*LIVE* 1963 Colt Gold Cup National Match .45 ACP Royal Blue *RARE Pre-70 Series*

Bryant Ridge's Analysis

Born as an expensive gun in the depths of the Great Depression, the finely crafted Gold Cup National Match sold better than expected but was never destined to be a mass-market success. The addition of the Super Match, a .38 Super with the same treatment, differing only in markings, caliber, and cartridge capacity, did little to change the inevitable. When production ceased with the outbreak of WWII, the Colt National Match's epoch had ended. While Mullin notes that a few were assembled from leftover parts after the war’s conclusion, the company chose not to make it a catalog item. However, the concept was resurrected in 1957 with the Gold Cup. The first runs were marked only as “National Match” on the slide, and later, as “National Match Gold Cup,” and finally, just “Gold Cup.” 

Gold Cup National Match was Introduced in 1957 in .45 ACP, the Gold Cup National Match was fitted with a match grade barrel, collet-style bushing, flat mainspring housing, long adjustable stop trigger, a hand fitted slide with an enlarged ejection port and adjustable target sights. It had the gold medallion in the grips and “NM” suffix on the serial number. These pistols were manufactured between 1957 and 1970.

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 earlier production pistols, made before they started marking them with the “Gold Cup” name. Whether you’re looking for a great 1911-style target pistol or want to add an early-style Gold Cup National Match to your collection, this is a nice old pony.

Specifications 

Manufacturer: Colt 

Model: Gold Cup National Match 

Serial: 11707NM

Date of Manufacture: 1963 

Caliber: .45 ACP

Finish: Royal Blue 

Barrel Length: 5" NM 

Optics/Sights: Fixed Post Front With Ellison Adjustable Rear

Stock/Grips: High Figure Wood Grain Grips 

Action: Semi-Automatic 

Markings: Standard / The right side of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The left side of the slide is marked “NATIONAL / *MATCH*,” / "1295" / “COLT,” and “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER .45” with a Rampant Colt logo. 

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