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Colt Gold Cup

dontellmywifedontellmywife Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
edited December 2013 in Ask the Experts
Experts: Help is needed. I am on the verge of buying a Colt Gold Cup within the next week or 10 days and I need information as there are several variants available on our for sale boards. Which is the better of the various models? Series 70, series 80, Gold Cup, Gold Cup Trophy etc? I have heard almost every one speak of the series 70 as the greatest of all Colts, but there are many ads that state NIB this or that series, Gold Cup or Trophy From Colt's Custom Shop. What does that entail really and how do you know if it has been to the custon shop? Do all Gold Cups come from the Custom shop or only some of them? What do you look for as far as features that distinguish the Gold Cup?
A tall order I know but I'm sure the experts can show me the path to salvation.

Nil Illegitimus Carborundum
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Comments

  • dontellmywifedontellmywife Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own a blued series 70 Gold Cup. Question is why is the safety lever "purple"? This gun is in 98%++ condition and the blueing is beautiful.
    Thanks to any replies.
    pjpjr
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  • dontellmywifedontellmywife Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    bought a gold cup 45 serial no; 71-627 any one know how to reference this? cant find this serial no anywhere. gun was first registered in 1980
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  • dontellmywifedontellmywife Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Can anyone please explain the difference between a Colt Gold Cup National Match and a Colt Gold Cup Trophy?
    Thanks so much
    dontellmywife
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello before WW II colt made a civilian model that had a roll stamp
    GOVERNMENT MODEL and serial numbers had LETTER C before the serial # they also had a National Match.The government slide had

    COLT AUTOMATIC
    CALIBER 45
    IT HAD FIXED SIGHTS

    The National match had the same frame and marked the same But the slide and barrel were Different and hand fitted
    The barrel was marked and the slide was marked

    NATIONAL MATCH COLT AUTOMATIC
    CALIBER .45

    THE SIGHTS CAME BOTH WAYS FIXED AND ADJUSTABLE

    Then after the war came the First GOLD Cup 1957 the serial numbers started or ended with the letters NM and the slide left side was stamped

    NATIONAL COLT AUTOMATIC
    *MATCH* CALIBER .45.

    The other side of the slide had the out line of a TROPHY CUP.

    I WILL FINISH THIS LATER LOOK FOR EDIT
    lATER TO DAY STARTING WITH THE SERIES 70


    EDIT the series 70 did away with the trophy cup on the slide AND then They also made a 38 special MID RANGE Match pistol
    Then the series 80 Pistols started being made and Colt markings and serial prefix/suffix when to hell in a hatbox. There are more exceptions on how to determine what pistol slide should be on the frame then you can shake a stick at Only true way to tell if frame matches the slide is the original box or colt letter. About this time frame colt had SOME quality Control problems and started making
    The Gun Of The Month MODEL[V]Now on top of all this we have MILITARY
    NATIONAL MATCH pistols This you could write a book on and actually one person did Bill Jenkins did just that they were built by U.S. Government PISTOL SMITHS with stock Military Frames and the barrel Slide Sights Triggers went through many many changes. They are still loanded AT camp Perry for the week to allow Shooters to use them in the CMP HARD-BALL matches. I hope this helps somewhat Pictures will allow us to have a shot at telling you what you have and when it was made. Cheers PERRY SHOOTER
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  • 62fuelie62fuelie Member Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    PS, didn't the Gold Cup and National Match have a wider trigger slot to allow for the wide match trigger? Was that just a custom shop mod to an off-the-line frame? Mine is a '57
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes starting in 1957 They all had wider trigger that was adjustable for over travel and the 1/2 cock notch on the hammer was only about 1/32 inch wide and had an extra spring and small piece to stop doubling because of trigger Bounce
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  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Perry Shooter,

    Thanks for explanation. It is interesting to me even though I don't collect the Colt Govt Models.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    [img][/img]Colt1911GROUP_zpsd69b0e79.jpg
    Visions of sugar plumbs[^]

    one pre War with swartz safety one 1959 one series 70 and one Military 1965 used at Camp Perry only year with NM7791435 SLIDE
    NM7791414 BARREL CONTRACTED TO H&R TRIANGLE SIGHTS serial MARKED # SLIDE FRAME & BARREL.
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