The 1911s are WWII and earlier production guns.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program, or CMP, just received authorization to take 8,000 of 1911 pistols from the U.S. Army. The Army has around 100,000 in storage and plans to surplus them in batches through the CMP over the next few years.
The CMP has been hard at work trying to get a hold of these guns for its members for years. It wasn’t until last year that they were able to cut through the political red tape holding these handguns back.
Unfortunately, CMP members and affiliates will have to wait just a little longer before they will be able to purchase these historically and militarily significant pistols.
In the next few days the CMP will begin the sorting and grading process while the Army reviews the CMP’s 1911 facilities. The CMP expects this to take about two months. After that, they will be able to post pricing and sales information.
CMP COO Mark Johnson apologized for the delay. “Please be aware that the CMP was led to believe that we were ready to move forward, but three weeks ago facility requirements were changed, and we are now fulfilling those requirements,” he explained.
“Once the 1911 armory is completed, inspection, grading, repair, and ultimately test firing of the pistols will begin,” Johnson said.
Johnson said it will still take about three more months after that to start accepting sales. “The CMP 1911 order packet will be posted 90 days prior to the order acceptance date and opening sales date,” he said.
Demand for these guns is extremely high and the CMP is a bit overwhelmed with questions about pricing and availability. Right now, Johnson says, there just isn’t enough information to share.
“The CMP will keep everyone posted as we move through this process,” said Johnson.
See Also: CMP 1911s–Public Service or Power Trip?
While the CMP is not able to release hard details about these 1911s the rumor mill will continue to turn. The biggest question is how much will these cost?
Due to the small number of 1911s in this initial batch the CMP can put a price premium on these guns. Many expect pricing to start around $1,000 per handgun, even for lower-grade pistols.
“One reason for this is that the 1911 is a very valuable pistol,” said CMP Marketing Manager Steve Cooper. “Even though they may be shot out or busted up, we don’t want them falling into the hands of people who will just leave them in a glove box. We want a perceived value–more of an heirloom.”
All the guys who think the CMP offering of the 1911 are over priced just step aside and let the true collectors buy them. I have no idea why you guys feel they should cost next to nothing.
I would say the CMP will get over 20,000 requests for these 8000 pistols.
We all seen the abuse in the past when the rifles were sold at below the true value price and most were sold to make a profit.
With the 1911 pistols it looks like the CMP wished up.
Is this the same gun that sole in 1960 for $17.00? I bought one that was used very little. However the point of aim w.as 18″ from
impact . Had it accurized for$65.00. Still a 2″circcle.
Scott and Darling before me.
Is this the same gun that sole in 1960 for $17.00? I bought one that was used very little. However the point of aim w.as 18″ from
impact . Had it accurized for$65.00. Still a 2″circcle.
We had 1911 in the USMC , 80 to 84, most of them were worn out then. I couldn’t hit a thing with it then. I have one now, great gun, save your money. buy a new one.
For a grand, keep it.
To think I waited YEARS for these to finally surface! Well CMP, a sucker is born everyday BUT NOT THIS ONE at $1K average. CMP management is delusional and out to take advantage. Piss you off? I don’t care. Last you’ll hear of me should you be the predatory buzzards that it sounds like. I’ll just buy a new one for LESS than half that price and be tickled pink. Pffftt!
Well I came in the Army in ’83 as a Tanker. My weapon in Basic and until ’88 was a 1911. I never handled nor shot an M-16 till I changed my MOS to Avn, but I can’t justify having to pay that for memory sake.
The process makes it not worth the trouble. Most of us would like to handle the piece. Plenty of good ones to be found at gun shows.
$1000, hell at $500 you can keep em.
The guns would be great to have but I think we need to remember where they came from and who paid for them already. We did! With our taxes. They should be sold for what they cost less wear. The benefit of market value should be given back to the taxpayers that buy them. But then again it’s a government program. Who expects that to be reasonable.
And by the way, if I do buy one and I am planning on it, if I leave it I’m my glove box it’s none of there damn business. That’s a swipe at a working man.
I agree with you Larry. Tax payers already paid for them.
Right Larry, we got raped when we bought with our tax dollars and then they rape us again to buy back what we already paid for and used at that, welcome to the US government, the ever consuming black hole in which we the citizen receive so little in return for the money that’s confiscated from us each year! I do believe it was the democrats that started all this taxation in 1894!
Waaaay to much money.
There cool and everything, but not rare at all with 100,000 set to release? Lol common, won’t catch me spending a G on one!
A fool and his money will be departed, the price in my opinion should start at $300, each for hand picked $400. Rare ones $500. To $700. At least the buyer wouldn’t be the fool then.
Yep – that’s the price range I was thinking too. More than fair. But because the CMP has become heavily for profit I doubt you’ll be able to acquire one of these worn out hunks-of-junk for anything south of a grand!
And I doubt ANY of them are anywhere close to being in slightly used or unfired condition. And if there are some in unfired condition I doubt you’ll be able to touch one for less than TWO thousand dollars!
Seriously, $300? Not sure what rock you’ve been living under but decent USGI 1911’s haven’t gone for that in decades.
As an Aviation Ordnanceman, part of my duties was with small arms. One would be surprised at the number of 1911’s that were used for nothing more than training at shore activities at shore based duty stations. I would venture to say that few if any at all saw combat duty usage. Take into consideration that I am speaking from a Navy standpoint. How many other military branches had the same scenario?
This is actually the only decent reason to not want one of these pistols.
If you are not interested why comment???? most of the negative commenter’s can only see $$$$$$$$$$ signs.
Their lust is so great that that they think that to ridicule will make a difference for them. The price is irelevent…..
the person that recognizes what these 1911’s rely represent know that the value is not measured in dollars and cents
what’s the value of a flag that draped the casket of a friend. You know that this weapon was carried by a soldier
on active duty—-maybe a clerk, a cook, or infantry —— a soldier serving. Never been there —— you cannot
comprehend. I ask you respectfully to leave this item to those who recognize what these weapons represent.
But for many even the original user in the war can not afford ridiculous prices of $1,000 or more. Most vets who are left even Vietnam vets don’t have the money to afford that. I don’t think there’s more then ten worth a grand apiece. And they would need proof or provenance to show that value. New Colts aren’t even that high now.
And you can bet you house that the real valuable ones will be grabbed up before the public gets any.
You must be a shill for the CMP. You really think guys are looking to buy a 1911 for $1000 just because it was carried by a serviceman on active duty? Maybe you can imagine he killed someone with it while saving his best buddy You’re living in some kind of altruistic fantasy if you really believe what you said. Most of those guns never saw real use and spent more time in holsters and the Armory than in a combat situation. I been there and used the gun when I was in the Navy and I bought one when I got out and had enough money to buy one. I could care less who carried the piece. It’s mine now!
Laying it on a bit thick there.
As a tax paying citizen, I get to gripe.
It’s not unreasonable for us to expect a better deal than this.
The things have already been paid for, by us.
They’re being given to the CMP I believe.
What exactly are they doing with the money? I could see a few hundred, but a grand?
And of course fools will pay the inflated $1,000.00 per gun. If the demand for a gun at that price goes down, hopefully the price goes down to a much more reasonable one. I know I refuse to pay that price for this gun.
If there are a grand, what’s the point? You can get a lower grade Kimber for that or a Springfield or Ruger in stainless with NOVAK sights and beaver tail grip for $750. I’m confused……..
What a rip off at a guesstimate of $1000 per pistol. Someone seems to forget that “We” collectively have already paid for these pistols once. Someone is getting fat off those prices. I am retired and live on a fixed income. That’s out of my price range.
Heirloom my butt! My money is hard to come by, and there is no way that I will pay $1,000 for an over used, worn out pistol that some one else picked out for me when I can buy basically the same pistol but brand new for less than $400 at an gun show made by Rock Island Armory! What ever happened to the surplus 1911’s DJ Jones and other experimenters use to buy for $15 in the 70;s?
That’s about $400 inflated to Government Specifications. Maybe if nobody buys them, they’ll come back down to reality in a few years.
Exactly, this is the CMP just trying to rip the American people off. I refuse to pay and others should also.
How is this the CMP trying to rip people off? Please provide evidence of this claim?
Point me to a $600 WWII 1911 in decent condition. I would say I’ll wait and see what you show me, but since just about all decent conditioned WWII 1911 are over $1k, you won’t be able to do so.
I’m still shooting the one I got from the NRA in 1966, for $17.50, including shipping!
I’m still shooting my grandfather’s surplus Remington Rand purchased for $17.50. Still have the paperwork for it. It’s a fantastic gun, and the envy of all my cousins. I use it in a Wild Bunch SASS match now and then too.
Would you take 1000.00 for that one??
I served in the Army in Germany in the 70’s. My Colt was never fired in the 3 years i was there.
$1000.00 for it might be worth it to someone, just not me.
I’ve seen internet traffic on this sale from folks chomping at the bit to own one. It seems these are not your normal in the know firearm folks, but those who just want it because of things like ‘Band of Brothers’ or any of the WW II style video games. Perhaps the CMP should apply the same requirement to the 1911’s as they did to the Garand’s, vet, LEO, gun club member, qualify on the range, etc., before just selling to a snowflake with an Xbox.
I think getting them into “snowflake” hands might be the best way to keep those “snowflakes” on the side of gun owners. How many “snowflakes” do you suppose are going to want to register or give up their prize to the gun grabbers in the government?
Perhaps if a pistol came with provenance that it was used in saying The Battle of the Bulge or carried by your father or grandfather, then, yes, a grand as a starting point would make sense.. That\’s not going to happen and neither will my wallet or checkbook be lightened.. This is especially true since just about every handgun manufacturer today makes 1911s that in most cases are superior to one of these old warhorses. Thanks but I don\’t need another safe queen… That being said, if you have a real hankering for one, by all means, jump the hoops, convince the wife that the mortgage really doesn\’t to be paid on time and buy one.
I am with you. $1000 for an old rusty worn out 1911? don’t think so.
Hopefully everyone feels that way. $1,000.00 is ripping people off.
I also agree Jeffrey, over priced, possibly shot out. Rare, I don’t think so, they are saying there are 100,000 of them. I can purchase a pretty nice modern 1911for $1000!
Who are they trying to fool? . . . . $1,000! for junk. Even if these 1911’s were in pristine condition the military tolerances do not provide the accuracy which is attained in today’s 1911’s. When I was in the Army we did not want to carry a 1911 because it was just additional weight and good only at very close quarters. I just bought a Dan Wesson Valor Commander for $1,200 and it is 1,000% better than what the CMP is selling. It seems like the CMP is now in the money making business instead of acting as a channel to get surplus arms to the public at reasonable prices.
My father fought in the world war and used one in midway, Guadalcanal, Philippines and a few other places. For CMP to be over pricing the value is utterly ridiculous. Let the value of the gun take its course instead of filling CMP’s pockets. Let citizens aquire them for a reasonable price. They’ve already been paid for once.
“Even though they may be shot out or busted up, we don’t want them falling into the hands of people who will just leave them in a glove box. We want a perceived value–more of an heirloom.” – said CMP Marketing Manager Steve Cooper.
Are you sh-ttin’ me?! First, who is this moron to tell people they can’t use the gun as they see fit? Second, he says the guns are valuable heirlooms, even though they may be shot-out or busted-up; NO value, except for spare parts. Third, the Best of them should sell for $200-300; a more than fair price for govt. surplus. Fourth, with CMP, you don’t get to choose your purchase, or even see the selection beforehand.
$1000+? Thanks, but No thanks. I’d take that $1K+ and put it towards a modern, quality 1911. Typical govt. rip-off.
At least double of what their worth. No way. Not my money!
Yes the gubbermint will f#ck this up. It’s already started. My dream of owning a WW2 1911 is dead – just like trying to have a Garand
Let the big money idiots that never served have them all….
Don’t buy one, the Cmp is a business and all the prices I’ve seen are all high. People are generally stupid though, and will jump at the chance to give Cmp their money!!! If the $ asked was fair I might buy one, but not at any price over $250. I can buy anything I want and if I’m spending anywhere near a G it’ll be new!!! Let the Cmp eat these guns, don’t buy one. We the people can show them and they can look at them all day sitting on a shelf!
Yep, they are pricing themselves out of the market for their core customers, the average American.
I carried a mid 1940’s Remington Rand 1911A1, on active duty. Two years ago, I was doing a value assessment of a collection for an older couple. Among the guns was a whole, but mistreated RR that someone had damaged the top of the slide, the rear sight, and the trigger was some rainbow multicolored piece of junk.
After ordering a new steel front sight, adding my old MMC Combat rear sight, and an unissued WWII trigger, the gun was reassembled with a Springfield Armory barrel and refinished into a beautiful blend of old and newer technology. It shoots like a dream and carries even better than my old friend from many years ago.
YES, it us worth returning to a time when men and guns were both made of steel…
If only you could see my “Betsy”…
I think the point is to make as much as possible from the sales in order to keep the CMP funded and doing the GREAT JOB they do in promoting shooting,Especially with their JR programs
That doesn’t substantiate the ridiculous overcharge on these guns.
CMP is out of their minds asking 1K for these old pistols. The solution for me is to purchase one of the fine commercial 1911’s available out there. No BS involved either. Walk into my gunshop, 5 minutes on the forms, wait 5 minutes for the background check, plunk down the cash and walk out with my purchase.
Aubrey you have very good point! I do appreciate the fact these are being returned to civilian use they will effectively be out of reach for many buyers unless they use their tax savings to buy one and yes we can find new ones under warranty for less than $400.
So use our money that the government gave back to us to give it to them again. People need to understand the government has no money except what they take from us.
We already paid for these.weapons many times over. This should be a permit lottery.. pay a small fee and get a chance at a 1911…. Now that’s fair.
Correct. Taxpayers paid for all of these. Who will make the lion’s share of $$ on them, Uncle Sam or CMP? This smells.
Clearly most of the people posting here don’t know what the CMP is or does.
The CMP is a corporation, but a non-profit, they take the $$$ they make and set up ranges, support the national matches, give Rifles, Air rifles, and ammunition to Junior clubs They support service rifle clubs around the country. The even support veterans groups like the VFW, Americal legion etc.
As for the cost of an old issue M1911, go try to but one, a $1000.00 for a serviceable one is LOW.
I will not “but one” and hope a lot of other people will do the same.
Jump through a bunch of hoops and then pay $1000 for a plain Jane pistol with doubtful collector’s value? No thanks.
Exactly
Still remember when my dad got his 1911, M-1 carbine, and Springfield 03A3 through the NRA in the early 60s. $12.50 each. Still shooting the M-1, but the Springfield remains unfired, but cleaned up. It came unissued, in full cosmoline packing and wrap. There will likely be no bargains in this sale, as they will be much too closely screened. But shot-out ? No, there will be a lot of decent everyday shooters in these
Buying back 1911’s that “We the People Paid For” is pure BS. CPM playing God with these 1911,s & charging a ridiculous price..They can shove them where the sun don’t shine. I once tried buying a M1A1 from these jerks. After jumping through multiple hoops l never did recieve my M1. It wasn’t my fault.
Jumping through hoops? You mean filling out some paperwork? Sounds like someone is just far to lazy to actually do a few minutes of work to get something.
I am remembering the story my friend who served in WWII and worked for the justice department after the war. One of his tasks: he was given a cutting torch and was told to cut what he described as “a mountain” of 1911’s and make a second pile of the bisected weapons on the other side of the warehouse. Sad task…
Hopefully some made it out still functional…
Do these things really have any collectors value? My guess is they will be mostly Viet Nam era purchases. The more valuable WWII and earlier were probably surplused off or otherwise disposed of many decades ago.
I carried a Govt. 1911 .45 in the USArmy Reserve in 1993. It was issued to me as my carry gun while on Active duty. It had a Ithaca Gun Slide over the Bbl. it was well worn and needed repair. This is just before they gave the USAR The Brettia replacement.
The CMP will not let these out in less than issued condition. They also will use up the vast supply of original Manufactured parts to rebuild these pistols. The collector value of a WWII piece is what’s of value in these weapons. You can by a 1911 from Remington,Rugar, Rocklsland, even Kinber for $600-1200 or less but it’s not a Colt or renningtonRand,or Ithaca Gun, Singer 1911 from the WWII eara.
“Due to the small number of 1911s in this initial batch the CMP can put a price premium on these guns. Many expect pricing to start around $1,000 per handgun, even for lower-grade pistols.
“One reason for this is that the 1911 is a very valuable pistol,” said CMP Marketing Manager Steve Cooper. “Even though they may be shot out or busted up, we don’t want them falling into the hands of people who will just leave them in a glove box. We want a perceived value–more of an heirloom.”
Wow! Charge a premium price for shot out or busted up! So buyer will treat the pistols well? Really? Knowing that thousands of these 1911s are going to be available actually lowers rarity and market value. There is a shoter grade Remington Rand U.S. GOV PROP marked 1911 on my local gun forum for $750, and its been their a few weeks!
Like the glut of ARs on the market over the last year: if they don’t sell prices will drop. CMP may post a price but market demand will adjust it.
You should jump on that gun at your lgs, it’s a good deal whether you want to admit it or not.
And the spectacle begins . . . .
We the People buy $1,000 hammers, why not gyp, swindle the taxpayer again. Need someone at CMP that remembers their original purpose for being.
…and if any of those guns are A+, it’s likely we’ll never see them. Given the corruption in govt. that is unfolding these days, I would readily believe some CMP big-wigs will grab the cream of them for themselves.
Of course! That’s your tax dollars at waste.