First 1911 I bought was an early Series 80 GCNM in like 1985 or so-- still have it and shoot it-- on a good day with my softball handloads, I've hit 12 gauge hulls at 30 yards before-- waiting for the finish on the frame wears all the way off so I can justify having it (the frame) hard chromed--

I just have this one right now... Seventies Series....



Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Someone mentioned that there was a time when they were the only game in town in an off-the-shelf target gun. That was my thought, too. But I always thought they were a poor one, mainly because of the lousy Eliason rear sight and the nuisance of cleaning and reassembling them because of that little sear depressor gizmo, or whatever it is called. And to add insult to injury, a friend owned a Clark-built .45 Government Model that outshot my Gold Cup so badly I always felt like putting the Gold Cup away as soon as his Clark gun came out. I think it was the first .45 I ever encountered that was "easy to shoot." First-class fitting/accuracy work, bobbed hammer spur for absolutely no biting (the era before beavertail grip safeties were widely available), the Clark alligator stippling that was great for a rock solid hold, and maybe the best trigger I've seen on a .45 from that era. It was a great example of that particular area of the gunsmith's art.

I don't suppose I've fired 100 rounds through my GC since I got a Les Baer Premier II sometime in the 90s. There are MUCH better guns out there now, readily available, although usually more money. I still have mine - not sure why. Sentimental reasons, I suppose.

I bought my first Colt 1911 (a Government Model) in 1975. I wanted a Gold Cup, but I just didn't have that kind of money. I still long for a Gold Cup, and when one was within reach in the 1990s, I was directed to a Trophy Match because of the QC issues at the time (by a Colt stocking dealer). That Trophy Match is holding its own when I shoot Bullseye, but I would still love to find a Series 70 God Cup. I feel that the Gold Cup is the classiest semi-auto ever made by Colt.

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Judge control not gun control!

The biggest regret that I've had, in my 80 years of gun collecting was, in the 1960s, Not buying a near new .38 Gold Cup that exactly matched my G.C. .45. A good friend offered to sell it to me, for $200.00 My friend had just bought it new, shot a few rounds with it, was not pleased with it, as it was prone to jam occasionally. Well, I tried it, it jammed, and not knowing that the common fault, was easy to cure by correctly adjusting the Magazine lips properly, I didn't buy that .38 G.C.. I never ran across another one that I liked enough, or could afford to buy, through the following years, and now it's to late, as my shooting, and collecting days are over. But , as they say, One shouldn't "Cry over spilled Milk".
Chubbo

I thought that "Gold Cup" was supposed to be preceded by,,,, "Delta"!!

You should have no regrets. The .38 SPL Gold Cup never could compare with the S&W Model 52. I sold my series 70 Colt Gold Cup (in .45 ACP) for $175.00 back in the late 70's. Of course today, that would be around $685.00.

My opinions of Gold Cups is mixed. We purchased a new Gold Cup National Match for our father back in the 70's. Our father never fired it and my younger brother received it when our father passed away. He took it out and couldn't get a single complete mag through it without a failure of some kind.

My brother finally got disgusted with it and traded it in on a SIG P220 in 45ACP. The SIG functioned perfectly right out of the box. I have one built using a Colt Gold Cup National Match parts kit on an Essex frame. It has always been reliable.

I only own one Colt Gold Cup. It is a brand new series 80 blued pistol. When I bought it the dealer asked me not to slide the slide back as he had never done it himself. I have never slid the slide back either. It is a safe queen. I have it saved for my son who is now 18. Did I mention I bought it when he was 2? I take it out of the plastic and wipe it down, take the mag out and wipe it off and run a very little bit of oil down the inside of the barrel. The gun sits in a safe with a dehumidifier as well. It is still dark blue. IDK if my son will ever shoot it. I told him that it is his. Now me, I bought a machine engraved S&W 1911 that I like to shoot. Talk about a pretty gun...

This is the only Gold Cup I have, purchased new in the early 1980s with serial number that dates it to 1979. It's very accurate, more accurate that I am and is a pleasure to use.

Don:
I don't suppose that advice from an "old poop" would sway you, but, I'll try. Go ahead and shoot your "Safe Queen". You don't have to abuse it by seeing how many rounds that you can fire through it in a range session. Over the 50 years of my shooting & Collecting, I'v had my share of still wrapped, unracked, unfired firearms. that I kept for long periods of time, and then sold in that condition. Well, the only thing that I have to show for my troubles is regret. Regret, that I never enjoyed them at all! You are probably right, that your Son will never shoot it, as he is being taught by the closest teacher he'll ever have, that It's not to be handled, or above all, used. It's a bit like having a ice cream cone, watching it melt, and not allowed to eat it. Also, your Son may acquire a wife along life's way, and she will want to be in control of his actions, and maybe decide that if the gun was sold, the cash could be used for many, more useful things. Or, that having the gun would be politically incorrect, and that maybe, he shouldn't even be involved with guns at all. That pretty much does away with passing your lifetime "Gun Collection" on to your Son. Sorry about giving advice, and having it turn out to be a rant, but I've experienced everything that I wrote about. As Ben Franklin once said, Let a word to the wise be sufficient.
Chubbo

Amen, Brother.



Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

While the Gold Cup is pleasing to the eye it was quite rare to see one on the firing line at regional or Camp Perry Nationals.If you did spot one it was in the hands of a new shooter.

Competitive 2700 shooters used government model Colt 1911 pistols that were accurized by a top gunsmith that specialized in doing it.My 2 pre 1970 government model 1911 Colts were done by Al Dinan.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Stakeout:

It's good to get the opinion of someone with your experience in life, and competition. You have my total respect, envy, and thanks for your public service. Although I never had your skills, and opportunity, to compete at Camp Perry, I did compete in local Bullseye Matches. with my beloved Gold Cup, having nothing else, to use, or resources to have a competition, or work firearm, built by the great builders.The point that I'm raising is, that maybe the folks seen competing at camp Perry, with their Gold Cup were less skillful, competitors, didn't have sponsors to help with having a real competitive firearm built, and had to use their Gold Cup. In the same token one never sees an off road racer use his stock, Porsche, Ferrari, or Maserati to compete in off road races. I think that most Gold Cup owners consider their Gold Cup something to take pride in, as the top of the Colt line. I lump them into the same category quality wise as the S&W Mod. 27 revolver. To me it just makes sense, to prize them for what they are, and to have a work gun built to work with. Just my $.02 worth.
Chubbo

Economics comes in to play with everything .

My comments were not intended to put anyone's choice down,just the opposite.

I surely didn't start shooting with what I moved on to.

Getting good advise from those that traveled the same road earlier save making some bad choices.

At the time that I had my 2 pre 70 Colt government models accurized it was cheaper than buying a NIB Gold Cup.

Maybe NIB Model 52-2 were $125?

Local shoots are usually where a lot of competition shooters start out and with gear that fits that situation.

When you stay in any sport and want to eek out another point or two equipment gets updated and upgraded.

When I started shooting skeet I bought Remington 1100s,then I foolishly bought a Remington 3200 set and finally move to a tubed Perrazi Mirage.

I always try to make my posts helpful as I truly enjoy getting helped with shooting,reloading and general firearm knowledge here.

Sorry if I hurt Gold Cup owners feelings,it's only one person's opinion.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN