# Army prepares to sell surplus 1911A1 pistols. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011 "2018-01-07T00:27:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/21 "2018-01-07T16:38:20Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > From the article: > > "The rollout wouldn’t take place all at once, with the weapons set to transfer to the CMP from 2018 through 2020. " > > Why might this be? Possibly because the CMP will be cataloging them as boxes are received from the arsenal and opened. They are all inspected for operation and safety. The M1 rifles all had their rifle’s bores measured. Then the weapons will be priced by historical importance (rare manufacturers) and graded. If they do the same as the rifles, you could pay extra for a particular manufacturer, or a better condition rifle, but not necessarily both. I just bought mine from the luck of the draw and received a 1943 Springfield with all parts correct except for some trigger parts. It even had the barrel with the proper date to match the receiver, which is very uncommon. And the barrel measured out as almost new. I won many a local match with it and shot in the national JC Garand Match a few times. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![BlueMerle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BlueMerle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMerle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/22 "2018-01-07T16:46:16Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > not knowing where you are, [take a look-see.](https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=clubSearch) > > the easiest for me would be one of the several shotgun/rifle ranges in my area which offer club membership and are CMP affiliates. Thanks, I’ll check it out. Even if I can meet that requirement it’s unlikely I’ll buy one. I have a Springfield 1911 and while it’s an accurate and reliable weapon I rarely carry it. I’m a lefty and require a 1911 with an ambi safety, which mine does. Still the safety lever digs into my side as I carry IWB. I’d be surprised if there are many, if any, that meet that requirement coming from the Army. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/23 "2018-01-07T16:51:00Z")
It’s an awesome gun. You can fire it and watch the bullet lob towards the target at a blistering 830 feet per second. Slightly faster than a June bug. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/24 "2018-01-07T16:59:34Z")
Meh. Even with a reasonable price-point, there’s enough 1911 offerings on the market to make me NOT want to jump though CMP hoops. Based upon what I’ve seen of CMP pricing on M1 Garands, you’re going to pay top-dollar for anything really worth having (speaking strictly from a quality standpoint), and still pay close to the current market value of a newly made, bog standard 1911-pattern pistol just to get an old, blown out rattle-trap, and neither will come with any kind of verifiable history. The most “history” you’re likely to get (if you even get this much) is that it was assigned to a specific unit, during a certain time frame. So you might get a pistol that was assigned to, say, the 1st Air Cav Division from 1957 to 1972. As such, it _might_ have been present at the Battle of Ia Drang. Tracing it to a specific soldier, or verifying its “participation” in the Battle of Ia Drang, would be extremely difficult, bordering on impossible. Then again, it may have sat in the unit Arms Room for the duration, before going to Ft. Hood Texas, to be assigned to some generic MP garrison unit until its retirement sometime in the late 80s/early 90s. My Springy Mil-Spec is enough nostalgia for me. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/25 "2018-01-07T17:01:22Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > It’s an awesome gun. You can fire it and watch the bullet lob towards the target at a blistering 830 feet per second. Slightly faster than a June bug. oh that’s right, I forgot. if you’re not carrying a .500 S&W with bear-hunting loads, you’re “under armed.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/26 "2018-01-07T17:12:25Z")
I haven’t been out to the range in ten years, but I have a Colt 1991A1 (their ‘reissue’ of the 1911, with the flat grip), and a civilian serial-numbered Colt’s Government Model from, IIRC, 1916. I haven’t fired the latter, but the former is fun. Not my favourite, but fun to shoot nonetheless. I don’t need another one. (In fact, I’d like to start selling off my collection.) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/27 "2018-01-07T17:37:11Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > There are state level CMP clubs and people are known to join for a year just to purchase arms. They are listed on the CMP web site. > > Dennis I appreciate the tip. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/28 "2018-01-07T17:45:01Z")
The CMP has setup a 1911 page for information. > **[1911 Information - Civilian Marksmanship Program](https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/1911-information/)** > > The latest on the CMP 1911 sales will be posted on this page, including ordering and grade information as well as availability. This is a fair way to approach selling a item of limited stock. > [@](#): > > Once CMP receives 10,000 orders, customer names will be loaded into the Random Number Generator. > > The Random Number Generator will provide a list of names in sequence order through a random picking process to CMP. > > Customers will be contacted in the sequence provided by the Random Number Generator. > > When the customer is contacted a list of 1911 grades and pricing options that are available will be offered for selection of one 1911 type pistol. > > As CMP proceeds down the sequenced list less grades and pricing options will be available. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/29 "2018-01-08T02:02:48Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’d be different if the provenance was provided. A pistol carried at the The Battle of Chosin Reservoir would be priceless if it was documented. Hell, it’d be amazing just to find one that made it OUT of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. :eek: > [@running\_coach](#): > > Depends on what you buy. > .51-1.85 per round. The page you linked to (Midway USA) currently shows steel-cased Tulammo .45 at $0.27 a round. That’s pretty good, though as others have noted, 9mm is cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/30 "2018-01-08T02:08:53Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > Hell, it’d be amazing just to find one that made it OUT of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. :eek: > > The page you linked to (Midway USA) currently shows steel-cased Tulammo .45 at $0.27 a round. That’s pretty good, though as others have noted, 9mm is cheaper. I just looked at the first page to get a general range. Though I understand that steel is less desirable as a shell casing material than brass. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/31 "2018-01-08T02:28:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I just looked at the first page to get a general range. > Though I understand that steel is less desirable as a shell casing material than brass. They don’t sort it by price automatically. I’ve shot the Tulammo stuff, and it’s pretty good. Steel cases in handgun ammo only really matter if you reload. They CAN be reloaded (I’ve done it) but they probably can’t handle as many reloads as brass. It’s a marginal difference at best, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/32 "2018-01-08T03:41:39Z")
I’ve used them before but probably won’t for this. Sounds like they will be expensive and modern ones are better. There are really no modern Garands and modern Carbines are mediocre IIRC. Also I don’t believe they will ship these without a FFL this time. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Well that leaves me out. > > I’m not in any gun clubs or groups CMP recognizes. > > My dad was a member of the base’s Rod & Gun Club. That’s probably recognized by the CMP. But dad retired in 1973. Doesn’t do me any good. 😉 > > I had assumed a pistol would have the same background check required by any gun dealer. > > My .22 target pistol, RUGER Mark III Hunter 22/45 is built on a 1911 frame. Same grip. I fulfilled one requirement with a FFL 03 and the other by joining the Garand Collector’s Association ($30 or so). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/33 "2018-01-08T03:43:21Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > They don’t sort it by price automatically. I’ve shot the Tulammo stuff, and it’s pretty good. Steel cases in handgun ammo only really matter if you reload. They CAN be reloaded (I’ve done it) but they probably can’t handle as many reloads as brass. It’s a marginal difference at best, IMHO. But Berdan primed, no? Possible, but not worth it, especially with such a common round. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/34 "2018-01-08T18:43:10Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > But Berdan primed, no? Possible, but not worth it, especially with such a common round. Surprisingly, no. The stuff I had was Boxer primed, which is why I bothered to reload it. Tulammo’s 45 ACP appears to be one of the few Boxer-primed rounds they make. You can see it on the box on Midway USA’s website. I’m a bit puzzled why that is. It might be the machine tools to make the cases only come in Boxer-primed versions. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/35 "2018-01-08T23:47:54Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Be advised, even in good condition these are probably more in line with the old joke - “great for a gunfight…in a phone booth.” Civilian variants tend to be produced with tighter tolerances. We still had them when I started in the National Guard and only switched to the M9 in 1995. The phone booth joke is hyperbole but has some real basis in truth. Trust me. Does this matter? Most handguns are just used in muggings, carjackings, store robberies, etc., aren’t they? Accuracy hardly matters in such situations! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/36 "2018-01-09T00:08:23Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Does this matter? > > Most handguns are just used in muggings, carjackings, store robberies, etc., aren’t they? Accuracy hardly matters in such situations! Handguns tend to be the weapon-of-choice of criminals; this hardly qualifies as “Most handguns are just used in muggings, carjackings, store robberies, etc.,…” Considering the number of firearms in circulation (estimates around 300,000,000, no breakdown by type, though), approximately 0.15% or less (based upon the National Institute of Justice’s 2011 National Crime Victimization Survey) of any type are used annually in the commission of a violent crime. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/37 "2018-01-09T00:32:48Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Well, they don’t just [hand them out](http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/eligibility-requirements/). Before you can purchase one you must provide > [ul] > [li]Proof of US citizenship[sup]1[/sup][/li][li]Proof of age[sup]2[/sup][/li][li]Membership in a CMP-affiliated organization[sup]3[/sup][/li][li]Marksmanship or other firearms related activity[sup]4[/sup][/li][li]Be legally able to purchase a firearm[sup]5[/sup][/li][/ul] > [sup]1[/sup]Naturalized, okay; green card, no dice. > [sup]2[/sup]18 or older. > [sup]3[/sup]Shooting clubs mostly but also some vet organizations like the VFW, police organizations like FOP, or the military, active, reserve, or guard. The club I belonged to required that you earn a marksman shooter badge (the lowest of the three) before it would vet membership for purchasing an M1. > [sup]4[/sup]A long list of what qualifies. Mostly they’re looking for evidence you know how to safely handle a firearm. > [sup]5[/sup]Including any local licenses or permits you might need plus other hoops like getting the arm shipped to a dealer in NY, NJ, CT, and CA. You are warned, _Your signature on the Purchaser Certification portion of the purchase application authorizes the CMP to initiate the NICS check and authorizes the FBI to inform CMP of the result._ I would imagine that if you’re a person if interest to the FBI they’ll come pay a visit. > > After all that you shell out your bux and wait for it to arrive. The M1 Garands are about sold out now but were once available in a variety of [grades](http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/) (and prices). The bottom grade was $160 30 years ago; they are long gone now. Being selective fire, I doubt M14s or M16s will ever be offered. So, unless one lives in a more restrictive State, an 18 year old can have this handgun directly shipped to his home? In order to buy any other handgun at retail, a person needs to be at least 21 and buy it from a licensed FFL in his home state. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011/38 "2018-01-09T00:48:04Z")
Not exactly, that’s the general policy for Garands and Carbines (the url says rifle sales too). And the FFL does the background check, but in this case the CMP does the check. And then a second check is done by the FFL for the 1911s but not rifles. And again, the rifles ship to your door (with adult signature). The pistols must go to FFL. The requirements for the 1911s include: “Potential purchasers will have to provide to CMP a new set of documents exhibiting: 1) proof of U.S. Citizenship, 2) proof of membership in a CMP affiliated club, 3) proof of participation in a marksmanship activity, 4) a new form 2A with notary, 5) a signed copy of the 01 Federal Firearms License in which the 1911 will be transferred to.” No mention of 21, but then no mention of 18, so I assume the former. The wording seems to suggest so. > **[1911 Information - Civilian Marksmanship Program](https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/1911-information/)** > > The latest on the CMP 1911 sales will be posted on this page, including ordering and grade information as well as availability. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-prepares-to-sell-surplus-1911a1-pistols/806011.md?page=1)