Colt Gold Cup info

[SKS Ray]

My father has a Colt Gold Cup that he is basically handing down/giving me. Its been neglected over the years and has seen nothing but cast lead reloads with no cleaning.
There is some rust on the trigger and hammer that I can probably take care of myself along with any blemishes on the finish which is still pretty clean but does need some attention.
Here is a shot of the gun:

I'd like to clean this up and learn more about it. I noticed it has an adjustable trigger. That's something I'd also like to learn about.
Anyone have links on disassembly and function on this gun?

 

[matt]

My father has a Colt Gold Cup that he is basically handing down/giving me. Its been neglected over the years and has seen nothing but cast lead reloads with no cleaning.
There is some rust on the trigger and hammer that I can probably take care of myself along with any blemishes on the finish which is still pretty clean but does need some attention.
Here is a shot of the gun:

I'd like to clean this up and learn more about it. I noticed it has an adjustable trigger. That's something I'd also like to learn about.
Anyone have links on disassembly and function on this gun?

http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=578

Nice to have something like that from your father. Congrats, It's a nice gun.

 

[Dick]

You should be aware that Colt used a small - as in tiny, probably the smallest gun part I've ever seen - spring on the sear of the Series 70 Gold Cup that often isn't shown or mentioned in 1911 stripping instructions. The first time I detail-stripped mine the spring came flying out and happily landed on my work bench (the first and only time I've ever been so lucky). It's really a job getting that assembly back together - about the only way to do it is to assemble the mechanism out of the gun with a slave pin, put in in the right location and then put the proper pin in, driving the slave pin out at the same time.

The only trigger adjustment is for overtravel, and you need to have a little of that for the gun to cycle reliably. Also, remember that Gold Cups were intended for lower power target loads so were shipped with a weaker mainspring. You shouldn't run full hardball loads through it unless you replace the mainspring with the standard one, which I believe is 16 lbs.

 

[Twigg]

Niiiiiiiiice !

 

[SKS Ray]

Also, remember that Gold Cups were intended for lower power target loads so were shipped with a weaker mainspring. You shouldn't run full hardball loads through it unless you replace the mainspring with the standard one, which I believe is 16 lbs.

I'd like to keep everything in there original so I probably won't tinker with the mainspring.
Have any recommendations for commercial ammo?

 

[Dick]

I'd like to keep everything in there original so I probably won't tinker with the mainspring.
Have any recommendations for commercial ammo?

I reload everything, so I don't have any commercial ammo recommendations, I'm afraid. It's really no big deal to swap the mainspring - you'll have it out every time you clean the gun anyway and it's just a matter of putting in a different one when you put it back together. Keep the old one and you can put it back to original configuration anytime. I have about a half dozen different weight springs for mine - when I change loads I use the heaviest spring that will just allow the gun to cycle reliably.

 

[jar]

Dick, I think you mean recoil spring, unless you're way more thorough in your cleaning than I am.

 

[Patriot]

My father has a Colt Gold Cup that he is basically handing down/giving me. Its been neglected over the years and has seen nothing but cast lead reloads with no cleaning.
There is some rust on the trigger and hammer that I can probably take care of myself along with any blemishes on the finish which is still pretty clean but does need some attention.
Here is a shot of the gun:

I'd like to clean this up and learn more about it. I noticed it has an adjustable trigger. That's something I'd also like to learn about.
Anyone have links on disassembly and function on this gun?

Great! You can do a restoration on it and it will serve you well. Here is my long ago post
on detail stripping my Gold Cup. If you have any questions just ask. I'm not an expert
on them but have taken this and a series 70 down to the lowest common denominator.
Colt autos are great pistols and complete with my vintage S&W's for the greater part
of my attention.

http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=18873&highlight=Detail+Strip

 

[Dick]

Dick, I think you mean recoil spring, unless you're way more thorough in your cleaning than I am.

Oooops! Yes, of course - recoil spring. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Greg Derr]

Nice "Cup" If you plan on cleaning the rust off the trigger, you will have to remove it from the frame. If you do, you will have to remove the hammer,sear, sear spring and clip. The last two are the ones which will fall out and require a magnifying glass to find. Don't do this over shag carpet. All kidding aside, the small parts are tough to get back together. I actually do it inside a large clear plastic bag. Greg

 

[depicts]

Milsurps, nice gun. I own one also. It was set up for Bullseye, and lead wad cutters. I bought a Wolf #16 spring for $10 at Middleboro gun shop, and started using hardball, 230gr in it. It runs fine, and I kept the old spring in case I want to shoot wadcutters agian.

They are great guns. I've had mine for ten years now, and have never had a problem with it.