Gold Cup Trophy help!

[Exon_NS]

I went to a local gun shop and purchased a Gold Cup "As new in box". It looks to have been fired very little if at all. The pistol was left on consingment, and I think I got a fair price on it at $985.

Well, I have some questions about this pistol, and I hope someone can help me.

From what I can see online, this should have a barrel marked "Colt 45 Auto NM" and it should be blued (like my pistol). My barrel does not have the "NM" or National Match on it, and it is stainless in finish. Is this accurate? Did colt ever make them like this? Or have I been swindled by the previous owner of the pistol who decided to swap the NM barrel out for a standard colt one he had laying around?

[PA Rifleman]

Your best bet would be to contact Colt directly.

Until then, here's what I found:

• http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/nm.htm
• http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/histor...l_markings.htm
• http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showth...national-match

(Source)

More:
http://tinyurl.com/7szcmxl

[hzox221]

I went to a local gun shop and purchased a Gold Cup "As new in box". It looks to have been fired very little if at all. The pistol was left on consingment, and I think I got a fair price on it at $985.

Well, I have some questions about this pistol, and I hope someone can help me.

From what I can see online, this should have a barrel marked "Colt 45 Auto NM" and it should be blued (like my pistol). My barrel does not have the "NM" or National Match on it, and it is stainless in finish. Is this accurate? Did colt ever make them like this? Or have I been swindled by the previous owner of the pistol who decided to swap the NM barrel out for a standard colt one he had laying around?

Post a picture of the colt. From your post I would guess you a recend manufactured gold cup.

[Exon_NS]

Here are some pics:

I tried to get them as clear as possible. Also, some other notes. I added the wilson combat grips, the full length guide rod, and the hex head grip screws. Other than that it is as i bought it. I should also note that it has champion sights, and not the newer bomar sights. I also tried to get the serial number clear if any of you can get info from it.

I greatly appreciate your help, and thank you again!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...mphone070.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...mphone076.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...mphone077.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...mphone074.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...mphone071.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...mphone075.jpg/

[Pizza Bob]

Don't hold me to this, I am working purely off memory and I am far from a Colt afficionado.

I believe the Gold Cup Trophy was a lower cost version of the Gold Cup National Match. I had a Series 70 Mk IV and the slide was inscribed with the "National Match" roll mark. It may be that only those so inscribed got the NM marked barrels.

Also, Bomar sights were never installed, from the factory, on Gold Cups. They used Eliason adjustable sights, with which your gun is equipped (at least it appears that way from the photos).

Adios,

Pizza Bob

PS: I'm sure there will be some Colt 1911 specialists that can jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong.

[hzox221]

Don't hold me to this, I am working purely off memory and I am far from a Colt officionado.

I believe the Gold Cup Trophy was a lower cost version of the Gold Cup National Match. I had a Series 70 Mk IV and the slide was inscribed with the "National Match" roll mark. It may be that only those so inscribed got the NM marked barrels.

Also, Bomar sights were never installed, from the factory, on Gold Cups. They used Eliason adjustable sights, with which your gun is equipped (at least it appears that way from the photos).

Adios,

Pizza Bob

PS: I'm sure there will be some Colt 1911 specialists that can jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong.

Newer GC's have Bomar style sights. The new ones also have normal triggers, not the wide one in the older style GC's.

[Exon_NS]

My sights say "Champion" on them.

[Pizza Bob]

Newer GC's have Bomar style sights. The new ones also have normal triggers, not the wide one in the older style GC's.

Yes, I found that out - but they are Bomar style, not Bomars, which, alas, is long gone.

Blued Trophy models had the flat top slide and Elliason sights after they started using the round profile slide with the Bomar-style sights on the stainless. I believe current production of both blued and stainless trophy models use the round-top slide and Bomar-style sights.

I have found some pictures of GC Trophy's and I'm sorry to tell you that they all had NM rollmarked barrels. I've posted a question on the 1911 forum for a hopefully definitive answer. I'll let you know if/when I get replies.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[Exon_NS]

I disassembled the gun and looked at the barrel where the barrel link hole is. There is a faint engraving of what I think reads "PM"

Not sure if this information will help, but it's worth a shot.

[Pizza Bob]

I only got three responses to my query over on the 1911 forum. All of those were from GCT owners and all of those said that their barrels all carried the NM rollmark - with pictures showing it prominently displayed in the ejection port. While it's not much of a sample to go on, I'd have to lean toward the fact that your barrel is not original to the gun.

I wouldn't get upset at that, but I would take it out and shoot it. If it shoots well, then two letters engraved on the barrel don't mean much. For all we know it may be an even more accurate barrel with a fitted bushing. People don't usually put crap into pistols like the Gold Cup. Shoot it and enjoy it.

Adios,

PIzza Bob