Help Identifying Colt Commander

[MatthewE]

Hello: I have an option to purchase a Colt Commander Gold Cup National Match, Series 80, Mark IV. Ok, it sounds like I have identified it already. However, the picture the person sent me (very poor, over a cell phone) shows a commander style hammer. The only ones I can find with that style has three holes in the trigger, whereas this one does not. It also has the extended beaver tail. See the attached photo. Also, someone posted a nice four generation photo at http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=483877. I am trying to get a value on this gun, it is supposed to be in excellent shape, but I would value anyone's opinion as to what I should expect to pay for this, and if perhaps it has been alter with parts, as I can't find a photo of this combo anywhere. Thanks. Matt

 

[tipoc]

However, the picture the person sent me (very poor, over a cell phone) shows a commander style hammer. The only ones I can find with that style has three holes in the trigger, whereas this one does not.

It has a Commander style because it is a Commander I assume. I'm not sure that hammer is right though. The trigger is a Gold Cup trigger.

It's hard to tell much about it's condition from the pics sent.

Does it have the original box and papers?

What year was it manufactured?

tipoc

 

[MatthewE]

OK, I guess I should not have called it a commander, even though it has the commander style hammer, as I guess that may not be the case. The person that wants to sell it says it is a National Match Gold Cup, and I though that that it could also be a commander, but I guess that is something different.

I guess I just can't figure out why I can't match it up with anything anywhere. I can't find a photo of the exact same gun anywhere on the internet.

It was purchase used in the "1980s" and he has no box,case, or paper work with it.

 

[orionengnr]

I'm not sure what it is (due to the quality of the pics) but looking at the slide/frame, that is not a Commander.
A Gov't Model has a 5" barrel.
A Commander has a 4 1/4" barrel.
Pretty easy to tell the two apart once you have seen both side by side.

I am not a Colt expert, but as to value, my SWAG would be $700-850.

Might want to start again with some decent pics and a more legible set of questions.

 

[smalls]

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/nm.htm

4th picture down, info is somewhere around there.

 

[funnelcake]

Looks like an earlier Gold Cup Trophy to me. If so, the "duckbill" grip safety would be correct. Not sure when they switched from the steel triggers to the 3-hole aluminum parts.

Funnel

 

[farscott]

It looks like a stock "Enhanced" Series '80 Gold Cup National Match which was later called the Gold Cup Trophy. The elongated Commander hammer, the "duck bill" grip safety, and the wraparound grips (which should cover a serrated front strap) are consistent with that model. It is old enough to have the steel "kidney" trigger and the sear depressor, so I am estimating the date of manufacture at 1996 or so. In 1997, MSRP was $1050 for the blued model and $1116 for the stainless model.

The gun should have two recoil springs, one in the gun and one in the box. The one with the green dot is for soft target loads and the other is a stock 16# recoil spring for hardball loads.

 

[MatthewE]

Thank you everyone for your help, and especially Scott, who was 100 right on, as it did have the "E" at the end of the serial number. I picked it up today for $850.00. I would say it is about 95 percent condition. One mag, which he said was original, has an "m" stamped on it, and the other colt magazine he purchase did not have the "M". Don't know what the "m is for.

I figured $850 was an OK price being that the gun did not have the extra spring or original case. Attached are two photos.