The National Match. ACP Pistols. Colt National Match Pistol. The National Match M1. Pistols are hand fitted and tuned for the National Match competitions which began at Caldwell, NJ and became the Camp Perry match. Among their numbers are some of the most beautiful and accurate pistols ever built. The problem with the National Match pistols is that there are two kinds the National Match pistols which were built by government armorers for the Army Marksmanship Unit for the Camp Perry competition, and the Colt National Match pistols which were produced by Colt for the retail market. An example of the government built pistols is the Drake Slide National Match worth about 1. The old National Match Colts made between 1. The models with adjustable sights bring approximately 7. These pistols differed from the standard grade because they incorporated a match barrel, checked trigger, checked mainspring housing, walnut stocks and the internal parts were hand honed. Steyr-Mannlicher-Model-SL-S.L.-Super-Light-Full-Stock-Blue-20%E2%80%9D-Bolt-Action-Hunting-Rifle-Leupold-Scope-MFD-1994.jpg' alt='Steyr Serial Numbers' title='Steyr Serial Numbers' />Also included on later versions were a ramped front sight and an adjustable rear sight. These models were marked NATIONAL MATCH COLT Automatic Calibre. During World War II, the National Match Model was discontinued, but resumed in 1. In 1. 95. 7 Colt began to produce Gold Cup National Match pistols which they produced until 1. In 1. 00 condition, these pistols are worth about 1. There was then a Series 7. Gold Cup National Match, produced between 1. These bring 9. 50 or better in 1. Between 1. 98. 3 and 1. Nero 6 For Windows 7. Colt produced the Gold Cup MKIV Series 8. National Match. The are worth about 8. The current marking is Gold Cup Trophy begun in 1. History of the National Match Pistol. Colt National Match Pistol. By 1. 91. 9 there were National matches, first at Caldwell NJ and then later at Camp Perry, Ohio. Henry Fitz Fitz. Gerald, as Colts representative, did a thriving business at Camp Perry replacing barrels and tuning triggers starting in 1. While we might think of these as match guns and they were, they were also fighting guns. The US Border Patrol, all the US services and many Police Departments fielded teams to shoot these matches. Most of the LE people used the same guns they used on the street. Enlisted men and Junior Officers alike carried and used the guns they shot. Interestingly enough, then Lt. George Patton disdained the 1. AD incident in 1. In 1. 93. 2, at the National Matches, Colt introduced its first National Match Model. More smoothly fitted than the Commercial Model, it was soon made available with the Stevens adjustable rear sight, as is also found on the early model Ace. This pistols production was curtailed upon our entry into WWII and not continued after the wars end. By 1. 93. 3 Colt was offering a National Match pistol from the factory. Little more than a slightly tuned 1. A1. They were most likely found in the cabinet of a well to do gentleman or the holster of a LE officer who was also an astute gunman. Colt National Match Pistol Muzzle. By the late 3. 0s Fitz was joined by others who specialized in the 1. You have to remember that hitting the target was a real issue for some of the men who came to Camp Perry. Many times their practice was on moving targets who shot back In 1. Army began to experiment with match grade pistols. As they learned what improved accuracy and what the shooters preferred, changes were made. Some of the early Army National Match pistols had variations such as plastic triggers or rubber front strap covers. Steyr Serial Numbers' title='Steyr Serial Numbers' />By Randy Rick The Austrian SteyrHahn Pistol M1911M1912 The SteyrHahn hahn is German for hammer pistol was first produced in 1911 with a fixed blade front. As a result, Steyr began producing Mauser K98s and MG 34s for that fatass, toenailpainting, crossdressing, morphine addict in 1939. You forgot fighter ace. SteyrBessemeropenhouse039_zpsd0be1f21.jpg' alt='Steyr Serial Numbers' title='Steyr Serial Numbers' />Large fixed rear sights were standard with micro adj. Hard slides were made for these pistols. The early slides were made by Colt with normal Colt markings. Colts second Match slide was unmarked on the left side except for part 7. The third type slide had serrations like the Gold Cup and the Part 7. This slide was also made by the Drake Manufacturing Co. These pistols were periodically returned to the Armory and updated. The latter triggers were made of aluminum. Production was halted by the closing of Springfield Armory. Around 1. National Match guns turned out by Springfield Armory. As I recall remember this was more than 4. PR16239c__98883.jpg' alt='Steyr Serial Numbers' title='Steyr Serial Numbers' />There are a number of Web sites devoted to the C96. They seem to be mainly rearrangements of the material in the books, with even more rumor and hearsay tossed in. As pictured NORINCO SKS Type 56, 11 round Semi Auto rifle, chambered in 7. Serial 220328XXXXX. All Matching Numbers save magazine. TRIGGER SHOES Australian made Two sizes to chose from, 6. NM guns was George Elliason from Detroit, MI. Anyway, Jack Maple invented some of the tools used by other gunsmiths to accurize the M1. Robert Pruden. Colt Gold Cup Pistol. In 1. 95. 7 Colt re introduced its NM in a much changed version. Known as the Gold Cup it had adjustable sights, a wider trigger with a stop and many cosmetic and practical changes. The slide was lightened as much as possible by internal machining to allow it to function well with wad cutter ammo. This weakened the slide for hot loads and the pistol quickly got a reputation as a wad cutter only pistol. These cuts were eliminated in the new Series 7. Model so it is stronger. The barrel on the Gold Cup has a narrower hood than the Government model so it is not readily interchangeable. A hood can be cut down satisfactorily with a little filing. A special barrel bushing was made for this model with a 4. This bushing was eliminated when the Mark IVSeries 7. Upon returning from Southeast Asia in May of 1. I bought identical Colt National Match pistols. As you know, these were the forerunners to the Gold Cups. The old style National Match had the solid bushing rather than the collet type used in the Gold Cups. Manufacturing Date Serial Numbers Correspondence as reported Year Estimated Actual serials reported 1909 1 25000 3704 21692 1910. Cornell Publications Worlds largest old gun catalog manual reprinter SteyrMannlicher Schoenauer catalogs in current publication. The guns had a much lighter slide and came with a weaker 1. Our pistols were equipped with a match trigger utilizing an adjustable over travel stop, Elliason adjustable sights and a wide front sight. The finish was Colts Royal Blue, to this day, the most beautiful finish Ive ever seen on a gun. The bluing looked six inches deep. A test target came with my gun, stating that it had been fired from a Ransom pistol rest at 5. The five shot group measured a little under 1. It was the second most accurate handgun Ive ever fired, falling only behind a six inch Ruger Security Six that was target tuned by me. Willy Robinson. In 1. Air Force begin to intensify their competitive marksmanship program. The Air Force Marksmanship school, which trained range instructors, became the nucleus of this activity. By 1. 96. 0 they were installing special barrels, bushings, triggers and sights and hand fitting their pistols. These pistols were designated AFPG or Air Force Premium Grade. The earlier models were just marked A F. While the total production of these conversions is unknown, ten thousand would be in the ball park, probably. The accuracy requirement of these pistols was to fire, from a machine rest, three consecutive ten shot groups at 5. Some of these pistols were built up Army National Match and early Gold Cup Models. A custom section built up weapons for the top AF shooters Blue Team. These pistols were often customized with extended front sights, muzzle weights, etc., and were marked AFPG also. An H or W was stamped on the barrel to indicate a hardball or wad cutter model. The Gunsmiths mark was placed on the right side, below the magazine. Variations. Match. AMU Chambering a. Special rimless cartridge, this variation was manufactured by Colt from a. Super frame and has. Super serialization with a. AMU conversion kit slide. The Army took. 4. AMU kits with a blued finish. Super Match. 3. 8 This pistol is like the Super. Manufactured between 1. Drake Slide National Match Drake made slides only for use by the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit to allow assembly of match guns.