Opinion on Gold Cup Trophy for sale

[sleepyone]

I have been looking for a Colt Gold Cup Trophy in stainless with the Bomar rear sight. I saw one listed tonight by the original owner that has the Elliason rear sight and is from 1998 or 1999. The SN ends with a CS, which I am told stands for Custom Shop. The newer models don't have the CS in the SN. Does that even mean anything? Were they truly made in the custom shop or just had some finishing work performed there which allowed Colt to say it was a custom shop gun? Supposedly, this gun had a couple of hundred rounds shot through it, was cleaned and put in the safe where it has sat for the last ten plus years.

I have several questions:

Are these pistols more desirable than the current production GCT in SS?

I have read that the Elliason sights have always been problematic in coming loose after several hundred rounds. I know I like the Bomar sights because my DW Patriot has them (Champion actually), but many people say the Elliason sights are fine and work better because of their lower profile.

Do they have full height and windage adjustments?

This is not a deal breaker, but do the older pistols have any MIM parts and plastic MSH like the current ones?

The barrel also says National Match on it, which I am not sure the new ones do. Does it matter?

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[nathan]

I would go for a Combat Elite than a Gold Cup . The latter is overhyped and the adjustable rear sight is not as sturdy. Its mainly for range fun pistol.

 

[DesertFox]

I'd go for the Gold Cup myself.

 

[loadedround]

I own two Gold cups; one of which is a Series 70 purchased in 1972. I carried and shot bullseye with this pistol for many years and never had a bit of trouble with it's Ellison rear sight. I had a slight problem with the rear sight pin backing out after extensive firing, but was fine after peening one end of the pin. However I did have the front sight shoot loose...a minor fix.

 

[rklessdriver]

The problem with the Elliason sight has always been their owners shooting fulll power hard ball ammo with the 14lb wadcutter spring installed in the gun. The resulting slide bottoming out so hard causes the sight retaining pin to either break or walk out.

COLT actually used 2 different sights that were similar on earlier Gold Cups. Elliason and Arrco. Both are good target sights but the Arrco was reported to be a bit sturdier. I wouldn't call them low profile by any means. Both are fully adjustable.

As you stated COLT changed the new Gold Cup Trophy (stainless) to the Bomar type sight which is very sturdy and IMO far better than either the Elliason or Arrco.

What an older Gold Cup has as far as MSH and MIM parts depends on how old it is. Most will probally have the nylon MSH.

I can't remember if the new Gold Cup Trophy barrel says National Match or not. It's been a few months since I saw one on a table for sale. I don't think it matters unless you just want the text on yours. I know my new XSE Combat Elite does indeed say National Match on the barrel.... As someone else suggested it is a good alternative if you can find one.
Will