Need help trying to figure the value of a 1950 Colt Woodsman

[Silver Fox]

I have a friend with a Colt Woodsman (2nd series), any idea what it is worth? I would conservatively estimate it about a 90 to 95% condition. It is immaculate. The serial number range falls in mid-1950.

SF-

Read More

 

[Spad]

Do some careful research on that Colt, try the Blue Book of Gun Values, most real gunstores have one hiding behind the counter. There were different size barrels and models. Watch the GunBroker site, look for a Colt Forum on the net,the Colt should be worth some bucks. Bill

 

[roguebowhunter]

email me a pic and barrel length . i'll see what i can find ..Don

 

[A2theK]

I've got a Colt Challenger I traded for a Keltec P40. I love it. I think yours is older because the Challenger is a Woodsman clone? Does it have a rampant colt on it too or different marking?

 

[HappyRoman]

SECOND SERIES
After World War II Colt entered a lengthy period of clearing up
government contracts and retooling for the civilian market. The
Woodsman line was extensively revised and modernized. The
second series guns began appearing near the end of 1947, although
no appreciable numbers were shipped until 1948. The
Second Series Woodsman had essentially the same action
and many of the same internals as the first series guns, but
were larger and heavier, with a longer grip frame. New features
included a magazine safety, automatic slide stop when the
magazine was emptied, fully adjustable rear sight, heavier barrels,
and a 6-inch barrel length on the Target and Match Target
Models, rather than 6-5/8 inches, as on the first series. Other
new features included a push button magazine release just aft
of the trigger guard, like that on the large frame Government
05_1spt
06_1mt
A Colt Woodsman First Model Match Target pistol sold
at auction for $4,025. Condition is NIB with papers.
Amoskeag Auction Company, January 2005
45-1
(Above left) The Second Series Woodsman came with two
grip adapters, to provide for different sized hands.
(Above, bottom right) This shows the screw for mounting the
grip adapter, and below that the concealed lanyard ring.
(Above, top right) In 1953 the Woodsman rear sight was
changed from the Coltmaster (bottom) to the Accro (top).
Model semi-automatics, a lanyard ring concealed in the butt,
and a provision for attaching a plastic grip adapter to the backstrap,
thereby accommodating different sized hands. Elevation
adjustment was incorporated into the rear sight of all Woodsman
models, and the adjustable front sight was replaced with
a fixed blade. Serial numbers were restarted at 1-S, and are intermixed
for all three models. Approximately 146,000 of the
three models were produced.
In 1950 Colt added the Challenger to the line of second series
pistols, the first of the economy models. Internally the
Challenger is nearly identical to the Woodsman pistols of the
same era, but externally it lacks most of the refinements introduced
with the Second Series Woodsman. It has no magazine
safety, automatic slide stop, adjustable sights, push button
magazine release, lanyard ring, or grip adapters. It was available
with either a 6-inch or 4-1/2 inch barrel, and had its own
serial number series beginning with 1-C. Approximately
77,000 were produced.
Woodsman Target
6 inch barrel
Second Series Target Model
Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor
750 550 300 250 150
Woodsman Sport
4-1/2 inch barrel
Second Series Sport Model
Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor
850 600 350 250 150
Woodsman Match Target
6 inch barrel
Second Series Match Target Model with 6 inch barrel.
Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor
1000 650 450 350 150
Woodsman Match Target
4-1/2 inch barrel
Introduced in 1950.
Second Series Match Target Model with 4-1/2 inch barrel.
Second Series Woodsman magazine catch
Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor
1200 750 500 350 150
Challenger
4-1/2 inch barrel
Colt Challenger (Second Series only) with 4-1/2 inch barrel.
Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor
550 350 250 200 150
Challenger
6 inch barrel
Colt Challenger (Second Series only) with 6 inch barrel.
Exc. V.G. Good Fair Poor
550 350 250 200 150

 

[Natty Bumpo]

Go over to Bob Rayburn's site to get a clearer idea of which model you have. Bob is probably The Authority on this pistol. He lives in Tacoma. Much of what you read elsewhere is based on Bob's research and his decades of networking with other Colt Woodsman collectors.

As Roman's reference points out, there is a significant difference in value between the sub-models, such as between Sports and the Match Targets, for example. Once you figure out exactly what you have, Then you can go to the BB or to GB or wherever to find out what something similar is selling for in today's market.

It is not necessarily worth thousands merely because it is in pretty good shape. Although there is a chance that it could be, depending on exactly what you might have. And, like anything else, it will command a higher price with original box and paper and especially if it has uncommon or unusual features or options.

I regularly see average-shape Second/Third Series Sport Models in Portland area shops for around $450-550 or so retail, so it is likely that yours is worth substantially more. Bear in mind also that there is a huge difference between 90-95% and "immaculate" or nearly-new in terms of fetching top-dollar. Collectors who pay top-dollar typically look for nearly-new in return for top-dollar.

http://www.colt22.com/

 

[littlecars]

If you want to sell it, let me know!

 

[Silver Fox]

Not mine to sell. My friend is in his mid fifties and his father gave him that pistol on his 11th birthday so little doubt he is ever going to sell it. His father bought it new.

Thanks everybody fo the help. Funny the expert lives in Tacoma where we workout at.

SF-