1962 Colt 1911 Gold Cup National Match .45

[treemanx]

Hey, Im new here and have a question to throw out there....

Back in the late 50's early 60's, during the transition from the National Match to the "Gold Cup" National Match, did Colt have models that were roll stamped with only "National Match" but had the Gold Cup frame, grips and serial #? Kind of a transitional model?

[tenx]

In about 1957 Colt introduced the Gold Cup National Match.
The box said Gold Cup but the gun didn't have the Gold Cup words. The Gun said National Match on the slide. The serial number on the frame had an NM suffix. The Series 70 (introduced around 1970) showed Gold Cup National Match on the slide.

[kenhwind]

They weren't actually considered Gold Cups until they were roll marked as such. Pre Gold Cups are NM.

[dakota1911]

One nice reference, a good read, and a nice book to have in your library is "Colt .45 Government Models (Commercial Series) 2nd Edition" by Charles W. Clawson. He also covers the .38 and .22 models in this book. By the way, he has a drool to look at in the form of a 1936 National Match in this book from his own collection. Note the s/n is C180322.

I will also tell you what I have sort of found out when folks talk about "Gold Cup" (GM) Colts. Remember National Match parts and barrels existed back in in the 30s. I have found most collectors consider a pre 1957 a "National Match". Most of the "NM" series, which started production in Sept. of 1957 with 26-NM a lot of people, including me, consider "Gold Cups", and these all have the -NM suffix. In 1970 Colt started making the Model 70 series with s/n 70N01001, and Gold Cup was part of the roll mark on the slide.

Now to the complex part of this. These pistols were often sold to serious shooters who used them in competition, and these guys were like me but they had money wanted an "edge". I saw many of the them highly modified. The collet bushing may be hated now, but when it first came out around 1970 it was considered "the answer", so many new barrels and bushings were fitted to early pistols. I saw 70's tops put on earlier bottoms. Etc, etc. If the work was done by Colt then hopefully paying for one of their letters should document it. If it was done by a private gunsmith then unless records were kept by the gun owner, or the gunsmith is still in business and has records, then good luck.

[treemanx]

Im curious becasue I happen to have a stunning example of one for sale. It is in near mint condition, this is my ad......

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/forum/showthread.php?p=61411#post61411

If anyone can tell me more about the gun from its pictures, Id love to find out more!

Thanks for the responses everyone!!

[SHOOTER13]

Nice National Match ya got there, treemanx.

Here's a pic of my Gold Cup National Match, circa 1995

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj239/Gunnutz13/avatars/MY%20GUNS/COLTGOLDCUP45ACPsmall.jpg

[treemanx]

Wow, Shooter13, thats a nice looking pistol!! Wish I could find one like it! For some reason you dont really see alot of those for sale around my area in Oregon. Once I get my National Match sold, Im gonna start looking hard for a Colt similar to yours, but Id prefer blued. Maybe I'll find someone who has one to trade!! Thanks for showing yours!!!

[dakota1911]

A 1962 would put it in the 9150-NM to 10950-NM sn range.

Oops, there is another thing I should probably mention about old Gold Cups and the NMs before them. They were generally bought by folks who had money, like I wished I had back then, and these folk usually took very good care of them, and modify them or not, shot them a lot. They rode to the range and back in nice, padded, protected, pistol boxes.

Here is my 1977 GCNM that I bought new in 1977 for $349 1977 dollars, and it is not for sale at any price. It has 3K rounds through it as that is when I sort of got out of shooting and started my career and family. It replaced one I bought in 1975 that had over 50K rounds though it and looked about the same. I saw ones friends had that had launched over 200K rounds and also looked pretty.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/1911GoldCup_r.jpg

Just thought I might mention that.

[SHOOTER13]

Well, a beauty like that should sell in no time...

BTT... ;)

[treemanx]

Yeah Dakota1911, my Colt has a serial number in that range, its in the 9000's. Man, thats a nice pistol you have there!

Shooter13, thanks, I hate to see it go.

[Joni Lynn]

The boxes on the older ones did indeed state that they were a Colt Gold Cup, at least the ones I have do and my collection dates from 1957 and up. None of them were rollmarked Gold Cup on the slide until the series 70 started.
They exhibit a level of fit and finish not seen on the newer guns.

[treemanx]

Definately Joni, the blueing on the slide of my gun is so deep and polished, its unbelieveable! I dont think I have ever seen any other gun with such attention to detail and fit and finish. They are very impressive looking pistols!!

[Joni Lynn]

Welcome to the forum.

The early ones use the Accro style rear sight and sometime around 1964 they appear to have started using the Elliason rear sight.
The slide has a bit of material taken out of the inside which some people say makes the slide more prone to cracking as compared to the more robust and standard weight slide of the series 70 GCNM. I only shoot mild targets loads in mine so I don't worry about it.
The recoil plug and bushing are a little different and can't be replaced if you lose one, they are a set.

I think for the price being asked I'd rather buy another Les Baer Premier II for about the same money. It's not a Colt but mine makes more trips to the range than all my Colt's together.

[treemanx]

Thanks for the welcome! Yeah I spoke with wichaka, who is also a moderator at another site I frequent, and found some of this stuff out from him. How do you tell which sights you have?? Accro or Elliason?

[Joni Lynn]

The one on the gun in the link provided was the Accro.

[treemanx]

OK, good to know. You said the recoil plug and bushing cant be replaced? Or wont interchange with other kinds?? I understand they are a set, but could they both be replaced as a set with something newer made? Not that I want to, just curious....

[Joni Lynn]

What I meant was that they are different than the newer ones. If you lose or ruin one piece, then replace both and you're back in business.

[treemanx]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the info! How do you like shooting the ones you have? I havent shot mine, but I cant believe the trigger on it! Its amazing, I bet it shoots like a dream.

[treemanx]

I dont have the original box with this pistol, does anyone know how that might affect the overall value??

[Joni Lynn]

Most of mine are NIB or LNIB and don't see light of day, I have several others that I occasionally take out and fire. For a factory gun they are top of the line.

[IZinterrogator]

Just thought I'd share a couple of pictures of my dad's '64...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/IZinterrogator/IMG_0395.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/IZinterrogator/IMG_0396.jpg

[Cactus1]

Here's my 1964 NM along with a 1979 Gold Cup.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d105/Kactus1/Match-Pair.jpg
The workmanship on the older pistols is better IMO.