Colt A.D. Swenson Custom Gold Cup National Match Chrome Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1959 C&R .45 ACP

SOLD FOR: $2,976.51
LSB#: 181106AR01

Make: Colt, Customized by A.D. Swenson

Model: Custom Gold Cup National Match Pre-Series 70

Serial Number: 3771-NM

Year of Manufacture: 1959 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Semi-Automatic pistol with detachable magazine

Markings: The right side of the slide is marked ”COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The left side of the slide is marked “NATIONAL / *MATCH*”, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER .45” with the rampant Colt logo. The right side of the frame is marked “A.D. SWENSON / GARDENA, CALIF. / 3771-NM”. The barrel is marked “COLT .45 AUTO. N.M. / MK IV/SERIES ’70”. Each side of the trigger guard is marked “Y”, the Verified Proof on the left of the trigger guard is almost completely removed.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a patridge blade fixed to the full-length rib on the top of the slide. The rear sight is a Colt-Accro target sight adjustable for windage and elevation pinned to the rib.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with gold-colored Colt medallions. The grips have light handling wear with no notable damage. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Chrome

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The left face of the hammer has some small spots of light surface oxidation, the barrel has light-moderate operational wear and there are a few scattered light marks. The screw heads are sharp, the pin heads are unmarred and the markings are clear except for the Verified Proof as noted. Overall, this pistol is in about Excellent condition as refinished and customized. For more information on the customization, please see Our Assessment.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide to frame fit is tight with no play. The trigger is crisp. As with all used firearms, it may need a thorough cleaning to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of four 7-round magazines. One floorplate is marked “COLT / .45 AUTO.”. The other three are marked “M”, “COLT / 45 AUTO” and with a rampant colt. The magazines show light operational wear with intact feed lips and strong springs, in about Fine condition.

Our Assessment: Colt Gold Cup National Match pistols were the benchmark standard for a .45 Auto target pistol for decades. With hand-fitted parts, match grade barrels and bushings, adjustable target sights and a wider trigger adjustable for over-travel, they came from Colt’s factory with upgrades you could spend more than the price of the pistol to have done by a gunsmith on a standard 1911. This one has seen further customization from famed gunsmith Armand Swenson. The frontstrap has been stippled, the trigger guard squared off and the front serrated, the safety has been swapped out for an extended safety and the metal has been given a hard-chrome finish. While the slide has the pre-1970 style markings, the barrel has been replaced with a MK IV Series ’70 barrel and Series ’70 collet-style bushing. With the bushing replaced, the chamfered recoil spring plug has been replaced with a traditional plug. The mainspring housing has been swapped out for a 1911-A1 knurled housing. This custom pistol brings the factory quality of the Colt Gold Cup National Match and pairs it with the immense talent of A.D. Swenson’s gunsmithing. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible handgun CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California. This handgun CANNOT be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.