colt gold cup 1911 38 special

jpdufresne0249

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hi guys just got an heritage for an 1911 gold cup 38 special just wondering what is the price for this rifle there is some picture of it ! thanks you all
 
If I remember correctly they're chambered only for .38 Special wadcutters and I think they're fairly rare—they sound like a cool pistol. I would agree with Mr. Callahan's estimate above.
 
Yes Master-G, the Colt Gold Cup .38 is chambered for wadcutters only, just like the S&W model 52. It's not a common pistol, somewhat rarer than it's S&W counterpart.
 
Also considerably less accurate due to the pure blowback system, sloppy fit of barrel to slide, slotted movement of barrel on slide stop, and flutes in the chamber. Hard to shoot well since the recoil impulse is heavy and the gun always wanted to twist in the hand. Deservedly rare in my mind, but a good collected piece.

Dr Jim
 
In my experience my GCNM mid range in 38 wadcutter has been an absolute joy. It is more accurate than my 52-1 but not quite as accurate as my 52-2. It is soft shooting and very well fit. Interestingly enough it has the tightest fit barrel bushing out of any 1911 I have ever owned, including Nighthawks, a Les Baer, a custom Dlask with Briley bushing, a Valtro, STI and many others.

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One of the significant problems with the Gold Cup design, whether 45 or 38 was the wide trigger. Not so much the width as the WEIGHT as it was steel. Made it very difficult to get a good trigger job at a reasonable pull weight. Fortunately for awhile an aluminium aftermarket one was available. Made it much easier and killed the tendency for full-auto Fire. YMMV of course. I built a 38 Special on a Norinco 29 using one of the 1960s Gil Hebard "kits" - out of the ransom it was under three quarters of an inch at 25 metres, substantially better than my M52 and on part with the K-38.
 
The National Match 38 special wad cutter pistols are not Gold Cups. The Gold Cup National Match name came later....

Most Colt National Match pistols (blue carbon steel) were chambered in 45acp. The 38spl models are reasonably rare and somewhat desirable as a collectors item. There are just too many better autos out there to make them a competitor. Colt NM pistols then transitioned into the Gold Cup National Match, then the Trophy model.

Getting on the stainless steel bandwagon that S&W started was in my opinion a mistake by Colt, but people want and demand crazy ideas and manufacturers respond. Hence, the Pontiac #####, stainless Pythons, stainless GCNM autos and the new S&W 66. Ugh!
 
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