Just noticed a small hole in the sear, I’m assuming that’s where the spring goes, but not sure where the little plate sits

 

Old pretensioning mechanism for Colt Gold Cups. The hole on the 'little plate' fits on the sear spring. The plate holds the little spring in it's hole.

I don't remember the orientation, sorry, as it's been over 40 years since I owned a GC and I'd have to fiddle with it to figure it out.

 

Here's the first pic showing in a "google" search.


I found it best to assemble the parts with a slave pin (thick style toothpick cut to length), and drop the assembly in to the frame. Use the sear pin to push the slave pin out towards the right side of the frame.

 

The spring goes in the hole, the side pad on the plate goes on top of the spring, the sear pin goes through the hole.

If having too much trouble putting it together, just leave them out guns run fine w/o them.
.

 

Thank you very much, first time I’ve seen anything like that.

 

Anyone know why they used them? Or a link to some info about them? Just my curiosity, I appreciate the responses.

 

To prevent trigger bounce from the wide heavy trigger in the GC. I wouldn’t leave them out unless you swap out the trigger with an aluminum from EGW or WC.

 

When reassembling these parts use a piece of a qtip cut with a razor the width of the sear for a slave pin. It will help hold the parts together and push out the qtip piece with the sear pin when you place them back into the frame.

If you loose the spring ( many do ) Wolff Gun Springs may have replacements available. Or pm me and I will send you one.

 

Greatly appreciate that offer, hope I don’t need one lol.

 

Thank you for the info gentlemen. I’m dreading putting that tiny spring in there. Should probably put a giant garbage bag over me when I do try. That trigger definitely has some weight to it. I can understand why they put it in. Wish me luck, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

I don't envy you... A little dab of grease will hold the spring in the sear. Toothpick or cotton swab stick as a slave pin is good advice. Good luck!

 

Some people do assemble the sear inside a large baggy just to contain the spring if it gets loose.

 

Well all that advice you've gotten to this point seems much better than anything I could offer. All I know is every time I rebuild a carburetor there's extra parts that are always left over. It's gotten to the point now where I have enough extra parts that I can rebuild an entire carburetor...😆

 

As said a slave pin holding the depressor, sear and disconnector together are the only way to keep your sanity. If you have large fingers use tweezers on the disconnector to carefully slide the assembly into place. Be slow and smooth, if you bounce it around going in the thin depressor can slip off the pin. I always keep a spare spring because it damn near turns invisible if it launches out. I found the first one after 1/2 an hour on a kitchen floor so I got the spare.

 

My spare spring is either in the carpet of my office or the vacuum cleaner.

 

Bought some springs when Wolff got them back in stock a few years ago but putting in light weight trigger in the current Cup so not needing them.

 

Success, it took about a dozen tries but I finally got it. Appreciate the help from everyone. I used a wood cotton swab for the slave pin, don’t know how you can do it without one , thats for sure. I finally found a video on you tube after getting it together lol.

 

I would say replace the parts needed to get rid of that spring and funny looking parts. I like simple. Keep the old parts in a baggie, incase you want to sell it and the new owner wants to deal with it.

 

Not Colt's finest hour

 

For sure, don’t know what ever possessed them to put in those heavy triggers.

 

Lol, you poor *******! You took apart an 80 series Gold Cup like I did. Watch the video and find someone with small fingers.

 

Lol, you poor ***! You took apart an 80 series Gold Cup like I did. Watch the video and find someone with small fingers.

Yea, when I saw that itty bitty spring laying there, my first thought was , where the hell did that come from?! Definitely a learning experience

 

Congrats on a job well done. Next time just spray it down with CLP and call it good.

 

I sent a GC (Gunbroker purchased) back to Colt and even they didn’t have new parts for repair. They junked the old parts and replaced with new lighter trigger, sear and hammer. Some collector types don’t like that.

 

I actually like the wide shoe but it sucks with a "light" trigger. Dlask made one that was pricey and want to say Geppert did but not sure. It can be made to work without the depressor but you need to lose a bit of weight on the original with a new sear and judicious tuning.

I have a 1918 bullseye conversion with the original heavy long steel trigger that breaks at 2.5lbs and doesn't drop the hammer on slidedrops, Colt just couldn't figure it out. I'm not a gunsmith like the pro's on here but it's not rocket science to study the dynamics of what works or isn't and will be dangerous.

 

I purchased a well-used Colt Gold Cup National Match S/N FN07***E which I was told was manufactured in 1994. The extremely tiny spring for that depressor lever was missing, although the gun functioned but with a terrible trigger. The shop sent the gun to Colt (I live near Hartford, CT) for repair. Colt sent it back saying they did not have that spring available. The store searched and eventually found a spring someplace. Internet searches say the Colt part number is SP52445, I have not found a vendor with it in stock. Information and drawings are available on line if you search hard enough. I have read not to delete the spring and depressor lever without replacing some other parts, although I have no way to verify that information. One person used a tiny spring taken from a watch band pin. It’s really, really tiny and easy to lose and harder to assemble !

 

https://www.gunsprings.com/COLT/1911+GOV'T+PISTOL/cID1/mID1/dID1#1064

 

Do the recent production Gold Cup National Match guns have these extra parts or is it just the older ones?
I recently bought a new GCNM serial number 71N19XXX and I don't need any more little springs flying around.

 

Do the recent production Gold Cup National Match guns have these extra parts or is it just the older ones?
I recently bought a new GCNM serial number 71N19XXX and I don't need any more little springs flying around.

The newer ones that have a lighter aluminum three hole trigger do not have the small anti bounce sear spring.

 

philk, Thank you sir for the reply!

I am a newbie when it comes to working on the 1911 having done my first disassembly and trigger adjustments about two months ago. So the less parts the better.