Classic Colt Pistol — Engraved Carbonia Blued Colt Woodsman

Photo courtesy NRA Museum Click Photo to View Larger Image

With today’s polymer-framed Glocks and Kel-Tecs, aesthetics have been sacrificed on the altar of functionality. Not so in the early 20th century — in that period, the best firearm designers created guns that looked as good as they worked. One example is the classic Colt Woodsman. This design came from the legendary John Moses Browning and was later refined by Colt before the pistol’s introduction in 1915. The Colt Woodsman’s frame design evolved over time in three distinct series: Series One 1915–1947, Series Two 1947–1955, and Series Three 1955–1977. Shown above is a stunning Carbonia-blued and engraved Third Series model with ivory grips.

Engraved Colt Woodsman from NRA Museum
In the NRA Museum’s Robert E. Petersen Gallery are many fine engraved arms. This Colt Woodsman .22 pistol is one of the Third Series guns that were made until 1977. Heavy barrels in either 4.5 or 6 inch lengths were offered in this variation. The Museum’s staff says: “We think the poised golden rattlesnake near the serial number is the [best] embellishment without putting down in any way the ivory grip panels or gold outline inlays.”

You can see this lovely Colt and countless other fine firearms at the NRA Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. The Museum is open every day from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is free.

The Colt Woodsman was made in many variations, with different barrel lengths and contours and finishes. Here is a Colt Woodsman Third Series Match Target with 6″ Blued frame and slab barrel. Photo from Sam Lisker’s ColtAutos.com.

Here is a Colt Woodsman First Series Match Target with 6.5″ undercut slab match barrel and basic blued finish. Photo from Heritage Auctions.

Here is a Colt Woodsman Bullseye Match Target Pistol (6.5″ barrel) with blued finish and early factory “elephant ear” stocks with Colt medallions. This was owned by Philip Judd, an avid marksman who was 1952 Camp Perry Champion in the 500-yard .30-06 rifle competition. Photo from Sam Lisker’s ColtAutos.com.