Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

COLT GOLD CUP

gars320
Experts: Help is needed. I am on the verge of buying a Colt Gold Cup within the next week or 10 days and I need information as there are several variants available on our for sale boards. Which is the better of the various models? Series 70, series 80, Gold Cup, Gold Cup Trophy etc? I have heard almost every one speak of the series 70 as the greatest of all Colts, but there are many ads that state NIB this or that series, Gold Cup or Trophy From Colt's Custom Shop. What does that entail really and how do you know if it has been to the custon shop? Do all Gold Cups come from the Custom shop or only some of them? What do you look for as far as features that distinguish the Gold Cup?
A tall order I know but I'm sure the experts can show me the path to salvation.

Nil Illegitimus Carborundum
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • gars320
    Can anyone please explain the difference between a Colt Gold Cup National Match and a Colt Gold Cup Trophy?
    Thanks so much
    dontellmywife
    0
  • drawn
    My best friend has a mod 80 from the colt custom shop and it has the thickest plum bluing I have ever seen. just a beautiful firearm.

    I have a Gold cup mod 80 and it has an extra firing pin safty that the 70's don't. This safty disallows a trigger job to be done. Brownells sells a plug piece to fill the void of this safty if you feel a trigger job is nessesary(turning it to a mod 70).
    Also if your Gold Cup doesn't come with a 18lb spring you will need to get one if you want to shoot full power loads as the Stock Gold cup spring is like 12lbs or something weak for light target loads and full power loads will pound the crap out of your frame.

    "LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARIVING SAFELY IN ONE PRETTY AND WELL PRESERVED PIECE, BUT, TO SKID ACROSS THE LINE BROADSIDE, THOUGHRLY USED UP, WORN OUT, LEAKING OIL, SHOUTING GERONIMO!!"
    0
  • drawn
    More on what to look for...
    I love the flat ribbed top(national match). The rear Ellison sight pin took a small drop of blue loctite as these seem to shake loose(out) on occasion, but other than that their fine. I replaced my front single pinned sight with a dove tailed Trijicon.

    "LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARIVING SAFELY IN ONE PRETTY AND WELL PRESERVED PIECE, BUT, TO SKID ACROSS THE LINE BROADSIDE, THOUGHRLY USED UP, WORN OUT, LEAKING OIL, SHOUTING GERONIMO!!"
    0
  • rsnyder55
    For Gold Cups, the best thing is to replace the rolled pin with a solid one to keep is from working loose.
    0
  • Rocklobster
    70 Series mfd. 1970-1983. No firing-pin block. Flat mainspring housing. Accurizer (tapered) barrel and (collet) bushing. Adjustable skeletonized trigger. Target (looped) hammer. Elliason rear sight. Wood grips w/medallion. Left of slide will be stamped Mark IV Series '70, Gold Cup National Match, 45 Automatic Caliber.

    80 Series mfd. 1983-1996. Firing-pin block. Flat mainspring housing. Adjustable skeletonized trigger. Some have looped hammer, some have spur hammer. Elliason rear sight. Black wrap-around rubber grips. Left of slide will be stamped Series '80 Colt MK IV, Gold Cup National Match.

    Gold Cup Trophy mfd. 1997-present by Colt's Custom Shop. Same basic features as Series 80. Videki trigger, looped hammer. Elliason rear sight with Bomar-style relief cut in slide (lowered, in other words). Black wrap-around rubber grips. Left of slide will be stamped Gold Cup Trophy.

    Actually, the firing-pin stop does not prevent trigger jobs, it just requires a bit different stoning on the sear and polishing of the extra parts. A Gold Cup doesn't need trigger work anyway, comes from the factory with an excellent trigger pull.

    If you want advice, go for a Gold Cup Trophy. It'll probably be about the same price as the 70 or 80 Series, but will be new, instead of having had x number of thousands of rounds down the barrel before you touched it. The new guns are super quality, at least as good as the Series 70 (if not better), better than the Series 80, IMO.

    Good luck!
    0
  • Rocklobster
    BTW, the factory standard recoil spring is 16 pounds- the Gold Cups also come with a 14 pound spring for light target loads.
    0
  • beachmaster73
    Get the Series 70 Gold Cup National Match..you will never regret it. Beach
    0
  • GPWEAPON
    Go for the 70 great shooter's be careful you check the sear before you shoot bought a used one year's ago loaded up a mag squeezed off the first round and it nearly emptied the mag. good thing no one was behind me since that's where the muzzle was pointing when it finally stopped, someone had stoned the sear round.
    0
  • gars320
    thanks to all for some great advice. I got a killer deal on a Series 70 GOLD CUP. Marked on slide COLT GOLD CUP SERIES 70 MKIV but it has the regular style hammer, not the looped one. NO box or papers but easily 98% condition for $650.00. I couldn't even get a response from anybody else at $700-$750 so I think I did OK.

    Nil Illegitimus Carborundum
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity

Didn’t find what you’re looking for?