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Make: Colt
Model: Colt’s Automatic Pistol, Caliber .22 (Pre-Woodsman)
Serial Number: 25245
Year of Manufacture: 1921
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (the checkered backstrap indicates that High Velocity ammunition should NOT be used in this pistol)
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 6 5/8"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel, adjustable for elevation. The rear sight is a "U"-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide, adjustable for windage.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screw escutcheons. The grips have minor handling wear with a few light marks. There is some verdigris around the screw escutcheons. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most leading edges. There is light wear along the left of the barrel. The barrel has scattered tiny voids which appear to be previous oxidation that was cleaned off. There is infrequent scattered minor surface oxidation. The slide and frame have some scattered minor nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one original vintage Colt “two tone” partially blued 10-round magazine with a brass follower. It carries “HOF” hand scratched along the left side, the meaning of which is unknown, and is stamped “CAL. 22 / COLT” on the bottom floorplate.
Our Assessment: Another innovative design sprung from the mind of gunmaking genius John Moses Browning was the “Colt’s Automatic Pistol, Caliber .22”, later to become the Woodsman, with the design refined slightly by Colt employees George Tansley and F.C. Chadwick before it was released in 1915. The Woodsman stayed in production until 1977 with 4 distinct models. The Woodsman would be the plinker, pest eliminator, and first pistol of many youngsters for generations, and the model still finds favor with shooters and collectors today. This Colt Pre-Woodsman was made in 1921, before the Woodsman model designation was officially adopted, and before High Velocity .22 LR ammo was as common as it is today. Thus, this pistol is configured for use with Standard Velocity ammo only. It’s in Very Good Condition, chambered in .22 LR, and features 90% of its original blued finish, a 6 5/8” barrel, elegant checkered walnut grips, strong mechanics, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling (there’s a little stubborn fouling). It should still be a good shooter, and the Pre-Woodsman Models are also very collectible. We expect this one to be no different, especially as this pistol comes from the personal collection of inventor, founder, and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman, and should be of additional interest to collectors for that ownership lineage. A signed Certificate Of Authenticity from the Seiderman family will be included with this piece.