That looks fantastic! Great to see an heirloom restored.

 

Beautiful work! Can't put back what the years took away.

What you've done was a miracle!

AC

 

Well, Miracle is a stretch on this. And to give credit, it was Ironhorse Gunworks in Loretto TN who did this work. They are fantastic and take pride in what they do. I just paid them to do it. I hope to get the before pics soon to share, it was pretty rough IMHO.

 

Great looking pistol. Always wanted a Woodsman but never have had the spare bucks to get one in good condition.

 

Best plinker .22 ever. I grew up with my grandfather in the woods with the Woodsman. He also put snake shot in it for the trout fishing tours. Copperheads. I am always looking for one at gun shows.

 

Fantastic. The Woodsmen are just gorgeous. No more graceful pistol was ever made.

 

Absolutely. This really is a prize in my safe, there's just *something* about it that works perfectly.

 

I’ve always wanted the one of those myself. Sure is a nice lookin pistol.

 

SWEET!!
Now I'll have to let mine out'a the safe for a breath of fresh air!
They did a nice job on that pistol! Treat her nice - she surely deserves it!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

Beautiful pistol.Got yourself a gem. Have one that was my Grampa's, great shooter.

 

Congrats, that pistol looks great. I dought it looked any better new...

 

Nice job, great looking firearm! Good story too. Looking forward to seeing the before shots.

 

Nice recovery on that Woodsman! I have one from 1974 and an unfired Huntsman from 1966.

 

The difference between the Woodsman and the Huntsman is ???
Other then name I've never sorted that out.

 

Great gun and great story!

Padraig

 

Grips and sights I guess. Although, the Woodsman Sport had the same sights I believe. Hope someone here has the answer.

 

After doing some research this is what I've found:

Huntsman has fixed sights, and no hold open on last shot, and Woodsman has adjustable sights, and hold open... Pretty much the same guns.

Some of the early 2nd Series Woodsman Sports had fixed rear sights. These are kinda scarce.

Also another interesting tidbit.

Good News for Woodsman Collectors: The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has now classified as "Curios and Relics:"

"Colt, Woodsman, .22 caliber semiautomatic pistols, all models, all series, all serial numbers, (to include Match Target, Challenger, Huntsmen, and Targetsman), made prior to 1978"​

See it on the BATF web site at: http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/curios-relics/update-march-2001-may-2005.html

 

I have a Smith&Wesson "New Model" .44 Russian that was either nickled, or re-nickled over a really rough finish wayyy back in the day.
I have always wanted to strip the nickle off, and after several years in Texas Instruments's plating shop learned that taking off the nickle that is there isn't the issue.
The issue is what the "ham hands" that prepped the pistol did before it went in the tank.
I'm glad your pistol wasn't ruined in the prep process. There is just something wrong with a "huntsman" in chrome, or nickle.
You have saved a nice heirloom that your family can be proud of..

 

The lettering and rampant Colt look a lot better than I would have thought possible. He did a good job.

 

I thought so as well. He was concerned about that as well when I brought it in to him. He said that he's brought some to a local jeweler in town before to do touch ups on this sort of detail. Mine didn't need it though. I'll use him again for sure if the need arises. I am very glad that I had this done.

 

More info: Each series had a Sport Model with a 4-1/2 inch round barrel, a Target Model with a 6 or 6-5/8 inch round barrel, and a Match Target Model with a heavy, flat sided barrel. For the first series Match Target that flat sided barrel was 6-5/8 inches in length, while in the post war versions it was either 4-1/2 or 6 inches. The very similar Challenger, Huntsman, and Targetsman were attempts by Colt to meet price competition from less costly .22 pistols and were made during the post-WWII years only. First Series (1915-1947) The first series Woodsman can be easily recognized by its distinctive profile, which resembles the German Luger in the rakish grip angle. The serial number also provides a sure means of identification, since only the first series has no alphabetical suffix. If the serial number is on the frontstrap and contains only numeric characters, with no alphabetical characters, it is a first series. If the only alphabetical characters in the serial number are MT, it is a first series Match Target. Second Series (1947-1955) The Second Series Woodsmans are the only models that have a push button magazine release, as on the Government Model 45. All post-WWII type Woodsmans, both Second and Third Series, have an S suffix to the serial number. Although it is part of the Second Series, the Challenger model, unlike the Woodsman, has a spring catch at the butt and a C suffix to the serial number. If it has a push button magazine release just aft of the trigger guard, it is a second series. If it is marked Challenger, it is a second series. Third Series (1955-1977) All post-WWII type Woodsmans, both Second and Third Series, have an S suffix to the serial number. Challengers, and some early Huntsmans and Targetsmans, have a -C suffix. All Third Series guns have the magazine release on the butt, in the same location as the First Series.

If the magazine release is at the heel of the butt,

AND

	If it is marked Huntsman, it is a third series.
	If it is marked Targetsman, it is a third series.

If the pistol has an S at the end of the serial number, then it is a 3rd Series.

[T [TD="colspan: 2"] [/TD] [/TR]

 

Beautiful classic pistol. Congrats.