Can anyone name a .22 automatic pistol that came before the Colt Woodsman in 1915?

Browning developed three or four prototypes in 1915, the only one that remains is one specifically developed as a practice gun for the 1911 though it was never manufactured due to the war.

The 1911 Ace (22) was from 1931. The Service Model Ace- which had the Williams floating chamber came in 1935.

Does Browning get credit for the Woodsman?

Yes he does. U.S. Patent #1,276,716

Well Ed, you drove me to the books and you're right. I was thinking of the Chadwick, Tansley patent which is often cited for the Woodsman but Browning's predates that. Bady states that it was just an improvement on Browning's.

It was interesting to read that Springfield was interested in a .22 not long after the 1911 was adopted and made a couple of models that were not succesful.

But nobody has answered my question: is there any commerciall manufactured .22 automatic that predates the Woodsman?

I don't know of any offhand and right now the books I would use to look it up are kind of buried in a closet. (I'm thinking maybe a European manufacturer). Didn't Tansley, designed the grip safety on the 1911?

Don't know about the safety.

I've been looking too and haven't come up with anything yet. Let me know if you do.