Custom Colt Gold Cup National Match Stainless Enhanced 1911 .45 ACP, 1992

SOLD FOR: $3525

LSB#: 211013HE11

Make: Colt

Model: Custom Gold Cup National Match Mark IV Series ’80, Enhanced

Serial Number: SN02469E

Year of Manufacture: 1992 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Automatic, Removable Magazine Fed Pistol.

Markings: The right side of the slide is marked “GOLD CUP / NATIONAL MATCH” with a trophy. The left side of the slide is marked “SERIES ’80 COLT MK IV / GOLD CUP NATIONAL MATCH” with a rampant Colt logo. The right side of the frame is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. / SN02469E”. There is a faint, incomplete “VP” in triangle proof on the left side of the trigger guard along with “N”, the right of the trigger guard is marked “Z”. The top of the barrel is marked “-COLT 45 AUTO. N.M.-“. The top of the rear sight is marked “ELLIASON”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade that is fixed to the finely serrated top rib of the slide. The rear sight is an square notch that is adjustable for windage and elevation pinned to the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered laminate wood with smooth diamonds around the grip screws and gold-colored Colt medallions. The checker pattern has a tiny smooth diamond in the center of each checker and border lines around the edges. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Bright Stainless Steel & Gold

Finish Originality: The Bright Stainless finish appears Original, the Gold finish is not 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 98% of its metal finish. There is a small nick in the right slide serrations. The rear sight notch has light wear and some discoloration from oxidation. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in Excellent condition as customized.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has very little play to the frame. The trigger is light and crisp. There is a Series 80 firing-pin block safety. 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: 

-Two-piece blue cardboard Colt box with white cardboard sleeve. The box has a “The Premier Edition One of 350” sticker and the sleeve has a serial-matching Colt Custom Shop label, both of which we believe to be spurious.

-Factory paperwork including manual.

-Total of one 8-round Colt magazine.

Our Assessment: Introduced as an off-the-shelf target pistol, Colt’s Gold Cup National Match 1911s have been a benchmark standard of quality for decades. There have been some variations since their introduction in the late ’50s, the Series ’70 introduced a collet barrel bushing, series ’80 a firing pin safety, and newer models offered various combinations of features, grips and sights. This is one of the later Series ’80 Gold Cup National Match pistols with a firing pin safety, Elliason sight pinned to its ribbed slide, and stainless steel construction. It is an Enhanced model which went above and beyond the standard Gold Cups with under-cut trigger guard, beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer and trigger, beveled magazine well and flared ejection port. The pistol has been customized with a set of attractive grips and a gold finish on the controls and barrel. While the pistol comes in a box with a Colt Custom Shop label and Premier Edition One of 350 sticker, we were not able to find any reference to this being a configuration offered by Colt and we suspect that it is simply a custom pistol which has been paired with fake labels. The pistol is in Excellent condition, showing signs of little or no use since it was customized. It is certainly an eye-catching pistol and would make a great BBQ gun that will probably also perform well on the range. Please see our photos and good luck!