Woodsman
Turned down 1200, twice for this pistol, just curious of the guesstimated value, I suspect it's pushing 2k. 1937 issue date, maybe Annapolis Naval Academy... Flash makes it look rough, but actually in good condition
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Strikes me that you should have took the $1200. Although it's U.S. marked, it doesn't have the "Elephant Ear" grips, that were standard on the Match Target. Looks like somebody added a plastic insert to the front sight. Also the finish looks mottled, although this might be caused by oil on the surface being reflected by the flash? 0 -
I agree with Rufe, much of the collector value is compromised by the non-original condition. Even all original it would have to be pretty much NIB to get close to 2K. 0 -
Make it 3 with the same opinion Late model grips have been installed on early model frame slide plate above the trigger Hanging down or incorrect replacement part Looks reblued in your pictures "might be your pictures". I would say a shooter but far from a collector pistol. and better shooters "HIGH STANDARDS" are available for less then $750.00 all the way to $200.00 for used Rugers
EDIT Good news on the front sight I for one would shoot the pistol with the Stocks that are currently on the pistol If you send me your email address by going to my member profile I can show you some pictures of what the correct magazine and military stocks should look like also need to know if the main spring housing was ever updated the early ones were not made to shoot any thing but STANDARD VELOCITY if updated the small fingernailed sized pattern on the top of the back grip strap should be horz. lines not CHECKERING . Cheers Karl.0 -
Make it 4; really need the right grips. . .which I don't think would be the wooden elephant ear grips which are on the commercial versions but rather hard plastic extended grips were standard on the US Property guns. Hard to tell about the finish, might be better than the pictures indicate, but I'd agree that $1200 was probably a pretty good price.
Edit: Also meant to ask about the magazine, do you have the proper match target magazine? Should be two tone and marked on the base to indicate it was for a match target. That magazine is probably worth $150 or so if in good shape and reduces the value if not with the gun.0 -
I agree on the condition and the horrible fit of the sideplate, but I am not so sure about the stocks. Military Match Target pistols did not use the "Elephant Ear" stocks. The military MT pistols used a pair of long plastic stocks. If the pictured gun does not have the second hole near the bottom of the front strap, then it never had the one-piece stocks (stock?), because they require a hole near the bottom of the front strap.
Does the gun have a screw hole near the bottom of the front strap? Does the gun have the original Match Target marked magazine? (If so, that is an expensive magazine.)
With the sideplate problem, and the incorrect stocks, the value is hurt big time.
Is the sideplate a homemade replacement? Is it installed incorrectly? I do not see how it could be that far off.0 -
My apologies for not replying sooner, darn satellite internet went down last night.
The previous pics were taken just as it was received, and it hadn't even been wiped down, I can get some more up later if anyone is interested.
The side plate was simply loose, and is now attached correctly with a great fit, simply tightened the screw.
The finish in the pics is from the flash and finger prints all over it, it really is in great shape.
The front sight is iron, with what appears to be fingernail polish (Two coats, different shades, and the "Man" code prevents me from correctly identifying them)
Everyone is correct that the grips are not original, I "think" the originals were missing in action when it passed hands prior to me getting the pistol. Anyone know where I can get the correct grips for it? I am fairly sure those came off of a Woodsman just not sure which breed.
AFAIK, the mag is original, is there some identifying feature I can look for that says it's a MT, stamped maybe? I don't have the firearm with me at the moment, but will later this evening.
I have run the serial numbers on it, and if I am correct, there are only 4000 produced...?
I intend to hold on to it and have very little invested in it, so monetary value has little meaning except for curiosity's sake. I would turn down any offer as there's a certain sentimental value as well. I've already ran several boxes of 22's through it and it a great little shooter, makes me look good on the range. That alone makes it invaluable as I am a terrible pistolero. I'd love to find a set of grips for it, as well as possibly an original holster and will be at the Pope show in Smyrna Tennessee this weekend. So if anyone is dealing with related items, give me a shout
Thanks for all the quick and insightful replies, I have several other minor collector pieces that I will post up at some point and maybe you good folks can advise me with them as well.
Thanks again!0 -
70_West,
Take a look at this listing on the auction side:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=124618651
This shows the kind of grips that should be on the gun. Chances of finding any at a gun show are remote but you never know. Best chance might be on e Bay assuming the PC folks there haven't decided that grips are taboo along with barrels, magazines, etc. which have been banned there for awhile. Enjoy the gun, they are unique. The magazine will have, as I remember, Colt and MT, or maybe Match Target on the bottom and will be two tone (blue halfway down, no finish on the top half. I've got a couple in my gun safe but at the moment can't get to them or I'd give you an exact description. They are marked specifically for the Match Target gun though so you'll know if its just a standard Colt Woodsman magazine.0 -
22highpower has correctly identified the proper style of stocks (Colt calls them "stocks." "Grips" are found on tricycles and bicycles) found on most military Match Target pistols. The original poster did not verify if there is a hole at the bottom of the front strap, so it is still up in the air on that issue. No hole can be seen in the picture, but the angle is not helpful in that regard.
I am surprised to learn that the side plate was just loose. That is good news, but one wonders how it got loose, and how it was ignored without immediate attention when noticed.
Removal of the paint on the front sight remedies that problem, which is good news since a replacement would be hard to find.
The magazine should have three lines on the floorplate, with "Match Target" specifically mentioned. If it does not, the magazine is not correct, and that is a $300+ deduction in value.
The correct stocks can still be found on eBay (eBay does not forbid such "cosmetic" items, only "functional" items such as barrels and magazines, etc.), but they are scarce and expensive. No doubt, a set of correct stocks would increase the value of the gun, probably more than they would cost on eBay, and certainly would improve its appearance. I have not seen a set sell on eBay for a long time, but the last set was over $200 as I recall. I have several sets and might be willing to sell a set with a repair on the backside, which is invisible from the outside.
The "10 post" rule will soon be reached here, so we may never learn the final information on this interesting gun, unless the original poster starts a new thread.0
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