I ordered a Colt Gold Cup National Match and when it got to the dealer it was a Gold Cup Trophy. The book listed it as a gold up national match. I called colt and asked what the difference was and all they said was that Gold Cup Trophys now come from the custom shop. What Gives. surely somebody knows what the difference is.

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nortyfive

Gold Cup Trophys were first produced in late 1996 and early 1997 through the present. Mine is under a 500 serial number and was ordered and purchased in May of 1997. They were produced in the Custom Shop and may still be. Colt's advertised them as having enhanced tolerances, which I believe. The first ones had the Elliason sight and top slide serrations, Kings barrel bushing, Videki hammer and trigger, and a Smith & Alexander checkered main spring housing in both blue and stainless finishes. They have evolved in recent years, The custom parts are gone. The blue finished guns have retained the Elliason sight and serrated top of slide. The blued guns are not in the latest catalog but are still in the pipeline. The SS version now has a round top slide and a Bomar sight and has been made for a few years now. Col. Colt from 1911 Forum calls them the "Carry Model Gold Cup". They are probably in most cases a better fit gun than the Enhanced models. Here are pictures of each. I hope that this has been helpful.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck you I am going to print off this info to show my jerk buddy that they really are form the custom shop. excellent "yo da man!!!!!

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nortyfive

I just picked up a new GC Trophy myself. They do indeed come from Colts Custom Shop. Colt no longer makes the Gold Cup National Match; the Gold Cup Trophy National Match has replaced it. They just call it the Gold Cup Trophy on the pistol; though it is still hand fitted with a National Match barrel, bushing, and of course the National Match Sear, Hammer, and Disconnector. The top rib is gone as are the Eliasons; they were fragile anyway. In their place are Bomars dovetailed into the slide; a much stronger sight and mounting. They still come with two recoil springs; a 16, and an 18.5. They are really beautiful pistols; enjoy it.

I have a Colt Gold Cup National Match series 70 I have shot many makes and styles of pistols from Glock, Ruger, and Sig Sauer with that in mind in my opinion no production pistol equals a Colt.

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From my cold dead hands.
If it ain't a Colt its a copy.

I believe that with the aluminum three hole trigger that there was no longer a need for the special sear that most people despised. Also, I think that the springs that come with the Gold Cups, even the Trophies are 16 lb standard and a 10lb for shooting light target loads. These are great guns.

Chuck

I just dealt a 264 mag to a guy for a colt gold cup trophy model serial # GCT12345. I absolutely love this pistol. It drives 152 swc's into 1 1/2 inches at twenty five yards if I can hold up my end. The only complaint is the pin on the Eliason sight kept working out, so I had to flare the ends, and it cost me a small scratch on my slide. It's barely noticeable, but it's there. Anybody have that problem?

Cool Serial #

Chuck

When I saw the serial # I had to have it. I loved the 264 but a GCT with that # just shouldn't be passed up.

The same thing that happened to Troy happened to my friend. He had decided that he wanted a renowned Gold Cup National Match and ordered one from a dealer. But when the gun arrived he was told that it was a Trophy, not a National Match. Yes, the gun comes from the custom shop. Yes, it has the upgraded components. And yes, we are only talking about a name here, but I think names are important. To me it is like plunking down the cash for a legendary Colt Python only to find out that when it arrives it is now called the Colt Garter Snake. When you go to the Colt web site they still lead you to believe that you can buy a Gold Cup National Match. There is no mention of the Trophy as far as I can see. I can find no history as to why the name was changed to Trophy. (The name National Match has been associated with excellence for years - so why change it.) There is also no promotion of the Trophy as an equal or superior firearm to the National Match. There is a mystery here and I am hoping someone with more knowledge about 1911s than I have can shed some light on this.