Colt Gold Cup

[dh1633pm]

Received this at my dad’s passing in August. A Colt Gold Cup National match, 80’s vintage. It has all the National Match things. Series 70, nice trigger, a nickel finish of some sort. All the things you read about the Gold Cup. A couple questions. what type of finish is this? Factory or not? Also it has some mods. Is a full length guide rod factory? Lastly, what questions do I need to ask, just don’t know to ask? The old adage “you don’t know what you don’t know”.

i shot it in September. It shot nice. I have shot it many times over the years. It’s the pistol my dad kept next to the bed until he got older and a 686 took its place. It shoots as well as my SA Range Officer. My dad had rubber wrap around grips on it. I put the wood ones on it. Found them in his stuff. Couldn’t find the double diamond ones or the wooden ones that I always remembered being on it. Haven’t finished sorting everything, so they still may show up.

 

[tommy.duncan]

Sorry to hear about your Dad.
Nice pistol!!

 

[hso]

Satin Ni finish.

These came out of their Custom Shop with the satin nickle finish, a 5 inch National Match MK IV/Series 70 barrel and accurizer barrel bushing, adjustable trigger, serrated solid rib slide, patridge front sight, Elliason adjustable rear sight. Looks like your dad replaced the checkered grips and may have replaced the front sight (but don't put money on that).

Very special without having been your dad's.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks @hso. The rear sigh says “whicita” on it. Below is a closer picture of the front. The guide rod is full length. Didn’t mention those last night when I posted. Got up in the middle of the night with some pain, had surgery last week. Recovering as expected.

It was a special pistol for my dad and it will be for me as well. The fact that’s it’s a Gold Cup doesn’t really add or take away. It was one that he shot often. The one he took with him when he went camping.

 

[WVsig]

This is what the gun looked like NIB. My my eyes the sights, trigger and grips have been changed. Sorry for your loss. I would keep it just as your father set it up.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Seems a fitting memento for your padre. I hope it shoots as well for you for many decades to come.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks Dave.

 

[nofendertom]

The Wichita sight was an after market sight used on Gold Cups, rather than Bo-Mars because it was easier to mount. A very good sight and more robust than the original
Elliason sight IMHO. Looks like your Dad made some wise upgrades.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks. He always was a good shot. Knew exactly what he wanted.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Thanks. He always was a good shot. Knew exactly what he wanted.

that Gun is a AMAZING with that finish! he also did you a solid by firing the gun and using it. Now you can really enjoy the GC without having to worry about scratching it.

 

[dh1633pm]

Was sorting another bin today and found some additional grips:



Also found a .375 contender barrel (unrelated) , but also a 400 Corbin barrel and dies (related). Didn’t know he dabbled with that caliber.

 

[FL-NC]

Very nice. I have never heard of a Colt that came with the full length guide rod.

 

[FL-NC]

Also, I just pulled my gold cup series 70 out of the safe and looked at it- my rear sight says Elliason on it. No idea what is supposed to be on mine or yours. For all I know, they may both be "correct".

 

[dh1633pm]

I think your is correct according to an earlier post. The full length threw me off too.

 

[dh1633pm]

Does anyone know if a full length guide came with the Gold Cup or an aftermarket add on?

 

[Mark_Mark]

Does anyone know if a full length guide came with the Gold Cup or an aftermarket add on?

let me look at my Gold Cup and see! I have a 1982 original in box. One minute

 

[Mark_Mark]

that factory GCNM, I don’t think it’s full

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks @Mark_Mark

 

[SSN Vet]

Your dad had good taste in hand guns and obviously appreciated accuracy.
I think that for it's day, the GCNM was the pinnacle of accuracy in a factory gun.
There are several subtle details inside the GCNM guns of that era, that are different from the non-Gold Cup guns. (I recommend not detail stripping it, unless you do some research first.)

 

[bannockburn]

dh1633pm

Sorry to hear about your loss. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about my Dad and all of the great memories I have of him.

I believe the finish on your Dad's Gold Cup was an electroless Nickel finish called Coltguard. Kind of thought that this finish filled the gap in production before Colt could introduce an all stainless steel gun.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks. The finish is more of a dull nickel than shiny. Which would make sense. My dad always preferred stainless.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks to the generosity of @FL-NC I now have some Colt Grips for the pistol. He sent them no charge.

 

[dh1633pm]

Picture of the full length guide, well at racked slide picture of it:

 

[cfullgraf]

Sorry to hear about your Dad.

Nice pistol.

I do not think Colt installed full length guide rods in any Government sized 1911 but I’m not super familiar with all things Colt. Adding a full length guide rod is an easy swap. Going back to the standard recoil spring arrangement is just as easy.

One suggestion, if the gun has a collet barrel bushing, I’d swap it out for a standard NM solid bushing. The collet bushings have a reputation of breaking the fingers. Save the collet bushing for the next owner. He/she may want the gun with original parts.

A fitted solid bushing can give excellent accuracy from the gun.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Sorry to hear about you father. My condolences.

I don't believe that to be a factory finish. Polished stainless or blued is all I've ever seen. FL guide rods aren't something that Colt would use. Normally an after market part.