In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: Gold Cup National Match
Serial Number: 11678-NM
Year of Manufacture: 1963 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Removable Magazine Fed Pistol
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade that is fixed into the serrated top rib of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch that is adjustable for windage and elevation, pinned to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with gold-colored Colt medallions. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few small marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine to Excellent Condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. There is some other light wear around the edges of the grips. There are a few light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This pistol features a National Match barrel, adjustable rear sight, beveled bushing and recoil plunger, and wide, serrated adjustable trigger. The trigger is crisp. The slide has barely perceptible play to the frame. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one vintage original Colt blued 7-round magazine stamped “COLT / .45 AUTO” on the bottom floorplate.
Our Assessment: For much of the early to mid 1900s, the standard Colt 1911 was used for all manner of pistol competitions, but the base Government Model typically needed some tweaking and modification to unlock its best performance. In 1957, Colt introduced their Gold Cup National Match, an out-of-the-box, purpose-built target pistol that could go straight from the dealer’s shelf to the firing line. The Gold Cup National Match featured specially hand-fitted parts, adjustable target sights, a serrated grip frame, and an adjustable trigger. For the first 13 years, these pistols were marked “NATIONAL *MATCH* COLT” on the left side of the slide; it wasn’t until 1970 that the moniker “GOLD CUP” was added to the marking.
This Colt Pre-Gold Cup National Match 1911 .45 Semi-Auto Pistol was made in 1963, about 7 years before the pistols would actually be marked "GOLD CUP", and is in Very Good Condition, appearing to have been put to its intended use with handling and operational wear consistent with target shooting over the last 60 years. It features a 5” National Match barrel, 85% of its original blued finish, elegant two-piece checkered walnut grips with gold-colored Colt medallions, an adjustable rear sight, a beveled bushing and recoil plunger, a wide, serrated adjustable trigger with a crisp pull, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. All of these old Colt National Match pistols are collectible, and this example's condition will make it a nice addition to a collection. It should also prove to be a great shooter if the next owner so desires.