Colt Challenger Magazine Release Lock
Colt Woodsman 22 RF Semi-Auto PiColtWoodsman SeriesSemi-Automatic22 LR PistolTHEREARE THREE DISTINCT SERIES (maybe even 4 or 5 depending on how fine you interpret it)This article is a brief rendition of the Colt 'Woodsman series, and will givethe average owner insight to this series.If you are a collector, then youneed to do advanced searchingThere are three basic series of Woodsman pistols, corresponding tothree basic frame designs. There are also some sub-series within theseries, like different barrel lengths, sights or grips, etc.The models referred to here are all those pistols built on the “S”frame as designated by the Colt factory. The First 'Woodsman' series wouldhave NOT been marked Woodsman, however for general purposes it is a Woodsman,but for collectors it is called the pre-Woodsman as noted below. The actualFirst model Woodsman (that had that name on it) as it existed prior to andduring World War Two, was basically the same as the pre-Woodsman. The Second Seriesincludes all versions built on the 'second' frame design from late 1947 untilmid 1955, and the Third Series means the third “S” frame design as used from1955 to the end of regular production in 1977.The 'S' series is the modelnumber that the Colt factory assigned to this model.
Others modeldesignations were 'P' forthe SSA (Peacemaker), G for the Government model (1911), 'I' for the Python, 'M'for the 1903/1908 32/380 semi-auto and 'N' for the 1908 25ACP, etc.PreWoodsman (1915-1927)The first Colt 22 RF automatic was marketed as Colt Automatic Target Pistol.There was no inscription on the LH side of the frame at the location where thebarrel threads into it. This pre-Woodsman and the First Model can be easily recognized by its distinctive profile,which resembles the German Luger and the later Ruger Standard model, both having therakish rearward grip angle. The grips werestandard checkered walnut. The serial numbers started at #1 whichalso provides a sure means of identification, with this serial number located on the front strap of the grip, and contains only numericcharacters, with NO alphabetical suffix characters.The slides were marked on the LH side “Colt Automatic Caliber 22 Long Rifle” in2 lines. There were no markings as to model or caliber on the frame or barrel.These pistols were designed to use only Standard velocityammo, which was the only ammo at that time and was identified by a checkered thumbprint on the upper rear web of themainspring housing.
Colt Challenger Magazine
Browse all new and used Colt Pistols - Challenger for sale and buy with confidence from Guns International. Bottom latch style magazine release.
This 'thumbprint'probably was not the intent at that time, but simply as a roughed area on thebackstrap to better secure the gun in the shooter's hand following the patternon their other models.The grip-frame bottom was 90 degrees to the magazine with thesmall magazine latch on the rear of the grip frame securing the upper rear of themagazine in the magazine well. Most of these EARLY magazines had noidentifying marks on the bottom.
And as a side-note would many times, theycould be mistaken andinterchangeable with the High Standard A or B models.Barrels were 6 5/8” long and a step down shoulder at the rearto a small diameter straight, “pencil barrel” (no taper).You will note in the photo below that there is no writing on the LH side of frame where thebarrel screws into. And that many of these early guns had the triggerplaced nearer the center of the trigger guard as seen below. Colt pre-WoodsmanAmmo Change If your pistol is pre-WWII, it will have apattern on the mainspring housing, where the web between the thumb andforefinger touches when holding the pistol in firing position. If thatpattern is checkered (photo on the left below), it was made for use of standardvelocity ammo (as that wasall that was available at that time). Ifit is a pre WWII gun made after 1931, the pattern was changed tohorizontal parallel lines (center in the photo below), because these laterdesigned guns all were all designed for the later high velocity ammo which cameout in 1931 at about s/n 80,000The factory did offer conversion kits for usage of High Speedammo in the early guns. This included a new mainspring housing and recoilspring. However it is possible to have an early standard velocity gun thathas just had the recoil spring replaced with the newer high speed version, butthe only way to tell on these is tear it apart and look at the recoil spring asidentified below.
It is not recommended to use the older pistols with theolder weaker recoil spring when using the now common High Speed ammo because ofpossible internal damage to the slide.After my looking over factory blueprints, the identifying thingof the newer High Speed recoil spring the difference is that it is wound LEFT HANDED, ascompared to the older weaker Standard Velocity spring that is the common right handedwind. I came up with this after which I had the rare chance of looking at copies of original factoryblueprints and am probably the only one around that knows this (until now).Some say that the mainspring housing was made stronger.In all my years as a obsolete firearms parts replacement manufacturer, Iseriously doubt this, and the change was simply the horizontal lines to easilyidentify one from the other.
Also in my 60 plus years of gunsmithing, Ihave seem numerous of the older standard velocity guns still being shot usingHigh Speed ammo. They still seemed to survive, adding to the excellentoriginal design of this firearm, however the most common problemwas that the slide would not go forward with enough energy to completely feed orchamber a round (common with a weakened recoil spring being the culprit). Total war warhammer dwarves guide. Woodsman FirstSeries (1927-1944/1946)The normally accepted serial number separating thepre-Woodsman from the 'Woodsman' is #54,000. This model is a carry over of the Pre woodsman with the followingexceptions.
The LH side of the of the frame at the location of the barrelthreads is marked ‘The Woodsman”.The model was the same, serial numbers carried on from the preseries, but at this time the addition of the 4 1/2' sport barrel and thefirst series Match Target which had a heavy flat sided barrel was introduced. This MatchTarget model also has a MT prefix to the serial number and thesenumbers are on the RH side of the bottom of the grip frame as the normallocation on the front strap was covered by the larger wrap-around walnut grips.Again after the introduction of the High Speed ammo in 1931 therecoil spring was changed and this thumbprint was changed to signify HS ammo,at about s/n 80,000. Conversionkits were made available for the older Standard Velocity guns. Some say the mainspring housing/slide stop was made of a different orcasehardened material. However itis my educated guess that this is not the case, just that the horizontal parallel lines on themainspring housing for identification, since they made the recoil springstronger to accommodate the more powerful round there was really no need tochange the housing.There were 3 sub series, the (1) Sport model which had a 4 ½”straight taper barrel and a fixed front sight. And the (2) Target model with a 6 5/8” barrel tapered barrel with a smallfront sight base, and the front sight pivoting in with adjustment screw in frontfor elevation of the sight blade. (3) The Match Target used a totally differentbarrel, being flat sided nearly the same thickness as the front of the frame,then running parallel for about 1 ½”, raising to about 1” from the top and thenlathe turned in a taper but with the sides still flat, to the muzzle.
On the LH side of the flat directly in front of the where the barrel isthreaded into the frame, was rollmarked a Bullesye about 1” in diameter, withthe words Match above the Bulleseye and Target below.In the photo below you will notice the writing on the frame where the barrelscrews into that says 'The Woodsman'. Also note thetrigger moved more rearward in the trigger guard.
Triggers wereinterchangeable between ALL Woodsmans, even the 3rd series. Colt First Series Sport WoodsmanThe grips for the MT were usually made of checkered walnut and wrappedaround the front of the grip frame, utilizing one center screw there along withthe normal through screw. Thesewood grips had the sides extending downward, simulating elephant ears by whichthey were nicknamed.This Match Target only came with a 6 5/8” barrel and also hadadjustable front and a new adjustable Stevens rear sight. This series Match Target was in production from 1938 to 1944. Wartime MT production saw the use of brown plastic grips extendingdownward near the same configuration of the later 3rd series guns.The plastic material that the shorter standard grips that were used on theSport or Target versions was the same as the wartime MT.The rear sights were normally non adjustable on the Sport orTarget pistols.Magazines for the Pre-Woodsman and 1st series Woodsman areinterchangeable no matter the color.All of the Woodsman series have a unique take down systemthat retains the recoil spring for easier re-assembly. You will note asmall 1/8' peg protruding upward in front of the rear sight and slightly to theside of it.
This peg activates a recoils spring retainer that has to beutilized upon reassembly of the slide onto the frame.The 1938 factory advertisement for the First Series WoodsmanMatch Target shownbelow.Production ceased during WWII for private sales, however some4,000 Match Target pistols were assembled and issued for military practice purposes upinto 1944. These would have beenmarked 'US PROPERTY'. And thewooden grips were replaced with newer longer plastic grips. Woodsman 2nd series, Sport. Note the similarityto Colt 191145 ACP magazine latch & the adjustable rear sight, with ColtwoodgripsGrip adapters in ColtwoodAll post-WWII type Woodsmans, both Second and Third Series,have the serial number stamped on the RH side of the frame at the rear where thebarrel is threaded into. An S suffix is added to the serial number.Barrels were 4 ½”for both the Sport or Match Target, with 6” for the Target and Match Target.Front sights were different on the Sport than the Target models. The Sport had afront sight sloping forward apparently to facilitate a easier draw from apocket, while the Target and Match Target model's upper rear angled rearward, togive a better non reflective sighting surface.
Of the versions offered,the 4 1/2' Match Target is the rarest, because most dedicated target shooterswanted the longer barrel, supposedly for better accuracy.All barrels of the post Warmodels were screwed into the frame using LEFT HAND THREADS. This wasapparently because of the RH rifling and if the barrel was not secured tightlyenough, the bullet rotating inside the barrel and the barrel using RH threads,the barrel could unscrew, not a common occurrence, but did happen occasionally.There was a magazine safety feature of the this new series, which made the firearm unfireable with the magazine out. And there is a slide stop inletted intothe LH grip panel, as visible inthe photo above, on all the Woodsmans of this series that slidestop holds the slide back on firing the last shot in the magazine.This slide stop feature was not available on the economical Challenger, Huntsman or Targetsman,however the slides could have been machined for it as they probably came off the sameWoodsman production production line before the rear sight cuts were made.The slide appears to be the same rounded top as the 1 stseries.
All the rear sights used onthese early 2 nd series models were the Coltmaster. The front sightsall were installed in a small silver-soldered on ramp, and the blades wereretained by 2 small pins.The grips were made of “Coltwood” a wood-grained mottledbrown/yellow/black Bakelite.
The Target and Match Targetutilized a thumbrest on the LH grip panel. The Sport version’s LH panel was plain.At some later date the grips went to injection molded brown plastic.A unique feature of the 2nd series Woodsman is the provisionfor a grip adapter on the back strap which was made of the same material as thegrips. With few exceptions, each came with two grip adapters, a large and asmall, and were secured by a single screw from the rear.Now you may see some of the Sport versions with the standard ramp front sightbase but a fixed rear sightand made from mid-1949 to mid-1950 only. However these seem to be a theprototype and predecessor to the Challenger series. One Colt letter statesthis was issued to the military as a arctic survival pistol.Although it is part of the Second Series, the Challengermodel, (being a economy model) unlike the Woodsman, had a spring catch at thebutt and a C suffix to the serial number.
The Challenger was a economy model with fixed front and rear sights. These could have either the 4 ½” or 6” barrel, with the shorter barrel morecommon as these were promoted as a trappers sidearm.Triggers were usually the curved for the Sport, Challenger andearly Target, with the Match Target being grooved and more straight with aforward bend at the bottom. However on some of the early 2nd seriesyou will see the less pronounced arc normally used on the Match Target of thesame vintage found on some Targets or even Sport versions as seen in the photoabove. Colt Challenger, early version.
Note the spring type buttstyle magazine latch,brown grips& fixed sightsWoodsman Second Series, Late (1953-1955)In 1953 the slide had a center raised rib and a newAccro rear sight was used. This sight was inletted into the top of the slide’s rib, making for arear sight of less upward protrusion giving it more protection.This is sometimes called the 2nd Series late version.In the photo below you will notice the new style adjustablerear sight as used on the Target and Match Target guns. Also notice thethumb rest on the LH grip panel also used on the Target and Match Target gunsand brown plastic grips. Woodsman 2nd series, late Match Target.
Note the newstyle Accro adjustable rear sight & slightly raised rib on slideWoodsman Third Series (1955-1977)The 3rd Seriesreplaced the 2nd Series in mid 1955. The most obvious change was the replacementof the push button magazine release with a new style snap catch at the rear of the butt.
If the magazinerelease is at the heel of the butt, AND the pistol has an S at the end of theserial number, it is a third series.The trigger guardwas made a bit larger, the grip adapters and lanyard ring were eliminated, and thetrigger was reshaped.The magazinesafety, which was a feature of the 2nd series, was carried over to the 3rdseries for a few months, and then was quietly dropped as the parts supply wasdepleted.The sights stayedthe same as the 2 nd series except for the Match Target, which went tothe new Elliason target style. Grips wereoriginally injection molded black plastic, butthey were otherwise identical to the late 2nd series brown plastic grips.In 1960, at about SN 189200-S, Colt switched to real walnut wood which were bulkierthan the previous plastic.The first 1001Woodsmans of the 3rd series were assigned serial numbers from the end of the 2ndseries serial number block, from 146138-S to 147138-S. The numbers then skippedto 160001-S and restarted.Note in the RH photo below the new style magazine bottoms weremade of a stamped metal that could be removed for cleaning.The 2nd and 3rd series utilized a automatic slide stop.If the slide stop engages by itself and not ONLY when the last round is fired,in all probability the slide lock spring is either broken or badly bent and orout of position.
The problem is usually the spring is notfunctioning and the lock is not being held down but slightly floats, whichbounces around during recoil, intermittently bouncing up at the wrong time.This spring is a bitch to get in place without pinching/bendingit so it allows the lock to function freely. It is a FINE wire with acouple of coils in the middle that goes in a hole in the slide lock and withtails on both ends, one tail under the hex headed screw and it has to beinstalled so that tension holds the lock DOWN.
It should only be activatedUP on the last shot by the magazine thumbpiece.Pull the grips off and you should be able to see it in the hole, but all therest is hid behind the stop body.If you take the screw off (do not pull it out), but try to keep it inposition with the stop as you pull the unit out to the left and away from thegun. And be careful to not remove this on or near a carpet floor.The hard part is putting it back. What trick I do is to use a Dremel tooland grind a slight groove in the screw body, under the head for the spring tailto nestle in. This then allows the tail of the spring a place to beslightly retained in place as you insert the unit back in place and hopefullyretains it there as you tighten the screw.You probably will have to do this numerous times to get the tail from not beingslid/locked under the larger screw body shank.
Woodsman 3rd series, Target. Note the new style buttpivoting magazine latchMagazine latched inThe 2nd seriesChallenger was replaced with the very similar model called the Huntsman but continued with the ChallengerC suffix serialnumbers. Word was, that therewas a model name confusion between the Browning Challenger 22 pistol also on themarket at that time, and the Colt’s pistol of the same name, so Colt changed their name to Huntsman.These more economical guns did not have the automatic slide stop as did the 'Woodsmans'.
Colt Targetsman. Note the economy fragile style rear adjustable sightSome of the internal parts interchanged from the early (evenpre-war) models clearinto the last versions, these being hammers, hammer plunger, sear and searspring and trigger bar.There are morechanges that could be added to this list, depending on how far one wishes to gowith the collection, and on which features the collector considers significant. An engineering or design change might be an important variation to oneperson, and an insignificant item of little interest to another who just wants apistol for plinking or packing on a hunting trip.
With the many overlappingchanges that took place over the span of years, the possibilities for thecollector are almostendless.Post War Serial Numbers;All three post-WWII type Woodsmans: Sport, Target and Match Target, bothSecond and Third Series, have an S suffix to the serial number. The Challengerhas a -C suffix. The Huntsman (third series) replaced the nearly identicalChallenger when the third series was introduced in 1955. The Targetsman,which is basically a slightly upgraded 6' Huntsman, was added to the line in 1959.The Huntsman and Targetsman both continued with the Challenger serial numbers(-C suffix) until 1969, when the serial numbers of all S frame models then inproduction: the Woodsman Sport, Woodsman Target, Woodsman Match Target,Huntsman, and Targetsman were integrated and restarted at serial number 001001S.You may encounter zero prefixes which confuse many Woodsmanowners who ignore the zeroes and think they have an early, low serial numbergun. The zero prefix serial numbers caused another problem when the serialnumbers beginning with 001000S reached 099999S and rolled over to 100000Sbecause serial numbers in that range had already been used in 1951-52 and beganrepeating themselves. When the error was discovered 1336 guns had alreadybeen serial numbered, so they were hand stamped with a S prefix creating the'Double S' prefix/suffix serial number.This series ofpistols were made in the excess of 690,000 firearms being sold during theirproduction life of 62 years ending in 1977.For a link to a factory Woodsman takedown instructions Thisis copied off Bob Rayburn's Colt 22 website.Magazines;The later (post war) magazines were all thesame, but different. The Second and Third Series (ALL VARIATIONS) used amagazine latch similar to the Colt 1911s, requiring a upper retainer notch.The Challenger and Huntsman also used this same magazine, however they utilized a rearbottom frame mounted latch.
The factory simply supplied the same Woodsman magazine forboth (where the Challenger and Huntsmans latch used the bottom rear as aretainer disregarding the upper Woodsman latch notch.)When the supply of these notched magazines ran out, the next batch did not havethe retainer notch of the earlier versions. The design was slightlydifferent (simplified) but they fit and operated the same.
Here is shown a 2nd/3rd series Woodsman magazine with a calipermeasuring the notch location to the TOP of the retainer notchThe later Cadet and Colt 22 used the same magazine as the later non notched3rd series magazine, however they were usually made of stainless steel.If you have a 2nd or 3rd series gun and need amagazine, any of the Challenger and Huntsman or Cadet and Colt 22 magazinecan be altered buy cutting a retainer notch at the proper location. Thisnotch location is CRITICAL to proper feeding. The factory notch is.087' wide andmeasured from the very inside corner where the bottom joins the body 3.155' to the TOP of thenotch as seen in the photo above.
This can be cut by using toolmakers Layout die, scribing the linesin this colored die for guidance, then using a Dremel tool with a cut-off stone andCAREFULLY make the notch. It may be best to cut the top cut a bit lower anduse the trial and error method of lockup as you do not want a lot of up/down slop, howeveryou need ENOUGH to have the latch engage freely.
The lower side of the notch is notreally critical, EXCEPT if it is overly wide, then more debris can accumulateinside.This notch does not be very deep(.075') or about.293' measured from the bottom of the notch to theopposite side. If the cut is made flat with the box, the overallwidth will be about.243'.It is best to grind this notch with ammo in themagazine and to where your depth comes close, but does not normally touch the bullet. The reason forthis isthe follower coil spring rides inthis rounded groove and you could very easily cut (ruining) this spring if itwas fully UP, with no ammo in the magazine.Copies;These guns, like many successful firearmsafter patent rights ran out, were copied. There was one made inSouth America by the name of something similar toGaucho. Iver Johnson made another copy calling theirs theTrailsmen but made in 1985-1986 with only 1990 produced.Now Comes My Association With the ColtWoodsman. As ayoung man in high school, I ran a trap line EARLY mornings and week-ends duringthe winter. I had saved enough money doing farm jobs during the summer andconvinced my mother to purchase me a 22 pistol.
Which happened to be a used H&R model 922, with a 6' barrel.This was the older version without multiple extraction, you had to use thecylinder base pin to push out each fired case. Iliterally wore this gun out, even sent it back to the factory once, I laterwore/chipped the ratchet on the cylinder, so I soft soldered a gob of solder onthe missing section, and withmy pocket knife whittled it down so the cylinder rotated and was timed correctly. When it woredown again, I just redid the solder job. I got very good at shootingtree leaves and specks of foam floating down the nearby creek in the winter time.And during the summer, if I hung a spinner on a alder limb across the creek while fishing for cutthroattrout, would pull the line tight and shoot the limb off to get my spinner back.After I got out of school and got a job in the woods, I bought myown Christmas present, a used 1953 Colt Woodsman Target on December 21, 1956 for$47.50. I remember this price as it was $10.00 more than Ruger was sellingtheir new Standard model 22 automatic pistols for at the time.
I still have the bill ofsale (somewhere). Matter of fact a number of years ago, I mentioned to my wife 'Happyanniversary of our first date'. She asked how could I remember that, 'easyI had just bought my first Colt Woodsman that day', (not what she wanted tohear by the way).When I turned 21, I got my first Concealed Weapons Permit and thatpistol was a constant companion to me, riding in a Nelson shoulder holster forMANY years.
I could not begin to count how many ruffled grouse that pistolhas accounted for. Or how many deer it has finished off, not to mentionthe one or two it got on it's own.
It even finished off a bull elk onceand killed numerous slaughtered beef cattle with it. Or the pigeon who's head was shotoff while sitting on the top of a barn roof with it. And possibly even a fewsalmon in the fall, not to mention those ferocious soda cans.My parentslived near a creek that had a footbridge crossing it leading to the barn. In thewinter when the water was up, I shot many floating alder leaves and specks of foam movingwith the current from this bridge with this pistol. And you will besurprised on how good a person can get at instinctive shooting (from the hip) like this whenyou can see the bullet impact in the water.From this association, after becoming a full time gunsmith and being more closelyassociated with firearms, I began acquiring more of these little beauties.
Beforelong I found some that were not listed in any of the reference books availableat thattime. This intrigued me, so if I could not buy one of these different versions, Iwould at least make notes as to the differences and serial numbers.Through my business and attending Washington Arms Collectors monthly meetings, I became acquainted with a man who was collectingWinchester 22 pump rifles.
He also had a few Colt Woodsmans, so we startedcomparing notes. This man was Major Robert Rayburn.Bob soon became more interested in the Colts than the Winchesters, sold therifles off and we both pursued collecting Colts. I went for all Coltautomatics, while Bob stayed with just the Woodsmans. We compared notes for agood many years, gaining insight to these pistols. We had both put together very good Colt collections.I did some competitive indoor 22 pistol shooting for a while until my eyesightdeteriorated to where I needed cataract surgery.
And yes, I shot a Colt Match Target model.At that time, the property I owned wasjust under 3 acres and I was leasinganother 4 + acres. I was raising riding/pack horses for my son and I for ourelk hunting trips into high primitive country on the Cascade range. I had made mention to theowner of this leased property, if he ever decided to sell, I wanted 1st chance. Well hefinally offered it to me. But I had boxed myself into a corner then and needed thisproperty as I had built a larger barn on my property for the horses. But I did not have thefinances to purchase the other property at that time.The only tangible thing I was somewhat willing to part with was my Colt collection.This was a hard decision, but for those of you who may also have a collection ofany kind, how do you store it safely, take care of it, much less who do you evenconsider showing it to?
As someone may mention your name at the wrong timeor place and it could get repeated in the presence of a thief or his friends.And it was a investment (sort of), and so would be that land. I made a deal with the land owner and started sellingoff my Colt collection. It was split upand Bob bought all the Woodsmans, where the centerfire guns went to another collector inPortland OR. Bob cherry picked out the guns I had, with what he didn't have,or upgraded his with mine and sold/traded the others. Before long he accumulated one of the bestColt Woodsman collections in the world.Bob expanded his knowledge, displayed his collection at nationalconventions and wrote magazine articles.
He even wrote books givingexplicit information not previously published. He put together a websiteSome of hisdata was acquired from visiting the Colt factory achieves. On his website hehas photos of the most frequent problem of reassembling this pistol.When I sold my collection, the one pistol that did not go was my original Woodsman.It had by then been transformed into a Sport version by shortening the barrel to 4 1/2',reinstalling the front sight ramp and replacing the front target blade with asport blade.Many may ask if a longer barrel is more accurate. Here is my rusty/trusty WoodsmanThen as I got older (much older), I began disposing of many of my otheraccumulated guns. This original to me and my very good friend Woodsman, now has a home in mynephew's gun vault.To save time and frustration, on both your and my parts, you mightconsider to also look at this article of mine giving an illustrated drawing ofthis gun if you need help getting it back together.Over the years if you look long enough,irregularities may appear on any mass produced firearm.
Colt Challenger Magazine Release Lock Massachusetts Removal
This could also bethe case with these Colts. Probably top of the list could bemiss-stamped parts including barrels, slides or even frames. These wouldnot be considered rare, but more in the category of abnormalities.You can also see guns with parts being changed somewhere during it's previouslife, (and usually not done at the factory) this would include grips, barrels,or sights. Gunsmiths can be ingenious at times.Copyright ©2014 - 2018 LeeRoy Wisner All Rights ReservedOriginated, Last updated 8.