1993 Colt Presentation Gold Cup National Match

PGC National Match

The Series 80 Colt PGC National Match .45 ACP

PGC National Match

The Colt Government Mk. IV Series 80 launched in 1983 introduced an internal firing pin safety and a new half-cock notch on the sear; pulling the trigger on these models while at half-cock will cause the hammer to drop. Models after 1988 returned to the solid barrel bushing due to concerns about breakages of collet bushings.

1993 Presentation Gold Cup MKIV Series 80 National Match .45 ACP (1983–1996): On our last visit to the indoor gun range, we put the Series 80 up against the Series 70 Government Model. The contest was so close over-all that I thought it resulted in a toss-up. When Colt calls this finish Mirror Bright Blue, they aren't joking. I had difficulty taking photos because of the reflections and after darkening the photos they aren't so clear.

Presentation Gold Cup photo gallery

These photos document the mirror-bright blue finish, Gold Cup National Match markings, jeweled trigger and hammer details, Colt medallion stocks, factory case, paperwork, and spare magazine.

1993 Colt Presentation Gold Cup MKIV Series 80 National Match, overall left-side profile.

Close-up of jeweled wide target trigger on Colt Presentation Gold Cup — Close-up of the jeweled wide target trigger and trigger guard.

Right-side slide view showing Gold Cup National Match marking — Gold Cup National Match slide marking and mirror-bright blue finish.

Left-side slide view showing MK IV Series 80 Gold Cup National Match marking — MK IV Series 80 Gold Cup National Match rollmark on the opposite side of the slide.

Close-up of Colt medallion stocks and rear controls — Colt medallion stocks, rear controls, jeweled hammer, and bright blue frame.

Presentation Gold Cup in blue Colt case with paperwork and spare magazine — Blue Colt factory case, paperwork, spare magazine, and the Presentation Gold Cup.

Three-quarter view showing the polished slide flats, target sights, and wood stocks.

Close-up of wood Colt medallion stocks and rear frame — Close-up of the wood Colt medallion stocks and rear portion of the frame.

Excerpt from the Colt Archive Letter:

Excerpt from Colt Archive Letter on the Presentation Gold Cup Series 80

This gun has a jeweled spur hammer, jeweled wide target trigger and jeweled barrel hood. In years past, I would see a gun with engine-turned or jeweled parts and be turned off by it. Then suddenly in 2019, I see this gun and I fell in love with it! So opinions and tastes can change, even your own.

When I saw this gun come up for auction in 2019 I immediately submitted a bid. And I couldn't believe my luck when I won with a bid of $1,600. Sometimes you get lucky. As you can see in the Colt Archive Letter, the gun shipped with a presentation case which at some point became separated from the gun.

To me, the missing presentation case was not a big deal, but to many collectors it would be. In fact if the gun had came to me with the presentation case, it would have put a damper on my carrying it to the range and firing it.