Colt Gold Cup

[barrya]

A friend of mine is considering selling his 80's Series Colt Gold Cup. He bought it new and has shot it less then 200 times. It is with the box and all paperwork. It is the blued model. I have seen it once years ago. I realize I could get on a Colt forum and get the info I seek, but I am a member here and trust the members here. With this limited info, would anyone with Colt experience, care to guess at the worth? I want to offer him a fair deal. thanks for any and all input. Barry

 

[arjay]

A new series 70 version sells for $1100-$1200

 

[Cal44]

$1K maybe.

Most Colt collectors like the 70's better than the 80's.

But I think the 80's are great too.

Dave

 

[epj]

I had a 80 series that I bought new in the early '80's. Decent gun. Reasonably accurate, but not the proverbial laser. Rear sight pin kept coming loose. No beavertail, so had hammerbite issues. I do not regret trading it off.

 

[barrya]

Thanks guys. I'm in the same neighborhood-1K. Barry

 

[fyimo]

The series 80's are very good guns and like others have said the series 70's are a little more respected and preferred. I have a stainless series 80 Colt Government model and it has been an excellent shooter.

 

[colt_saa]

I love Colt Gold Cups and own many. However I have not bought one since they stopped doing the flat top and grooved slides. Round top GCs are just not for me.

If it is a round top GC I probably would not go over $800
If it is a flat top GC I might go to $1000

The current head of Colt is a Python and GC shooter. He is responsible for the current re-release of the blue 70 series GCs that Colt is producing. If the used 80 series can't be had for under $1000, I would be buying the current 70 series GC instead

 

[S&WIowegan]

I have a well-used Gold Cup '70 and a Series '80 Gold Cup Elite and a Gold Cup Commander. All these guns were bought before I recognized they all had way too heavy triggers and weren't noticeably accurate. Gold Cups are also known to lose the front sight; my Series 70 has all new after-market Bo-Mars.

If you're not a serious shooter and just want to own a GC, go for it. They resell well.

 

[barrya]

I'm looking at it as more of an investment. I like shooting S&W revolvers MUCH more than the semi-autos. I really don't see me shooting it much at all. Barry

 

[Big Cholla]

Back in my pistolsmithing days, I found that the Gold Cup needed about as much TLC as a standard 70 Series to make it shoot really well as well as reliable. I also found that the sights were suspect and the lack of a good beavertail grip safety about soured me on Gold Cups. I think that purchase for the purposes of an investment is more a reason a buy than purchase for target shooting. ...........

 

[crazyphil]

It depends a lot on condition. I bought one several years ago, not in very
pristine condition, for $500. Sent it off to a world class pistol smith.
It came back in like new condition (correct that - better than like new
condition.) Well I've got a grand or so in it. I think new ones catalog at
up to $1,400. Wouldn't trade mine for a new one.

 

[Dennis The B]

I guess I'll be contrarian here, and advise you to buy it and shoot it. There are a lot of Series 80 GCNM's out there, and it's not likely to take off in value any time soon.

Right now, at a LGS, there are three used Series 80's that are going from $800-$900. All with boxes and 2 mags. Colt has been producing Series 80's longer than Series 70's.

The Series 70 GCNM brings a premium, because the mid-late 1980's models were sometimes not of the highest quality owing to the Colt v. UAW labor problems. The Series 70's seem to have better fit/finish than the Series 80's from the era. The only down side to the Series 70, is the collet bushing which is considered a weak point, and this was discontinued shortly after the Series 80 was introduced.

Buy it; shoot it! It's what Dr. Browning would prescribe.

 

[old 1911 fan]

If you can get that gun for $800 or so, go for it. Starting out with a Gold Cup may get you hooked on 1911's.

old 1911 fan

 

[barrya]

Called my friend last night. He went to Colt web site and looked up serial#. It said built in 1971-so it can't be a series 80, can it? When did the 80 series come out-1980ish? Going to look at it tomorrow. I'll know more then. Barry

 

[Triathloncoach]

I'm looking at it as more of an investment. I like shooting S&W revolvers MUCH more than the semi-autos. I really don't see me shooting it much at all. Barry

Unless you get it cheap I wouldn't plan on significant appreciation.

 

[arjay]

The series 80 came out in '83.

 

[glenwolde]

Called my friend last night. He went to Colt web site and looked up serial#. It said built in 1971-so it can't be a series 80, can it? When did the 80 series come out-1980ish? Going to look at it tomorrow. I'll know more then. Barry

More like 1983, I think.

 

[crazyphil]

barrya if it's a series 80 it should say series 80 on it. I called Colt, gave
them my serial number, and they told me the year of manufacture. 1984

 

[crazyphil]

Information I have says Colt's series 80 Gold Cup was introduced in 1983.
Stainless steel not until 1985.

 

[loeman]

I had a 80 series that I bought new in the early '80's. Decent gun. Reasonably accurate, but not the proverbial laser. Rear sight pin kept coming loose. No beavertail, so had hammerbite issues. I do not regret trading it off.

I bought my Series 70 GC in 1979. It had/has the same issues as your Series 80. The rear sight pin kept migrating out. I was afraid to peen the pin myself for fear of damaging the finish and I never did get around to taking it to someone who could or sending it back to Colt. I put it in my safe after about 200 and there it has remained. I'm really happy that I have kept it.

My apologies for the thread drift.