Here's couple of pix of my old Gold Cup. I checked my archives and found I didn't have any full length pix of the gun.

 

Is that a slide cut?

 

The first thing I noticed was the dual recoil springs along with a narrower recoil spring guide so there'd be clearance for the narrower inner spring. How long has Colt been doing this or is this only on the Gold Cups?

 

Colt had gone to dual springs for probably ten years now.

 

Narrower; smaller in diameter?
I think the dual springs have been standard in five-inch guns for a while; since the XE line was introduced?

 

The second thing I noticed was the lack of a firing pin safety. I'm not bitching about this because gunsmith [may he rest in peace] told me to get rid of them so I did on all my Series '80 Colts. When did Colt do away with the firing pin safeties?

 

Colt began to introduce the so called Series 70 across the board since around 2017.

For competition type models (i.e. Competition, Gold Cup, National Match) plus the Classic Model, Colt had gone to the Series 70 firing mechanism.

For defense type models, Colt still retains the Series 80 firing mechanism with the firing pin safety ( Commander, Delta Elite, CCU, Combat Elite, M45A1).

 

I don't know about these black & blue G10 grips on my new gun. I'm sort of a traditionalist on my M1911's and I like wooden grips. I think I may install these double diamond Hogue Hawaiian koa wood grips on it which were previously on the old Gold Cup. What do you guys think?

 

I like the blue Colt grips.

 

Congrats.

I'm not sure what you mean by "better" trigger pull, but if it is pull weight, change the sear spring to a Cylinder & Slide which will lighten it quite a bit. Of if you know how to adjust the stock one, adjust it a bit.

 

My first question is why did you trade? I wouldn't have.

 

Because 1990s Colts weren’t too great….

 

I like G10 grips, and I don't mind the blue color at all. Having said that, those wood grips are certainly nice!

 

Colt had gone to dual springs for probably ten years now.

My GCNM made in 2021 came with the single spring setup. It also included a second “target spring”.

Jim

 

The National Match is different. Colt tried to keep it “retro” looking. As is the Classic model.

 

Those blue grips are ugly and fat. Measure them if you don't believe me - about 1/8" thicker than a USGI plastic grip. The plastic MSH also has an exaggerated crown in it - the combination of the two with a long trigger and huge 'speed bump; on the grip safety made my new CSS very uncomfortable. I ground down the speed bump, put some nice regular grips on, replaced the MSH with an aluminum one and replaced the trigger. I lightened the mainspring and recoil spring because I will be shooting target loads only.

 

The polymer mainspring housing on my Gold Cup has got to go! I'm aware that these polymer units are plenty strong for the job they do and I've never heard of one of them failing. However, I'm a retired tool & diemaker and I like my gun parts to be made of metal [aluminum or steel]. Polymers are satisfactory for grips or rifle stocks. I'm replacing it with an Ed Brown stainless flat snakeskin mainspring housing which was on the old Gold Cup.

 

Here's the Gold Cup with the Ed Brown MSH installed.

 

I was going to buy the Gold Cup Trophy for competition but decided to go with the blued Competition model, mainly because I wanted a blued one. When I got it, the trigger was 7 pounds! No much of a competition setup. I did some work and now have a nice 3 pound trigger.

 

Nothing out does an early (60s) colt gold cup National match rework by cylinder and slide! Nothing!

 

I have 2 Gold Cups, a series 80 and a series 70. They both have a 4 lb. trigger and if I were blindfolded, I wouldn't be able to tell one from the other. The older series 80 had Colt rubber grips with Colt medallion's and the barrel bushing is noticeably tighter. There are a few other very minor differences between the two but I couldn't say one is better than the other. I obtained the series 80 in a trade so I have 2 and I can't bring myself to part with either one! I also have a blue competition and it has a very good trigger also, 4 1/2 lb. right pull out of the box. Waiting on a delivery of a Combat Commander, I'm pretty anxious!!!

 

Fnfalman posted: "Colt began to introduce the so called Series 70 across the board since around 2017."
Interesting. The firing pin safety is probably not needed because most accidental discharges with 1911 pistols occur with the pistol in the shooter's hand, a condition the firing pin block cannot prevent. If the pre-Series 80 1911 with a round in the chamber lands hard on it's muzzle quite often the pistol will discharge but usually there are no injuries as a result. My gunsmith told me to get rid of my firing pin blocks and I did. However, other commentators have said that most folks can't tell by their trigger pulls whether or not the gun has a firing pin block. Brownells and other companies sell the firing pin block replacement kits. Here's a link if you want to get rid of your firing pin block: series 80 | series 70 | 80 spacer | series 80 to 70 conversion | 45 ACP | tj's custom | 1911 trigger job (taylor-tactical-supply.com)

 

I think colt made the dual springs for the marine m45

 

You aren't going to know there's a FP safety in the gun unless you want a very light trigger, like sub 3lbs. I had to retime the one 80 series I have but have had it to 3lbs with the original parts except the lever, and other than the weight it just dissapears like my 2.5lb bullseye gun built off a 1918 Colt. The 80 series Commander is my carry gun so I just played with it one day for fun, if it's set up right it's invisible at "normal" pull weights.