Colt Pre-Gold Cup National Match 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol, 1968 C&R
Sold For: $1,225.00
LSB#: 220311CL014
Make: Colt
Model: Gold Cup National Match
Serial Number: 26396-NM
Year of Manufacture: 1968 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Removable Magazine Fed Pistol
Markings: The left of the slide is marked “NATIONAL / *MATCH*”, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER .45” and with a rampant colt, the right is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The right of the frame is marked with the serial number. The right of the trigger guard is marked “0”, the left is marked “S” and “VP” in triangle. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT .45 AUTO N.M.”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the serrated top rib of the slide. The rear sight is an Elliason square notch that is adjustable for windage and elevation, pinned to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with Colt medallions. The grips show fairly even handling wear with some verdigris on the medallions with a few light nicks. The right panels bottom mounting screw is proud to the grip panel. The checkering has some wear on the points but is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good 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.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered minor nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The slide’s finish has a plum hue. The screw heads are 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, and wide, serrated adjustable trigger. The trigger is crisp. The slide has very little play to the frame. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 7-round magazine.
Our Assessment: In the mid-1900s the 1911 was used for all manner of pistol competitions, but the base Government model typically needed some tweaking and modification to get the best performance. In 1957, Colt introduced their Gold Cup National Match, an out-of-the-box, purpose-built target pistol with adjustable target sights, hand-fit parts, serrated grip frame and adjustable trigger. This example is from 1968, a fairly early Gold Cup made about 2 years before the pistols would actually be marked “GOLD CUP”. It shows wear consistent with responsible use over the last 50 years, but retains a great bore and strong mechanics. All of these old National Match pistols are collectible, this early example will make a great addition to a collection, but should also prove to be a great shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
