Mystery solved, Now what

[Pursuit]

My late Father-in-law left me a list of guns that were hidden throughout his house. The list had a line item for each guns Mdl # SN# and location.
The hidding places were two letter codes for location. It was obvious that BC meant bedroom closet. Nice Browning HP NIB in there. What interested me was the AC location which contained a series 70 Combat Commander NIB. I found them last summer in some cases in the attic. 3 nice Hi Standard 22's as well. The real mistery was the 4 pistols located at DL. What the heck is the DL? Racking my brain for 6 months because one piece on the list was a Gold Cup National Match. Well, I finally found this in the hollow legs of a metal desk that we were going to throw out. DL= Desk leg apparently. The S/N is 70N258XX. Anyone know when it was made? I put the pachmayers on it the other day. I didn't realize that the Commander and the NM are such collector items. I took the commander out shooting at xmas. Whish I had left it unfired! He had so much fired brass and dies and reloads sitting in the basement I figured he must have shot the heck out of something. Who needs 10K large pistol primers and 60lbs of powder if you are not going to shoot alot. I guess he sold the 45's he use to shoot to the guys at the gun club and kept the two unfired pieces.
Also, the main spring that drives the hammer seems very weak on this NM as compaired to the commander. Is this normal?
http://24.176.131.205/content/public/gcnm.jpg

Oh yeah, what does CT mean to you guys. :D

[Dr. Dickie]

My late Father-in-law left me a list of guns that were hidden throughout his house. Also, the main spring that drives the hammer seems very weak on this NM as compaired to the commander. Is this normal?

Oh yeah, what does CT mean to you guys. :D

Nice looking pistol.
That's quite an unusual scavanger hunt.
CT (I would not have thought of this without the last one)--coffee table?

[Hunter]

It looks like yours is from 1976. The mainspring minimal tension should be around 19 pounds for a target 1911 while an ordinance mainspring can be as much as 27 pounds (usually around 23 pounds) so a target 1911 (which the Gold Cup is) can have a lighter mainspring. Very nice Colt you have and welcome to the forum

[Pursuit]

Thanks for the replies on the main spring and Mfg date. I may try a primered only shell to see if it has enough strike force. I'd hate to have it in a defensive situ and hear only a "click" :scared:
Now I have to figure what type of a "less heirloom" 1911 to buy so I can shoot it. I really like these things.

[Hunter]

It would be a good idea to try her out first but I imagine you will be good to go. I favor the Colt as far as 1911s go so you might think on adding to your collection. Springfield also makes a excellent 1911 as do others but it is Colt first then Springfield for me.

[44 Man]

Cedar trunk? Nice guns that he left you, I'm sure you are proud. AND you got the fun of a scavenger hunt! Enjoy! 44 Man

[RandyColt]

Colt is currently shipping two recoil springs with a new Gold Cup. The "target" or wadcutter spring is 14# and the hardball spring is 18#. I think the standard mainspring is 21#, the tuners often use an 18# or 19# mainspring to get a nice light trigger pull. Your GC mainspring would not have lost power just being stored and should be fine.

[Hawkmoon]

Both the mainspring and the recoil spring should be lighter on a target pistol because it is intended for shooting lighter loads. Doesn't matter if you don't plan to shoot it, but if you intend to shoot it, change the springs to "standard" if you plan to shoot "standard" (i.e. 230-gr) ammunition.

[dakota1911]

Safes are not bad investments. I totally understand. My father hid pistols all over the house.

My wife collects and wears Indian Jewelrey from the American SouthWest. She was talking to a a nice little old lady who had a few thousand dollars of jewelrey in a used couch she gave away. Fortunately the agency she gave it to go goes through stuff that is donated, found it, and gave it back to her.

[One of Many]

If you still have not located all of the guns, try using a metal detector; try every wall and floor surface, and every piece of furniture. Don't forget to pull the grating off of heat ducts, and look inside (I once hid some long guns in a heating duct).

[1911Pilot]

Closet Top? My parents had 2 closets their house that are shorter than the normal ceiling. There is a 1.5-3' tall plastered space above them hidden under attic insulation.
Good luck!
Jeff