 10,600 | Series III |
| 1957 | 172200-S | 182499-S | 10,300 | Series III |
| 1958 | 182500-S | 185199-S | 2,700 | Series III |
| 1959 | 185200-S | 189249-S | 4,050 | Series III |
| 1960 | 189250-S | 193299-S | 4,050 | Series III |
| 1961 | 193300-S | 196899-S | 3,600 | Series III |
| 1962 | 196900-S | 200599-S | 3,700 | Series III |
| 1963 | 200600-S | 204499-S | 3,900 | Series III |
| 1964 | 204500-S | 208299-S | 3,800 | Series III |
Match Target Identification Notes
The Match Target branch is easy to recognize by its heavier target-barrel profile, but the correct series still matters. A 1955 gun deserves extra care because that year includes both late Second Series production and early Third Series production.
Collector Takeaway
A serial-number match is strongest when the magazine-release location, grips, sights, barrel profile, and markings all agree with the expected production series.
Common Woodsman Lookup Mistakes
- Reading a shipment date as a manufacture date.
- Ignoring the S suffix on Match Target serial numbers.
- Assuming all Woodsman-family pistols use the same serial sequence.
- Valuing a pistol before checking the magazine, grips, sights, and finish originality.
- Confusing a Woodsman with related Colt .22 pistols such as the Challenger or Huntsman.
Colt Woodsman Serial Number Lookup FAQ
How do I use the Colt Woodsman serial number lookup?
Record the complete serial number, including any prefix, suffix, or dash. Compare it with the lookup and production table, then confirm the result using the pistol’s series, magazine-release location, barrel profile, grips, sights, and markings.
Can a serial number confirm the exact manufacture year of a Colt firearm?
A published serial range usually provides a manufacture-period estimate, not an exact factory date. Shipment dates can differ from manufacture dates, so important collector documentation should be confirmed through Colt’s official records or a Colt Archive Letter.
What markings should I check when the serial number alone is inconclusive?
Check the complete model and barrel markings, serial-number prefix or suffix, magazine-release location, grip style, sights, barrel profile, and other series-specific features. These details help distinguish Woodsman, Match Target, Huntsman, and related Colt .22 pistols.
Where can I find Colt Woodsman serial number manufacture dates?
Use the quick lookup on this page for covered post-war S-suffix ranges and the Colt Woodsman Serial Number Master Chart for broader production tables. Treat each result as an estimate until the pistol’s physical features agree with the expected series.
Colt Woodsman Research Cluster
Use these Woodsman references in this order: start with the serial-number lookup, then use the master chart, generations guide, and Match Target guide to confirm originality, configuration, and value context.
Colt Woodsman Related Items
Reference books, preservation supplies, bench tools, and storage items can help document and protect a Colt Woodsman collection.
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About Greg Cook
Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.
Sources Consulted
- Colt Woodsman Match Target production notes and serial-number table maintained by Gun Collectors Club.
- Colt Archive Letter and factory-shipment documentation practices for high-value collector verification.
- Collector inspection notes covering Woodsman series, magazine-release location, grips, sights, barrel profile, and condition.