Gold Cup / NM Special Sear

[Sagittarian Shooter]

Colt Gold Cup / NM has a special sear which is distinct from the rest? (See link for proper ID - [http://www.m1911.org/full_technic.htm]).

Will it give a significant difference compared to other sear? Would anyone know if this special sear is for sale, where and how much?

[dclark]

The "special sear" on a Gold Cup is an effort to permit a lighter trigger pull with the standard weight hammer and trigger. It contains a spring and lever that will assist in the engagement of the sear with the hammer sears. You must remember that the Gold Cup trigger is wider than the normal, and has been made in both steel and aluminum. The extra width is extra weight, so they have reduced that by removing weight in the form of holes. In the past 20 years, with the efforts to lighten trigger pulls for IPSC, etc competition, the 'smiths have focused their efforts on lightening the regular triggers to an extreme, eliminating the need for the special sear. There are a number of shooters using trigger pulls in the neighborhood of 1 1/2# pull for competition. A far cry from the 3 1/2# required for bullseye, for which the Gold Cup was designed. It is not necessary in today's technology.

Dave Clark

[wichaka]

Very well said Dave.........

[Sagittarian Shooter]

Thanks, but how about purchasing one? WOuld anyone know who, where, and how much? :confused:

[wichaka]

I've not seen one aftermarket, may have to call Colt.

[Sagittarian Shooter]

I got into the site of Colt, I think I have to browse thorough it. I think I saw something there that will help...

Thanks!

[wichaka]

Call Colt direct, I did when I needed a replacement ejector for an Enhanced GM. I got great results from doing it.

[Sagittarian Shooter]

I guess I have to do just that, no link where I can order via e-mail.

Thanks again!

[RickB]

You haven't had fun, if you haven't tried to reassemble a Series 80 Gold Cup; trying to get all the levers, pins, springs, etc. into the frame, in proper orientation, is just pure gun maintenance pleasure . . .
I'd get a lightweight trigger, and standard sear, and leave the special sear, depressor and spring in the parts box.

[wichaka]

Amen...........

[care-less]

Sagittarian Shooter, I would ask that you consider and think about the following; everyone has an opinion, and here is mine. The Sear on the GC has a very fine "knife edge" to it; that gives the pistol its very crisp and clean trigger break. The problem with this is how do you keep this "fine" edge engaged in the full cock notch; and if it should slip to the half cock notch; how do you keep from damaging/burring that fine edge on the sear. Colt engineers came up with two answers. First they ground away the inner two thirds of the half cock notch on the hammer; then they ground away the outer one third of the sear edge. The idea being that should the hammer not catch in full cock and fall to half cock; that fine honed sear edge would not be damaged. It was and is an ingenious solution. But then they also figured that it would be best to make sure that it doesn't happen in the first place; thus the spring loaded sear depressor to make sure that the sear had constant pressure to the rear to catch that full cock notch every time. It works very well. The trigger on the GC has a wide face to make the trigger pull "feel" even lighter. The weight of the trigger is really not a problem. The only thing a lighter weight trigger does is prevent "trigger bounce" thus allowing the pistol to fire more than one shot when you didn't mean to. This usually occurs when someone has "tuned" the hammer and sear to very light contact. Colt indeed has done this; but they had no need to worry about a very, very slightly heavier trigger due to that spring powered sear depressor working on that finely turned sear. I would suggest that going to a standard sear and a lightweight trigger and leaving the sear depressor out of the pistol is not only a bad idea; but is also a step backwards as far as trigger pull goes. A standard sear is never going to break (release) as cleanly as that National Match Sear. It can be made to do so by a competent gunsmith; and then indeed you will need that light trigger. But without that sear depressor in there, you have greatly increased the risk of that fine new honed sear slipping off the full cock notch on the hammer, and catching on the half cock notch; destroying that fine edge you just paid good money to have done. Colts answer to the potential problems and hazards of the very tight and fine tolerances on the hammer and sear is a very fine solution; well thought out and designed by people that build these pistols for a living. You can have your GC trigger pull refined even more if you wish; Colt afterall has liability concerns to deal with. But leave that sear depressor in there to save that trigger job you just spent a lot of money on. I would ask that you think hard about all this; and my advice would be to talk to Colts Engineering Dept., at least consider what they tell you, and what I have said before you go throwing parts away and redesigning the pistol. The parts are there for a reason. It is a safety issue concerning the "fine" fitting of that hammer held at full cock. My personal suggestion would be to leave it alone. You don't need the pistol going full auto; or an accidental discharge. Think about the relationship of the parts and their surface engagements; understand well how they work before you "get carried away". Good Luck