[chasu]

I have owned several electroless nickel commanders, but a buddy of mine just acquired an Electroless Nickel Gold Cup. My concern is that the roll marks are so light that I think it possibly could have been redone. The nickel condition is outstanding, but, I'm no expert. I need the advice of someone here that can tell me by looking at the roll marks if this is consistent with what y'all have seen. The barrel is nickel plated, and the throat / feed ramp is polished in the white. Very interesting pistol. Thanks in advance.

 

[kmecjohnson]

I just saw one at an Ohio gun show this weekend. I didn't even know they made an E-Nickel 70 Series Gold Cup. Guy said it was NIB, I should have asked to see the box for my own curiosity. It was pretty... He wanted a lot of money for it. He also had a 3" Python that had an "E" suffix, so I wasn't sure what to believe.

Sorry, I'm no help. Just thought it was interesting I saw one twice in a week.

Regards, KJ

 

[JudgeColt]

The pictured Gold Cup does not look to have a factory ColtGuard finish. ColtGuard is a brushed finish, and the pictured gun appears to have a matte finish. The left side markings appear buffed off. The right dust cover has a rounded lower edge. In my opinion, the finish is not original.

There are original Series '70 Gold Cups with ColtGuard finish. I had one once (that I wish I had not sold).

 

[chaosrob]

For a series 70 wouldn't it have been satin nickel, or is it the same thing? Here is my very used/carried/fired pre 80's commander from '74 with the satin nickel for comparison

View attachment 46746

 

[ace]

The pictured Gold Cup does not look to have a factory ColtGuard finish. ColtGuard is a brushed finish, and the pictured gun appears to have a matte finish. The left side markings appear buffed off. The right dust cover has a rounded lower edge. In my opinion, the finish is not original.

There are original Series '70 Gold Cups with ColtGuard finish. I had one once (that I wish I had not sold).

plain and simple. I have to disagree.
1. first of all as I've said several times before, it's often hard to tell a finish from online pics because of several factors. lighting being the main one. it's often hard to tell an actual finish, satin nickel, electroless, hard chrome, etc because of lighting in said pics.
2. I've owned several lnk nib gold cups, aces, commanders, and gov. models in original boxes with the custom shop labels that I bought from a time way before people were faking those things. sold a few and still have a few. for whatever reason the markings were/are often buffed looking just like the one in the pics above. why I don't know but I do know that the colts I'm talking about were all nib from the colt custom shop.
3. having said the above, because I'm looking at pics instead of holding it in my hand in person I won't verify whether the pictured gun is legit or not, but I do know from personal experience that your comments aren't necessarily proof to say it's not original factory.
4. that gun may very well be refinished, but imo a true judgement can't be made without in the very least better pics but the real way I would know is if I had it in my hand and saw the box it was shipped in.

 

[ace]

For a series 70 wouldn't it have been satin nickel, or is it the same thing?

no they're not the same thing. satin nickel like blue was often a regular factory finish on many 1911 design colts but in most if not all cases electroless was only available on custom shop pistols.

 

[chasu]

Electroless Nickel

I am asking about the depth and definition of the roll marks on the slide. I have had several nickel commanders and none of them had faint roll marks to the extent that the one in the pic has. These roll marks are absolutely flat. In the process of the steel going through the roller dies, thus impressing the roll mark into the steel, it always (I thought) leaves little lips of turned up steel around the impression where the die is exiting the steel. The reason for my question is not that I have seen "every" slide rolled in the dies, but none that I have had have been that smooth. This one simply "appears" to be sanded smooth, and in the process could have been done to the extent that the roll mark was lightened. Or possibly that the roll mark was so light that the die didn't impress at the depth that it would normally on this slide. This is either a very well done professionally reworked e-nickel or satin nickel finish, or a new unfired gold cup. The condition is flawless, but the roll mark depth and blasted appearance on the bottom of the frame raised the question of it possibly being refinished. I really only have one question. Is it typical to see roll marks this light now and then? I never have, but as mentioned, I haven't seen as much as 1% of all slides rolled in the Series 70 dies. Unfortunately, it didn't come in its factory box.

 

[chasu]

This is another Electroless Nickel Gold Cup for comparison.

 

[Lumberjack]

The above Gold Cup is correct. The one in the original posting is not. The Gold Cups were Royal Coltgaurd and the regular series 70s were the standard matt Coltgaurd. This applies to every one I have seen so far but that does not mean that there are no exceptions to this.