CMP 1911 Application

[one eye joe]

Joe, thanks for your post. You are right about one thing. This was and continues to be a historic event. Many people in high places wanted to see all former military firearms destroyed. Just having these historic guns available to be sold to ordinary folks like you and me is a political victory of great significance. I don't think that most of us think that if we are chosen to buy one of these guns that we are going to get a pristine collector's item that we can flip and double our money on. Nor do most of us think we may score a tack driving competition gun that we can start winning bullseye matches with. Rather, I think that if I were to buy one of these guns that I would be buying a slice of American history.

And remember, just mailing in the application doesn't obligate us to actually buy the gun that we may or may not one day be offered. But the way that I understand this particular lottery to work is that those folks who enter this year and who are not chosen this year will automatically be moved to the top of next years lottery (if there is a next year lottery). So it seems prudent to enter this years group or risk not even being in the running next year, or way down the list anyway.

Best Regards, Les

HI Les, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLAIN THIS TO ME. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT IT IS A HISTORIC EVENT, AND A GREAT MORAL VICTORY. ITS VERY WORTHWHILE, IN THAT RESPECT, TO TAKE PART IN IT...

THIS OL' SOLDIER WAS NOT THINKING LONG TERM. AT MY AGE, AND ENGAGED IN MY BATTLE AGAINST THE RAVAGES OF MY EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE---I TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME, AND I DON'T BUY BUNCHES OF GREEN BANANAS.....

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A WINNING NUMBER FOR A DECENT SPECIMEN...

 

[ladder13]

Papers in the mail. I hope I dotted and crossed everything.

 

[TeamPB]

My packet went in the mail last Friday. Good Luck Everyone!

Of course I don't think I'll be lucky, but for many good reasons I am excited to give it a try. The CMP has yet to disappoint me with either their matches or sales.

I don't speak Southeren, so yes, I had to read the instructions more than once. I checked, checked and re-checked my packet. I went to my favorite Post Office and confidantily sent it on its way. I then immediatly began to question the correctness of my application.

 

[Grayfox]

I originally thought to let this year pass and wait to see what people were actually getting. Now that I know that this years list will be rolled over into next year and presumably following years as well, I decided it would be best to go ahead and get my name on the list. It is possible that this years applicants could be enough to completely fill out sales for years to come.
Who knows, I might get lucky or maybe 2 or 3 years down the road they might contact me. Never can tell.
However, I think I'll hold out for a Service Grade pistol. If offered a Field Grade or Rack Grade, I'll likely pass. But that does raise the question that if you turn down what is offered, does your name stay on the list?

 

[hkcavalier]

I originally thought to let this year pass and wait to see what people were actually getting. Now that I know that this years list will be rolled over into next year and presumably following years as well, I decided it would be best to go ahead and get my name on the list. It is possible that this years applicants could be enough to completely fill out sales for years to come.
Who knows, I might get lucky or maybe 2 or 3 years down the road they might contact me. Never can tell.
However, I think I'll hold out for a Service Grade pistol. If offered a Field Grade or Rack Grade, I'll likely pass. But that does raise the question that if you turn down what is offered, does your name stay on the list?

I too will probably pass on a Rack grade, and I love to tinker with guns. It's just too much $ for a beater/project gun.

 

[sigp220.45]

I stopped by my hole-in-the-wall shop to get a copy of their FFL for my package. “Wow, another one!” said the nice lady.

Next stop was the post office in my little town. “You’re gonna get one of those pistols?” says the nice man. He had seen enough application packages to recognize the address!

I hope CMP gives us an idea of how many of these hopeful packages come in. I’m glad they are rolling the numbers over to subsequent drawings. I think anyone who doesn’t get a number this year will be SOL.

 

[4barrel]

Thanks, Les! I'll be dropping my package in the mail tomorrow then.

I'm with you - this is a chance to get a real piece of history straight from the U.S. military. I don't expect anything other than a representative 1911A1 that would come through the armory window and go into the holster of a GI.

I have never gotten a lemon from the CMP - multiple Garands, a Remington 40X, and a 1903A3. All were better than I expected. If the 1911A1 lets me down I'll still be ahead of the game. (And I bet it will always be worth more than I pay!)

So - Good luck to all! I can't wait to see the pictures when these old soldiers start hitting our FFLs.

They are shooting with the wrong hand.

 

[sigp220.45]

CMP operates a site much like this, where CMP officials answer questions regarding this process. Things I have learned:

Despite very clear instructions to not send in applications early, 500 early packages were sent to the round file.

Lotto numbers are assigned to the unopened envelopes. The first several hundred of the lucky numbers will be opened, confirmed, and the senders notified. You won’t know your number until it comes up in the batch to be notified, when your envelope is opened and confirmed to be correct.

If you put two applications (or more) in the same envelope they will all be tossed in the trash when the envelope is opened to be confirmed. The lotto number is already assigned and the CMP isn’t going to try to decide which applicant in the envelope gets it, so nobody does and its on to the next envelope.

If you sent in more than one envelope containing the same information, they both get tossed.

If you sent your package registered mail and required a signature (which means someone from CMP has to go to the Post Office) your package will never be signed for.

One guy sent his package Postage Due. No 1911 for him.

This may be the one and only window for these. Once the numbers are assigned there won’t be another opening for new submissions until all the packages from this year are exhausted, if the guns last that long.

CMP expects about 75,000 packages.

 

[les.b]

Thanks for the update.... I probably screwed up, then, cause i send almost everything registered mail. I will have to check and see, I put everything in a folder, including copies of everything. That's just how I normally do stuff. I had not checked to see if the package had been delivered!! They should have included that in the instructions, if they didn't want us to send registered. Oh, well.... c'est la vie

Best Regards, Les

 

[Grayfox]

I think I did everything right. Or at least I hope so.
From the sound of it, I imagine that the garbage cans at CMP will be quite full for the next month or so.

 

[les.b]

Well, I just checked USPS tracking, and they say that my package was delivered on September 13, at 12:39 PM. So I guess I’m ok after all.

Best Regards, Les

 

[cmansguns]

Why I did not apply

Hello Forum;

First I wish everyone of you that applied gets your choice of these 1911A1's when the CMP lotto gets moving.

I did not apply simply because I have had the pleasure of owning 3 in the past. The Ithaca still resides with me, the Colt and the Remington Rand have gone on to other owners over the years.

I agree with everyone else. They are history in your hands, fun shooters (especially those of you that have "broadside of a barn" to shoot at), excellent conversation pieces whenever gathering in gun rooms, etc.

I just felt that why be greedy, I just don't need (or want) a potential lotto chance hanging out there at this point in life's game. Besides.......with my luck (or lack thereof), the day after I pass on to some reward, the number would come up and my heirs would not know what to do with it.

Again........Best of Luck be with all of you.

 

[Grayfox]

Earlier I wondered what would happen if your name was pulled and you turned down what was offered. I e-mailed CMP with the question and today I got an answer.

"If you are contacted and decline what is offered, your name is removed from the list. The only option left is to bid on one of the auction pistols. At this time you would not be allowed to submit another order packet."

Pretty much what I suspected. So its take it or leave it.

 

[JohnRippert]

I decided to pass on the lottery this time. I got my collectible 1911 a ways back when the decom Marine Raider M5A1's were offered. If I can find a service grade later that does not cost a arm and a leg I will grab one.

 

[les.b]

For those who, like myself (I hope) are in the lottery, here is a story, with pictures to help whet your appetites:

American Rifleman | The CMP M1911s: The Inside Story

Here's one of the 1911s that will be sold as "Service Grade"... Rebuilt ar Anniston in 1978:

Best Regards, Les

 

[Watchdog]

For those who, like myself (I hope) are in the lottery, here is a story, with pictures to help whet your appetites:

Best Regards, Les

Great article. Thanks for posting the link. And just look at all of them! I would take any one of them chosen at random.

It's beyond my understanding why anyone would gripe about this deal. If, indeed, they do go for as little as $850...frankly, that's chickenfeed compared to current market prices. It's obvious to me that some people who talk about what a joke this is know absolutely nothing about the CMP, the pistol itself, and the current 1911A1 market for shooters and collectors. An arsenal reworking of one of these pistols does not lessen its historical value, whether it was in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, or wherever.

It's kinda ironic to me, too, that people who turn their noses up at an arsenal rebuilt 1911A1 will fall all over themselves at the chance to buy a factory refinished/repaired S&W or Colt revolver.

Far as I'm concerned, the CMP could blindfold me and let me reach into this shipping carton and pick one sight unseen. I'd be a happy man.

 

[jsfricks]

I hope everyone here that applied gets ones, it’s definitely worth the history of it. I chose not to apply since I recently purchased an all original 1943 Ithaca and I’m all good for now. Good luck to all!

 

[ladder13]

For those who, like myself (I hope) are in the lottery, here is a story, with pictures to help whet your appetites:

American Rifleman | The CMP M1911s: The Inside Story

Here's one of the 1911s that will be sold as "Service Grade"... Rebuilt ar Anniston in 1978:

Best Regards, Les

Wow, look at that overpriced piece of junk....... no I don’t want one.

 

[ladder13]

Anyone know if we’re getting any sort of confirmation that are applications are in and paperwork in order?

 

[kbm6893]

I sent mine in. No reason not to. I can always say no if I do get picked and if I have regrets after buying one I will easily make my money back, plus probably a profit.

If I do get picked, I will probably sell one of my Garands to pay for it.