Colt MK IV Series ’70 Gold Cup National Match 1911 .45 ACP 5” Pistol 1981
SOLD FOR: $1,025.01
LSB#: WY241111JP105.1
Make: Colt
Model: MK IV Series ’70 Gold Cup National Match
Serial Number: 09170N70
Year of Manufacture: 1981 (page 382, R.L. Wilson’s “Colt An American Legend”)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the full-length rib on the top of the slide. The front sight has a bright orange face. The rear sight is an Elliason square notch sight adjustable for windage and elevation pinned to the slide. The top of the rib is serrated and the top of the slide is matte finished for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece fully checkered walnut with gold-colored “COLT” medallions in their centers. There is minor wear on the butt of the right grip, otherwise there are only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp and well defined with only some faintly worn peaks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some light fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is operation wear on the barrel. There is a faint takedown scar on the frame. There is some minor wear on the leading edges. The screwheads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Excellent Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide to frame fit is snug. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: This pistol comes with one vintage original Colt fully blued 7-round magazine stamped “COLT / 45 AUTO” on the bottom floorplate, with a Rampant Colt on one side and an “M” on the other.
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 slide; it wasn’t until 1970, when it was rebranded as the “MK IV SERIES ’70”, that the moniker “GOLD CUP” was added to the marking.
This Colt MK IV Series ’70 Gold Cup National Match Pistol was made in 1981 and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 5” barrel, 97% of its lustrous, original blued finish, elegant two-piece fully checkered walnut grips with gold-colored “COLT” medallions in their centers, a beautiful Colt fully blued 7-round mag, a blade front sight with a bright orange face, an Elliason square notch rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion (only some light fouling in the grooves). Whether you’re looking for a great 1911-style target pistol or want to add a Gold Cup National Match to your collection, this is the choice for you. – L.S.
