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.
Excerpt from the Colt Archive Letter:
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.
