Finally!
 

I have long wanted a set of genuine Sambar stag grips for my First Series Colt Woodsman. Some years back I ordered a set on ebay but they were way too thick and they totally changed the look and feel of the pistol. Fortunately the guy had a return policy. Then I tracked a set of really nicely aged ones that ultimately went for more than I paid for the gun; couldn't justify those!

Around Christmastime I found another pair on the bay, as nicely matched as any I've seen; very similar texture on both sides. The seller graciously supplied me with the measurements, which were just a very few thousandths over that of my OEM wood grips. Still, they were expensive, and I was kinda gun shy from the first pair I'd tried. One day I checked the listing and he was offering 20% off, free shipping, and a 14 day return privilege; couldn't pass that up!

Long story longer, I love them! They're beautiful, the gun looks great and feels really good in the hand; in fact I think the slightly thicker grips improve the feel, for me anyway. So here she is at last; the faux stag grips she had been wearing went on ebay the next day...

https://i.imgur.com/yQdO3fel.jpg?1

That looks great

Those do look nice!

I had a set of stag stocks on a Colt single action army, 44 special years ago. Traded them off for a set of factory stocks because they tried to peel my hand every shot with hot Keith loads. Looked great, but hurt too much.

Well these are pretty smooth. Plus I won't have to worry about that with a .22 and low pressure loads.

Relatedly, anybody with stag grips is pretty proud of them. A friend got a SA Colt Buntline with a set of what he thought were pretty poorly matched and fitted stag grips. That was fine with him because he wanted to put a set of walnut grips made from a special tree from his father's back yard on it anyway. But he sold the stags the next day for I think he said $450!

Those are handsome grips. Your gun is actually a First Model, Second Series. From 1915 to 1927, they didn't say 'WOODSMAN' anywhere on the gun, until sn34000. The Sport model, like yours, came out in 1934. The long barrel version wasn't called 'First Model' until 1934
There are a lot of those in top bureau drawers in this part of CT. I always said I want one of those, and If I get rid of five more, I'll have one.

According to Bob Rayburn's book which is pretty much the definitive guide for these pistols, it's a First Series Sport. The Sport Model was added to the line in 1933. This one is c. 1938 according to the serial number list in Bob's book.

The flip side...

https://i.imgur.com/efU4KUHl.jpg

great looking pistol the new stag handles really dress her up...charlie

The first handgun I ever shot was a Woodsman with my grandfather in 1957. The first rifle I shot was with my other grandfather and was a Marbles Gamegetter, also in 1957.

That makes more sense. The First series, was only the 6 1/2", and had the early style hammer spring housing, which was a checkered oval, The second series added 'The Woodsman', and changed the spring housing. the checkered oval went away and was replaced by the straight serrations. These were the first ones designed for high speed ammo.

Your lucky to have a holster with the gun. I bought a Match Target several years ago and haven't been able to find a suitable holster for it. It slops around in one I use for a Ruger MK1 target pistol.

Rich, I have a bunch of holsters Which I believe are for 6.5" Woodsmans
I was lucky to get this Colt holster with a Woodsman Sport.

Was the "Gamegetter" the model 1908 like this one? Not many people know what they are today. If it is registered and still in your family it is a treasure

Both models of the Gamegetter were removed from the BATF list and are now listed as Curio & Relic.

Why was it on the BATF&E list in the first place, because it is a "short-barreled rifle"?





.

It was NFA listed because of barrels lengths (12" 15" and 18" if my memory serves me correctly) and the folding stock complicated it further) the 12 & 15" still require a tax stamp and the 18" was removed from NFA.
There is a currently available version, but it isn't the same company, except in name only.

That Colt holster is really cool Edgar. Mine is a Heiser that I got from Bob Rayburn years ago. Rich, it took me a while to find one that fit; suitable ones do show up on ebay from time to time.

Rich, on ebay right now, there is a carved and laced Heiser for what the seller says is a 4 1/2" Woodsman. It is now at $7.50, but may go a little higher.

My Father's Woodsman Target that he said got in 1929, and carried all over, is marked WOODSMAN on the left side of the frame and has the checkered oval on the spring housing.

Attachment 60120

Note it on his belt just behind my head on this Minnesota Partridge hunt in 1950.

Attachment 60121

Edgar I want that Colt holster!

Looks like there are quite a few Woodsman holsters currently on flea bay.

So it would appear the changes didn’t happen on the same gun, at the same time. Maybe you can call it a ‘transition ‘ gun. :banghead:

Rich’s gun has the heavy barrel. Finding that holster is not that easy. (But he has one on the way)

Saw a few Gamegetters at a show last weekend that is put on by the Marbles Plus Club in Rapid River here in the UP. They still hold their prices as they are a great addition to the collectors of Marble Arms items. I have been doing that show for about fifteen years and every year at least one will show up.

Ours was a .22/.410 with the folding stock that also shot the round ball .44-40GG cartridge made especially for it. I have a few of those cartridges in my "stuff" here. We had the leather holster with our Gamegetter also. The gun went to a family member in Canada sometime in the mid 60's, never to return. Can't imagine the Canuck govt looks fondly on such a gun. I sure would like to have it as my airplane gun. Am thanking Edgar here for the info that they had been removed from the BATF list of evil guns. I had not heard that and am glad it happened as it seemed beyond absurd. As usual, Edgar proves himself the inveterate purveyor of invaluable minutiae. :bowdown:

Edgar I really appreciate your help in getting the holster for my Match Target:bowdown:

Regarding the list of evil guns by the BATF I have a Harrington & Richardson 410 single shot pistol. The called it The Snake Charmer. I don't remember how long the barrel is but it's not more than about 10 inches IIRC. The gun control act of 68 made it illegal. My ex father in law a retired Detroit cop gave it to me.

Edgar my holster came today and the pistol fits like a glove in it.
Many thanks :bowdown:

Rich,
I believe that H&R shot pistol was called the "Handy Gun". A buddy of mine in South Carolina had one that his father got from a Dupont plantation when the plantation was being sold for one of the golf courses being built, his father was the overseer of the place for the family. It even had the original holster and shot only 2-1/2" shells. The "Snake Charmer" was an 18-1/2" shotgun with a shortened stock to be compliant with the GCA 68, made I think, in the 80's. I think it was made by H. Coon Co. and the metal was stainless steel.However, your gun may have been named "Snake Charmer" by your ex father in law.

Jack Kuzepski

Thanks Jack that makes sense as the barrel isn't very long. I've tried to sell the thing a couple of times and no one will touch it due to the GCA of 68. It is chambered for the 2 1/2 inch shell IIRC. It looks like a big single shot break open pistol.

I collect anything Mable's have the Gamegetter 18 inch barrel with the wooden grips with holster.Dennis do you have the holster for your Gamegetter? J.J.

James,

No unfortunately I do not have the holster. The friend that I got the Gamegetter from had an absolutely mint 1908 with the original holster, the remains of the two boxes of ammunition ordered with the gun and the sales receipt from Montgomery Ward. I only bought this one as I just didn't have the funds, a whopping $750.00, for the better one at that time. As I recall he charged me $150.00 for this one and I believe the transfer fee was $5.00 at that time.

The same friend had a registered Ithaca Auto-Burgler 20 gauge double that I could have bought for $500.00 but again I just didn't have the money.

I did buy a 1849 Pocket Model Colt from him but let someone talk me out of it a couple of years later. I replaced that Colt this past year at about six times the amount I sold the other one for.


I'm headed to the gun show in Baltimore next month and hope to find a nice Civil War musket to bring home and who knows what else might tempt me perhaps another Parker.

If I didn't already suspect you'd have a 45-90 or something equivalent on board, I'd suggest you get one of these little Springfield Armory Scouts. They came in .22 Win Mag also, but that one is impossible to find. The .410 chamber is 3" so you can keep an assortment of shot and slugs.

Dennis,I'll be going to the Baltimore gun show do you have a table there and do any other members have tables? and row numbers would help. J.J.

Kevin McCormack and Bill Murphy will be in the historical location, B-4 and B-5. Maryland Antique Arms Collectors will be installing a bronze plaque commemorating our long time attendance at this location.

No, no table, this will be a quick trip, about a week, I don't intend to go to sell just want a nice musket.

I suspect we, my son, brother-in-law and myself will probably only go on Saturday. I'm not sure I can afford to even spend the whole day Saturday what with the temptations that will be offered. My plan is to take cash and leave the credit cards at the house, less tempting that way. I'll also leave the wife with my sister and daughter-in-law as she would say "if you want it buy it" and I'm certain that would make it a much more expensive trip.

Will the Parker Collectors Association or any members have a booth? If so I'll try to stop by and say hello.

We'll be staying with our son in Crownsville.

Credit cards don’t buy much in Baltimore. There is no PGCA table but lots of members have tables scattered all around the room. Off hand I can think of 8, but I’m probably leaving someone out. I missed last year, having a new hip later that spring, but I remember Allan Swanson saying he wasn’t going as Art Wheaton was no longer coming. There was always a gathering at his table as there was at the M&M table (Murphy/McCormick) chuck usually stores stuff under my table and Daryl hangs out there too.

Finally
 

I got the bug for a Woodsman several years ago after reading in the book Hemingways Guns that the Woodsman was his favorite handgun. I believe he had 3 of them and carried them in Cuba and Africa. Did not take me long to find a I think 1947 series 3 Model very good condtion. Had owned many pistols in my days but not this gun. Boy was I surprised at the accuracy!! Tracked down on EBay a nice Lawrence holster for it and I was in business. You have a very handsome rig with holster and clip carriers.