This is an exceptionally rare, all original Colt Woodsman pistol that was shipped to the U.S. Marine Corp. This specific pistol is one of 1250 pistols shipped to the Transportation Officer, Marine Corp. Supply Depot, Camp Lejeune N.C. in July 1953. This information has been verified via a Colt letter dated April 1992. These early Woodsman were probably intended for limited competition use and, more than likely, basic pistol training and recreational use at the base. Any U.S. Property marked 22 Cal. pistols are considered very desirable with any U.S.M.C. marked pistols being extremely desirable and very rare as most were destroyed and not sold to the general public. This pistol is marked on the left side of the barrel with the Colt factory address with the Colt Rampant Horse logo on the frame over "WOODSMAN". The slide has the standard markings of: "COLT" followed by "AUTOMATIC/ Cal. 22 LONG RIFLE". The right side of the frame has been roll marked by the Colt factory with: "U.S.M.C. PROPERTY" over the serial number. It has the ramp front sight with the adjustable rear sight on the slide. It is fitted with a set of brown plastic checkered grips with the Colt logo on the right side and the thumb rest on the left side. It has also been fitted with the small brown plastic arched grip housing on the rear of the frame. Accompanying this lot is a letter from Major Robert Rayburn, a collector and researcher of Colt Woodsman pistols, noting that these pistol were all ordered to be destroyed, and it is estimated that few actually survived. Obviously making it a very rare pistol indeed.

Fine condition with 85% plus of the original Colt factory finish overall with blue loss on the edges and high spots overall. The grips are also in very good condition with a nice dark brown color showing light wear on both sides. A very nice example of a super rare U.S.M.C. marked Colt 22 Woodsman pistol.

This is a representative example of another one of the Colt Woodsman pistols that was originally shipped to the Transportation Officer, Marine Corps Supply Annex, Barstow Ca. on June 1953. This information has been verified in a Colt factory letter dated Oct 1982. This example, as you can see, is one of the pistols that was ordered to be destroyed. In factory, the Marine Corp. did succeeded in demilling the frame by making a small torch cut through the chamber area. However, there is enough of the right side of the frame still existing that it still shows the partial "U.S.M.C." property markings over the Colt factory serial number "131954-S". This Colt factory serial number has been identified in the Colt factory letter noted above as being original. In addition to that, all the various parts have been removed from the pistol and only the bare, stripped frame remains. A great compliment to the fully intact Colt Woodsman in lot A.

Fair as demilitarized with traces of finish remaining with the markings noted above still intact and no parts or components remaining on the gun.