The Army has given the Civilian Marksmanship Program thousands of surplus M1911 .45 caliber pistols to sell. Getting one won’t necessarily be easy, however.
There are about 8,000 of the firearms available, according to CMP. Some of the firearms are described as “unusual and worthy of being auctioned,” while others will be available for purchase.
The M1911 was used by the U.S. Army for about 75 years, dating back to 1911.
According the CMP, people wanting to get their hands on one of the historic guns must fill order forms that won’t be posted to the CMP website until June 4. The website makes it clear that any messages left before June 4 will be ignored and any orders sent in prior to that date will be discarded.
Forms must be postmarked between Sept. 3 and Oct. 4 and only one form is allowed per person. The CMP will randomly pick winners on Oct. 5 and the customers will be contacted and allowed to select the weapon they want to purchase.
According to CMP, the available firearms will be:
Service Grade $1,050. Pistol may exhibit minor pitting and wear on exterior surfaces and friction surfaces. Grips are complete with no cracks. Pistol is in issuable condition.
Field Grade $950. Pistol may exhibit minor rust, pitting, and wear on exterior surfaces and friction surfaces. Grips are complete with no cracks. Pistol is in issuable condition.
Rack Grade $850. Pistol will exhibit rust, pitting, and wear on exterior surfaces and friction surfaces. Grips may be incomplete and exhibit cracks. Pistol requires minor work to return to issuable condition.
More information on auction grade firearms will be provided when the items are posted for sale.
There are other requirements: To purchase the weapons you must be a U.S. citizen, a member of a CMP affiliated club and provide proof of participation in a marksmanship activity. The 1911s must be transferred through a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer with buyer going through a background check.
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