Civilian Marksmanship Program Resumes M1911 Surplus Sales

The Civilian Marksmanship Program's 1911 surplus sales are back after a brief hiatus.

Designed as a means to sell surplus U.S. Army M1911/M1911A1 .45-caliber pistols, the CMP has long offered a means for civilians to own these classic, military firearms.

Under the CMP 1911 Program, U.S. citizens can apply to purchase a genuine, military-issued M1911A1. The program is limited to one pistol per year and two pistols per lifetime, and all pistols are inspected and tested by the CMP.

Pricing is tiered:

• Service Grade: $1,300
• Field Grade: $1,200
• Rack Grade: $1,100
• Range Grade: $1,150
• Auction Grade: Sale price determined by auction

First signed into law during President Obama’s term in 2015, the National Defense Authorization Act recognized the need for surplus sales to civilians. Language in the bill authorized up to 10,000 surplus sales of M1911/M1911A1 pistols per year to the public.

That said, the CMP did not officially launch until 2018, during President Trump’s first term. It ran for six years before being suspended in 2024 under President Biden as the fourth round of sales had begun.

"This is a win-win for the Second Amendment community and all taxpayers,” the National Rifle Association said in a blog post.

“CMP sales are designed to facilitate competency and safety with firearms among American citizens and to preserve enduring and tangible mementos of the nation’s military history. They also relieve the Army of the expense (which in 2015 was already some $200,000 per year) of storing and safeguarding armaments that are surplus to its requirements and no longer in use.”

The CMP says they expect to start processing new orders sometime in the late spring/early summer. For now, the CMP is working through Round 4 orders from 2024.

We cover how to buy a gun from the CMP in our full guide!

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