We’ve been hearing the rumors since May 2015 that the U.S. Government might release 10,000 surplus M1911 pistols to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (per year). Speculation that historical IPSC-type matches could result raised interest, and when the National Defense Act of 2016 was passed it allowing the US Army to transfer possession of the firearms to CMP. Earlier this year the House passed a bill mandating (not just allowing) the transfer, and of course, speculation of the inevitable price of the firearms remains a key talking point.

But on Tuesday December 5th, 2017, the CMP emailed its members a breakdown of some of the much-asked-for details. A transcript and screen shot of the email is posted below. Commentary on the email is posted below.

I should mention that in December 2015, TFBTV’s (former) Alex C. broke down what the CMP is, and what some of the preliminary requirements might look like. In hindsight, the video holds up very well with just a few details being updated with the new news. That video is posted below for those interested.

I suspect there will be some individual interpretation of this email, and I look forward to readers’ insight in the commentary. Highlighted sections in bold are my own and indicate what I thought was new or otherwise interesting information. – CRW

CMP 1911 Information

To all CMP constituents:

The CMP Board of Directors has discussed at length how the sales of 1911s would be handled, if the CMP were to ever receive them from the United States Army.

Some preliminary decisions further clarified:
1. Decisions concerning the grade and pricing of the 1911s will not be made until inspection has occurred of a substantial quantity which will take an estimated 150 days post receipt.
2. All laws pertaining to the sale of 1911s by CMP will be strictly obeyed.
3. 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.
4. A NICS background check will be performed by CMP on the customer to assure the customer is eligible to purchase prior to shipment to the FFL licensed dealer. The customer must receive a “proceed” from NICS prior to shipment of the pistol to the FFL licensed dealer.
5. The CMP customer will be required to complete a form 4473 in person at the FFL dealers place of business, successfully passing a NICS check performed by the FFL holder, before the pistol can be transferred. This is a second NICS check performed on the customer.
6. Qualified CMP customer will only be allowed to purchase one 1911 per calendar year.
7. No 1911s available in the CMP stores, or on line, only mail order sales.
8. CMP will set the date in which it will accept orders for the 1911s. The date will be posted to the world.
9. Orders will only be accepted via mail order delivery.
10. Orders will only be accepted post marked on the date or after, no early orders.
11. Once CMP receives 10,000 orders, customer names will be loaded into the Random Number Generator.
12. The Random Number Generator will provide a list of names in sequence order through a random picking process to CMP.
13. Customers will be contacted in the sequence provided by the Random Number Generator.
14. When the customer is contacted a list of 1911 grades and pricing options that are available will be offered for selection of one.
15. As CMP proceeds down the sequenced list less grade and pricing options will be available. Again, this done completely random.

Note: 1911 type pistols purchased from CMP cannot be transferred to 03 FFL (curio and relic) license. BATF and the United States Army prefer the second background check be performed by a “store front” FFL dealer. Each customer purchasing a 1911 type pistol from CMP will be subjected to two NICS background checks, one performed by CMP and the other performed by the FFL dealer the pistol is being shipped to.

Mark Johnson
Chief Operating Officer
Civilian Marksmanship Program
www.thecmp.org

CMP 1911 Instructions Sent Via Email