Which Gold Cup?

[aHFo3]

After months of thought (yes, I take a long time to make a decision sometimes) I have decided that my first full size 1911 should be a Colt Gold Cup National Match. I have noticed that there are a few different changes that Colt has made over the years. I generally like older guns over new guns, and I like blued finish better than stainless.

Could the experts please chime in and advise me on the differences between the pre 70 series, the series 70, 80 and current Gold Cup Trophy models. I'm not in a hurry to buy, and I'm willing to be patient to find the right one. I plan to shoot this gun regularly, but leave it stock except for the grip panels. I'd use it as a range toy and maybe for nightstand duty.

Thanks for your input.

 

[skipsan]

Pre-70 Series: The real classics. Nice ones very hard to find and when they
are found, they're expensive. Possible drawback--the slides
were lightened causing potential issues (slide cracking) with
full factory ammo.

70 Series: Nice, but not the out-of-box competitive pistols that the
(1970-1983) pre-70 Series were. Collet barrel bushing which may or
may not be an issue with the potential for breaking.
No firing pin block/safety. Nice ones can be had for
$800--$1000, and pristine examples for 20-30% more.

80 Series: A further move away from the classic pre-70 Series in
(1984-????). terms of handfitting. First incorpration of the infamous
firing pin safety. The early examples (until 1988) still had
the collet barrel bushing. Value about 10%-20% less than
equivalent 70 Series (my opinion)

Trophy. Don't really follow this model, but my impression is that
(19??- ). that they are Government models with target sights with
no special fitting.

 

[38 Super Fan]

The older Gold Cups were hand fitted, and they were very good 1911s, some of the best guns to ever roll out of the Colt factory without a doubt. In the 70s quality started to go downhill at Colt, by the late 70s there wasn't nearly as much work going into the Gold Cups as before, sadly they were really pretty average guns, and have remained so until today. Quality has come up in very recent years at Colt, I still don't think they're at that 60s/early 70s level though, especially with the Gold Cups.

I personally like the pre series 70 Gold Cups, often referred to as just National Match models because of the lack of a Gold Cup rollmark. Speaking of which, the rollmarks on these blew away every later Gold Cup as well.
Here's my 62 model which is one my favorite 1911s.






The frame rails were obviously peened on these old models, which is indicative of extra fitting, and ensures a tight slide to frame fit, not something you'll see on a later GC. Bushings were also tight on these models as well, and the triggers were just amazing.

I picked mine up for $1000 last year, you can decent prices on the pre series 70s GCs if you look hard enough. BTW, most of the slide cracking on these came as a result of shooters running the light factory recoil springs meant for wadcutters with standard loads. If you run the appropriate springs/loads you should be fine.

 

[bannockburn]

I had a Series 70 Gold Cup back in the early to mid '80's. The chamber was really tight and it was very particular about what ammo it would feed reliably. Slide to frame and barrel to slide fit were also very tight. Accuracy was outstanding with 185 gr. SWC Match grade ammo. Trigger pull likewise was excellent; smooth, even, and very light. Only thing I had to fix on it was replacing the roll pin the factory used to hold the rear sight on the slide. I ended up using a modified drill bit and it worked just fine. Overall my Gold Cup was an outstanding target gun that was quite accurate once everything was tuned in for its best performance.

 

[Johnny Lightning]

Does anyone know if there is any handfitting on the new Gold Cups? If not I will save my $$ for a Les Baer or older model 70 National Match. I looked at the Colt site and it didn't say.

 

[38 Super Fan]

Does anyone know if there is any handfitting on the new Gold Cups? If not I will save my $$ for a Les Baer or older model 70 National Match. I looked at the Colt site and it didn't say.

The amount of handfitting on a new GC is probably about equal to their base Gov. model 1911. They won't come close to a Baer in fit.

 

[bannockburn]

While I have been very impressed of late in terms of the overall quality and fit and finish of current production Colt Governments, I doubt that there is all that much more handfitting being done with new Gold Cups. Now if you wanted to take a stock Gold Cup and have it customized and tuned for match grade accuracy, I think that it would be a very good gun to start with.

 

[doc540]

The rollmarks called "Billboard Colts" are not as popular with collectors. (unless the price is right )

1978 Billboard GC


my advice?
Be patient, be vigilant, and be ready with $1000-$1500 cash to strike when the iron is hot.

 

[Wil Terry]

MY COLT NM 45 is a 1962 issue also. I retired it many years ago now but it has 55,000 rounds through it as we speak with nary a malfunction; NOT ONE !!!
ON the other hand it is also on about the fifteenth rear sight pin, the last one being a spring steel roll pin that has lastest the longest.
LET me tell you, I made money with this pistol to the point it got boring.
And so it goes...

 

[Finprof]

If you want a Gold Cup and you like blued guns, a Series 70 is the way to go. The bluing is gorgeous, better than you can show in pictures. I picked up a pristine Series 70 GCNM two years ago with box and papers for $900. Mine shoots well and doesn't need any gunsmithing. I think trigger had been done by a good gunsmith before I got it. If you got one for $1000 you could put $500 into gunsmithing and still be cheaper than a Les Baer.
Nothing cosmetic, but a trigger job and tightening the bushing would run a lot less than $500.

A pre-Gold Cup National Match would be even better, but the price on a pristine one will be much higher.

 

[bigmike45]

My Gold Cup is a Delta Elite in 10mm

 

[Pete D.]

CGC

if you wanted to take a stock Gold Cup and have it customized and tuned for match grade accuracy, I think that it would be a very good gun to start with.

It might be a good place to end with also.
My first 1911 was a series 80 GCNM. I did as recommended above and had it customized and tuned for Bullseye competition. I sent it to the smith (the late George Madore) with a new Kart match barrel and a bushing to replace the stock collet. He sent the match barrel back with the note tot return it and get my money back - the Colt barrel was just as good.
Madore peened and filed the slide, bobbed the hammer, reworked the linkage for the firing pin block so that it no longer loaded the trigger, did a trigger job, and sent the gun back. It would shoot 10 shots into two inches at 50 yards.
That was more than 60K rounds ago. It still shoots better than I can hold. I have had no reason to buy another 1911.
Pete

 

[Double Vision]

Recently I picked up my first 1911, a current model Gold Cup. For the price, it's a very nice gun. I compared it side-by-side with a handful of other makes & models and it won me over.
Good luck!