Have you ever wondered about the Colt Huntsman, and who designed it? Is the pistol any good? We’ll take a close look at this platform and give you the full rundown.

But first, a little background. Back in the day, my dad had a Colt Huntsman, which he bought shortly before their production ceased in the mid-1970s. This was the first pistol that I really became familiar with. He loved the thing and thought the world of this pistol. I’d go as far as to say he was obsessed with it.

I remember the first time he was shooting it. I was probably about six years old, and it sounded very loud to me; I thought this pistol was heavy artillery. He was shooting it at dusk, and I could see the muzzle flash, which added to the overall effect, and I’ll admit to being in awe at the time. We shot it often and I still have it to this day.

Huntsman, Not Woodsman

The Colt Huntsman was designed by none other than John Browning and was produced from 1955 until 1977. Chambered in .22 Long Rifle, the Huntsman is a fun little plinker, inspired by the world-famous Luger pistol.

Colt’s Woodsman (also designed by John Browning) looks very similar to the Huntsman. However, the Woodsman is more expensive because it has a couple of features that the Huntsman does not. To put it simply, the Huntsman was geared toward those who didn’t want to spend quite as much money.

The Woodsman has adjustable sights, whereas the Huntsman’s sights are fixed. The Woodsman has a bolt hold-open on the last round, whereas the Huntsman does not.

And the grip of the Woodsman has a small thumb rest, being a little fancier than the grips of the Huntsman. With that said, the Huntsman’s grips are not too shabby.

Grips and Ergos

Since we’re on the subject of grips, let’s dive in. The grip panels are made from Walnut, inlaid with a beautiful checkering pattern with a rich, warm appearance that adds to the classic charm of the pistol. They’re adequate for the purpose, and I’ve never had any issues with them. They’re not especially grippy, but overall, a decent purchase can still be had on the grip.

The long barrel out front gives it a slightly muzzle-heavy feel, although I don’t say that in a negative light; overall, the balance is excellent and the overall feel in the hand is better than the majority of today’s pistols.

Overall, the Huntsman feels great in the hand. It balances nicely, and the grip angle reminds me of the German Luger. The bore axis is surprisingly low for a pistol designed in 1955. Ergonomically, this pistol was ahead of its time.

Metals and Fire Controls

The Huntsman sports a blued steel finish, which was usual for the guns of this time period. Even though this pistol was intended to be one of their less expensive models, the bluing is beautifully done.

The slide features deep-cut rear serrations, which make it easy to rack the slide and charge the weapon. It’s not a huge slide, but it’s buttery smooth and extremely easy to handle, so those with strength issues are sure to enjoy that aspect. It just seems to glide when it’s worked, displaying the classic quality that Colt lavished upon its firearms of the day.

The Huntsman’s trigger is nothing short of exquisite. There is zero take-up or creep. It simply breaks like a glass rod. It’s not extremely light, but it’s far from heavy. A considerable portion of the pistol’s accuracy is owed to the outstanding single-action trigger.

Magazine Release

The magazine release is located at the heel of the grip in European fashion. A small latch protrudes, and it must be flipped up to release the magazine. Even after all these decades, it operates very crisply. It’s not the fastest way to eject a spent magazine, but it is what it is.

Safety Operation

The safety is a very simple affair. Raise it up, and it not only puts the pistol on safe but also locks the slide in place. It’s perfectly positioned so that the thumb of the firing hand can easily swipe it down so the pistol can be fired quickly.

The safety also functions as a slide lock, so you can lock the slide open should you desire. This is done by simply retracting the slide to the rear and then raising the safety, which fits into a cutout on the slide. This might appeal to some folks since there is no hold-open device when the last round is fired from the magazine.

At The Range

I’ve long been a proponent of the .22LR, having cut my teeth on it back in the 1970s. My enthusiasm for it hasn’t waned over the decades (if anything, it has intensified). It’s still the least expensive round out there, exhibiting low recoil and muzzle blast. The Huntsman could be thrown into a day pack with a brick of 500 rounds and carried in the field easily.

Recoil with this pistol is very tame. At close range, I can hold the Huntsman steady while pulling the trigger as fast as I can, and holes magically appear in the target. Extremely accurate, rapid fire is possible up close.

At 50 yards, I can shoot groups the size of my fist without any trouble at all. The excellent trigger and the fact that the barrel is fixed are likely reasons why this is possible. Plus, the excellent ergonomics, which seem to lock the pistol into the shooter’s hand, really do help a lot.

As mentioned previously, the pistol’s slide just glides along, which only adds to the pleasure of shooting the Huntsman.

Final Thoughts

It’s rare to find firearms this nicely machined and finished these days. It shows attention to detail that wasn’t given a second thought decades ago, but that is now rare and only given on special editions of firearms. The Huntsman will outlast me by many, many years.

It feels great in the hand, with stellar ergonomics. It’s reliable and very accurate. Smooth shooting with very little recoil.

Every time I pick this Huntsman up, it takes me back to that evening when my dad was first shooting this pistol. I can still see and hear it in my mind; I can still feel the excitement of that day. That memory is followed by hundreds of others, from the times when we took this pistol to the range for fun shooting sessions. My dad is gone now, but the memories and the pistol remain.

Isn’t it amazing how an inanimate object can fuel so many recollections? It certainly brings back happy nostalgia, as well as making us ache for days gone past.

I believe it’s a good lesson for us to remember to make special memories with the loved ones in our lives. One day we will no longer be here and we will have hopefully left a legacy that will make our loved ones smile. This pistol certainly does that for me.