Photo courtesy NRA Museum. Click on Photo to View Larger Version. With today’s polymer-framed Glocks or Kel-Tecs aesthetics has been sacrificed for functionality. In the early 20th Century, however, the best designers of firearms created guns that looked just as good as they performed. The classic Colt Woodsman is a good example. The design was derived from John Moses Browning, and then refined by Colt prior to the pistol’s launch in 1915. The frame design of the Colt Woodsman evolved over time into three distinct series. Series One was produced from 1915-1947; Series Two, 1947-1955; and Series Three, 1955-1977. Above is a stunning Carbonia blued and engraved Third Series with ivory grips. Colt Woodsman engraved from NRA Museum
Many finely engraved weapons can be found in the Robert E. Petersen gallery at the NRA Museum. This Colt Woodsman 22 pistol is a Third Series gun that was made until 1977. This variation was available with heavy barrels of either 4.5 or 6-inch lengths. The staff at the NRA Museum says that the golden rattlesnake poised near the serial number was the best embellishment. It did not take away from the ivory grip panels and gold outline inlays. The Museum is open daily from 9:30am to 5:00pm. Admission is free. Colt Woodsmans were made in many different variations with different barrel lengths, contours, and finishes. Here is a Colt Woodsman Third Series Match Target, with a 6″ Blued frame and slab-barrel. Photo from Sam Lisker’s ColtAutos.com. Here is a Colt Woodsman First Series Match Target, with a 6.5″ undercut slab match barrel in a basic blued finish. Photo from Heritage Auctions. This is a Colt Woodsman Bullseye Match Target Pistol (6” barrel), with a blued finish, and early factory “elephant-ear” stocks featuring Colt medallions. Philip Judd was an avid marksman and 1952 Camp Perry Champion of the 500-yard competition with a.30-06 rifle. Photo from Sam Lisker at ColtAutos.com.
