So tell me about your experience with the CMP. What do you have to do? How easy is it? How big are the hoops you have to jump through? Supposedly the path to selling all those surplus 1911s is opening up and I would love to get my hands on one.
I have no direct personal experience, but my dad bought a “service grade” Garand about 15 years ago through the CMP and he is incredibly happy with it. My understanding is that he just faxed them the required paperwork and followed it up with a phone call to order.
He didn’t need to join a shooting club, as he was still an active police officer at the time and was a member of one of the CMP accepted law enforcement organizations.
The stuff I’ve seen come out of the CMP in recent years has been pretty well used and looked it.
It has been 17 years since I bought my Garand, but it was simple. You just need to belong to a CMP affiliated club and at that time, shoot in 2 matches and keep the paperwork. The CMP website will have a list of clubs in your area.
Dennis
I bought a service grade Garand about 20 years ago. I was already a member of a qualifying club, so I just had to shoot a course of fire and send my scores from that with the application. Pretty easy.
At the advice of some shooting messageboard, I also included a letter that this was my first and most likely only Garand purchase, and it would be great if they could send me a Springfield Armory rifle in good shape. That’s exactly what I got - a SA model manufactured in the 50s, without much wear.
From memory, needed to:
-
Show gun-related activity - joined Garand Collector’s Association for $25. At the time, this was the lowest-effort choice.
-
Show some other membership - FFL03 Curio & Relic license, you could probably do something else if N/A as it takes time.
-
Get the form notarized. Free at bank.
Being a member of shooting club or competing will do one of the first two, but isn’t necessary.
Garand & Carbine, took >6 months to come, back in 2009. Both decent shape, but not matching. I got one of the better grades (service?)
As for the 1911s, I predict that you should only do this if you are a collector. Modern productions will be in better shape and quality for cheaper. It is a very good idea to plan this ahead of time as you are instead of rushing in your paperwork.
I’m well aware of what shape the gun might be in. We had some 1911s in my unit right before the switch to the M9 and they were pretty beat up. I also have a Walther P38 from the 60s that is perfect.
I’ve done it at various times over the ages and live close enough to Camp Perry to arrange stopping by in person. I don’t know if I would go the mail route today; it can be a real crapshoot what you end up with and the days of snagging a nice Singer 1911 when you open the envelope are long gone. You could get a good deal or you may get something that collects dust - you just never know. Now being there in person I was able to snag some nice things people don’t usually think of like a really cool Krag that has done well for me. Every person like every firearm is a little different so YMMV (or should I say your scores could run the spectrum) but go in with your eyes open.