First Colt 1911 - Gold Cup

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dhcustomwork

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While I've had a few 1911 styled semis, and I've had a few colt revolvers; this is my first Colt 1911. Picked this up at a local gun show yesterday. I traded a couple refinished Police Positive Specials and a worn Trooper MKIII for it. Considering the little total $ I had in the three revolvers, I think I came out quite well.

This GC is from the very end of the 70 series it looks like: '82-'83. From my estimate, it's about 98% plus condition. The owner (an older guy that's been a Colt collector a long time) never fired it and doesn't think the original owner did much if any either. He thinks he has the box somewhere at home, but no promises. It would certainly be cool if he can find it. Did I do ok?

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For your first M1911 and the deal you made to get it I would say you hit a home run with that Gold Cup. I found that the one I had really did its best work accuracy wise with 185 gr. semi-wadcutter match ammo.
 
Very nice. It sounds like you did well on the trade, especially if you are more happy with what you received in comparison with what you traded.

I traded a Taurus PT99 with two mags and $100 for a Gold Cup in 1996. It is hard to believe how much they have appreciated over the years. I wonder how much the Taurus is worth today? :evil:
 
Get some of Stan Chen's/ASYM Precision bullseye loads if you want to see how accurate it is...
 
I see the roll-pin in the rear sight is already falling out, or already broke, which is a very common problem with the Gold Cup.

Suggest you go ahead and take it out and see if it is broke, or just loose.

The perminent "fix" is to replace it with a cut-off # drill bit shank solid pin of the proper size (tight friction fit).

rc
 
Thanks for the comments all. Really liking it.

rc - I went back and checked that roll pin after I read your post. That thing is rock solid in there and is actually protruding pretty much the same on both sides; just under a 1/16". Doesn't appear to have moved any, but I'll definitely keep an eye on it. Thx for the heads up on those.

I also had a chance to really inspect this thing closely today. I'm finding it hard to think its been fired at all since the factory. The feed ramp, extractor, etc. just don't show any signs of use.
 
Now now. No brand bashing, from either side, please. :)

I've had two RIA 1911 platform guns; a 45 & a 9mm. The 45 was trouble from day on


and needed lots of tuning. The 9mm was one of the tiniest shooting handguns I've used and was perfect out of the box. I'd own another without question and be happy to shoot the snot out of it. Once proven, I'd trust it as a carry piece as well.

With all that said .... it's still not a Colt. Period.
 
I have one like it that i have had since late 70' the pin in the sight tried to come out and i took it out and put a little bend in it and that was 30 years and many many rounds ago You might want to try that before replacing it.
 
Back in the late 60's I used to use a magnet to find lost Gold Cup sights in the gravel at the various Military Bullseye pistol & rifle matches I used to attend as an Army AMU pistol team gunsmith & shooter.

I carried a length of drill rod in my tool chest to replace the civilian shooters Gold Cup roll-pins with.


IMO: If yours hasn't broke and flown off in the weeds or gravel after 30 years yet??
You are not shooting it very much.


The OP's is coming apart already, and hasn't been shot hardly at all according to him.
I wasn't trying to make a big deal out of it.

I was just pointing out an obvious & well known problem on his Gold Cup that can be easily fixed before it becomes a lost Colt/Elliason rear sight you can't get anymore.

rc
 
it looks lonely. she needs a custom holster and a range report. and more pics, of course.

murf
 
rcmodel said:
Back in the late 60's I used to use a magnet to find lost Gold Cup sights in the gravel at the various Military Bullseye pistol & rifle matches I used to attend as an Army AMU pistol team gunsmith & shooter.

I carried a length of drill rod in my tool chest to replace the civilian shooters Gold Cup roll-pins with.


IMO: If yours hasn't broke and flown off in the weeds or gravel after 30 years yet??
You are not shooting it very much.


The OP's is coming apart already, and hasn't been shot hardly at all according to him.
I wasn't trying to make a big deal out of it.

I was just pointing out an obvious & well known problem on his Gold Cup that can be easily fixed before it becomes a lost Colt/Elliason rear sight you can't get anymore.

rc
Click to expand...
Thanks again for your input RC. I do appreciate it. Id hate to lose that sight for sure.

Thanks for looking and for all the comments, guys. I'll be making a special owb holster for it soon. Honestly, I doubt it will see the inside of a holster other than on special occasions. And it will be a soft top grain lined holster at that.
 
dhcustomwork

What rcmodel said. I had to replace both rolled sight pins on my Gold Cup and on a Trooper MK.III I use to have. Both pins broke in half and I replaced them with a section of a drill bit that was fitted to each gun. Pretty much the standard fix back then and still a practical and easy to do replacement today.
 
Now that's a sweet Gold Cup. I'm getting too old to do serious bullseye competition any more, but 30 years ago I would've loved to have one of them. Closest I ever got was a custom build with a Gold Cup barrel and slide. I still have it. I've probably put 50,000 rounds through the thing.
 
There is no reason for wasting money on a Colt. Get a Rock Island.. they are equal in EVERY way except cost. Nuf' said-
Click to expand...

You do realize he's already bought it? :rolleyes:

Very nice Gold Cup dhcustomwork. I think you made a good trade. I have an earlier version with the collet bushing and have pounded thousands of rounds through it in Bullseye matches. It's still as tight and as accurate as it was the day it was born.
 
History has shown that money isn't wasted on a Colt. Buy today and they are worth more tomorrow. I am not sure the same can said for some offshore clone.
 
A RIA the equal of a Colt GC? No way. I'm not a colt fanboy, but those two aren't in the same league.

Nice looking GC. One of these days ill run across one I just need. Until then my S&W and Kimber will do just fine. Never had an ounce of issue with either one.
 
That is a really nice Gold Cup. Looks like someone was saving that one just for you! Feed 'em the right load and they can be scary accurate.
 
A RIA the equal of a Colt GC? No way. I'm not a colt fanboy, but those two aren't in the same league.
Click to expand...

I was just being a jerk.. I'm a Colt snob in fact, for good metallurgical reasonings :) 70 series pistols are very nice! And this one is a beauty.
 
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