CMP 1911's

[pantannojack]

What can be expected for reliability of these CMP 1911's coming out and being showed off? They look very good, I am tempted if not to late to apply.

 

[Bruce C]

The sign up period has been over for a year. We are waiting on our number to come up as they come available. I should be getting a call for mine in the next few days. This was the second round for them and from what I have seen they don't think there will be a third round but you can keep checking their website to see if the government releases another round to them. They have been through a rebuild or two and are usually miss matched between Colt, Remington Rand, and Itacha parts. The ones I have seen are usually pretty nice for what they have been through I think. CMP rebuilds and grades them before they are issued also.

 

[TeamPB]

Well; I was lucky enough to get a Field Grade Remington frame with a Colt slide in the first round. It is as reliable and accurate as any of my Colt Series 70s. Original or very old parkerizing. I think it is very neat.

My Honey just got the call from the CMP 1911 program on Friday for the second round. She chose a Field Grade. It will be fun to see what she gets.

I would hope there will be more rounds. There is a bit of waiting involved, but I think it is worth it.

 

[Shark Bait]

My service grade has been excellent

 

[kbm6893]

I got a service grade from the first round. I had a really low lottery number and was one of the first to get it. 1944 Colt frame with a 1950’s Colt slide. Arsenal rebuilt and reparkerized in 1976 and likely put away in storage after that because it looks very nice. I’ve only fired maybe 400 rounds through it. All 230 grain reloads. Every one of them fed, fired, and ejected perfectly. Others went for the field grade for a more “been there, done that” look, but service grade was all that was available and I wouldn’t have gotten a field grade anyway. The rebuild and repark are part of the history of the gun. I’d take this gun over any modern 1911.

 

[Grayfox]

What can be expected for reliability of these CMP 1911's coming out and being showed off? They look very good, I am tempted if not to late to apply.

These were standard issue pistols that could be found in any G.I.s holster. Absolutely reliable and as accurate as a standard pistol could be expected to be. If Uncle Sam hadn't decided to sell them, these could have been called on to be issued at any time.

I got mine in the first round. Its a common mixmaster. 1942 Colt frame with an Ithica slide. But mine shows no sign of a rework or refinish. It could have come straight out of an arms room somewhere.

I'm hoping they'll sell some more. Even re-open sales to people who already have one. However, I fear the current administration may not allow that.

 

[smoothshooter]

It is disappointing that a lot of opportunists are parting them out for a fast buck as soon as they get them, and that was the only reason they signed up for the guns.

 

[smoothshooter]

You are probably right.

 

[S-W4EVER]

My service grade has been excellent

That’s a beautiful pistol. Ours (in the MPC) were kept looking that nice.

 

[31FordA]

I got a very nice 1939 Colt from the CMP auction. It functions just fine, although I did replace the springs. My brother got a very nice 1945 Remington-Rand, which also runs perfectly. If I had a chance to get another 1911A-1 from CMP I wouldn’t hesitate. Sadly they only let you buy one.

 

[Federalis]

I’m surprised the CMP is doing anything right now. The south store has been closed for over a year. Try and get through to any CMP person by phone - good luck. Not like the old days, I’m guessing the end may be near… just my 2c worth…

 

[hkcavalier]

I got a nice Service Grade early on in the process. Completely reliable with ball ammo (but haven't tried JHPs).

 

[stansdds]

If you can get one, it should be 100% reliable when using genuine GI magazines or high quality magazines that use a GI style follower, and with 230 grain FMJ ammo that makes 830 to 860 fps at the muzzle. That's what they were made to use. Reliability issues arise when different bullet types are used, reduced powder charges for light, target loads are used, or magazines of poor quality or 8 rounds crammed into a 7 round magazine body are used.


Can you make a GI 1911 run reliably with other bullet styles? Absolutely, but it is likely to take some work. Will some GI 1911's feed wadcutter ammo without modifications? Some will and sometimes it is as simple as using a high quality magazine that uses "wadcutter" lips or "hybrid" lips. Other times it takes work on the barrel feed ramp and maybe even the extractor.

 

[drumminor2nd]

I’m surprised the CMP is doing anything right now. The south store has been closed for over a year. Try and get through to any CMP person by phone - good luck. Not like the old days, I’m guessing the end may be near… just my 2c worth…

They closed the store BECAUSE of how much they’re doing. They’ve been absolutely slammed for Garands like at no other point in their history, and the 1911 program is just the cherry on the top.

 

[Puller]

It is disappointing that a lot of opportunists are parting them out for a fast buck as soon as they get them, and that was the only reason they signed up for the guns.

Same thing has been going on with CMP M1 rifles for years. It's a lucrative market for both Garand and USGI 1911 parts and a fellow can usually double his "investment" in parting them out.

I don't really see a problem with it.

 

[RWPBR]

everyone I know who received either a 1911 or a Garand immediately put them on gunbroker

 

[Old Corp]

I was initially very interested - but upon pondering even further, decided if they're not gonna send me a Singer, then I've got other stuff to focus on.....

 

[Nick B]

These were standard issue pistols that could be found in any G.I.s holster. Absolutely reliable and as accurate as a standard pistol could be expected to be. If Uncle Sam hadn't decided to sell them, these could have been called on to be issued at any time.

I got mine in the first round. Its a common mixmaster. 1942 Colt frame with an Ithica slide. But mine shows no sign of a rework or refinish. It could have come straight out of an arms room somewhere.

I'm hoping they'll sell some more. Even re-open sales to people who already have one. However, I fear the current administration may not allow that.

We’ll it sure didn’t come straight out of our arms room. We had 23 in the arms room and they all looked like they were nickel plated because there was so much finish wear . Congrats on a fine 1911 .

 

[Rlg#17]

Reliability will be just as good as it ever was for these pistols, probably even better since the rebuilds. Wife and I both got in on the first go round and my lottery number popped up in the 2500’s. I asked for and received a colt, 1942 serial number that is pretty nice for what it’s been thru. Rebuild date is 1981.

Wife never just a lottery number, just a call out of the blue one day asking if she still wanted to buy a pistol. Of course she said. She got a RR from Syracuse that is just about as nice as mine with an 81 rebuild date also. These two pistols and allah the other CMP guns that I have examined are tighter then anything I ever handled during my service. Finish condition is commensurate with a WW 2 dated 1911 as who can tell where the heck they have been…

I would say, if you wish to buy and they open it up again get in the lottery. I don’t see them doing it again but who knows? Well worth the money!

Regards,
Rick Gibbs

 

[kbm6893]

everyone I know who received either a 1911 or a Garand immediately put them on gunbroker

I’ve owned three Garand’s. Did sell one on gunbroker, but just because I needed the money for something else. I still have 2, plus my 1911. Never plan on letting them go.

 

[quikdraw67]

everyone I know who received either a 1911 or a Garand immediately put them on gunbroker

That's sad.

We got a H&R Garand from CMP that we did end up selling, because we were buying a house.

We still have the Winchester M1 Garand that my Dad got from CMP, and he gave me before he got sick. That's a keeper for sure.

And we still have the CMP Remington 03A3 that is like new minus a few stock bruises. Again, not for sale.

If I had a CMP M1911A1, I'd shoot it and keep it, until it was time to sell all my guns due to age and no heirs.

 

[TeamPB]

Honey picked hers up today

1944 Colt 1911A1. It will be shot tomorrow, but I would place a large bet that it will be reliable. I also think there will be more releases from the CMP, barring political interference. So, when they announce the next lottery, hurry up and wait!

 

[Ameshawki]

Got mine late in the first go round. Remington Rand frame, post war slide, Numax Electronics. I think IMI actually made them. Reparked and put away.

 

[MG34/bar]

Great old pistols. I am reminded by these that I bought my first 1911A1 exactly sixty (60) years ago from the Then DCM. The price was $15 and $2.50 shipping. It was a like-new Remington-Rand, and one of my brothers got an Ithaca for the same price. The pistols were delivered directly to our home in Los Angeles; no paperwork involved! I was away at Ft. Benning and had to wait until I got home on leave a couple of months later to put my hands on the pistol. Have not been without one (usually more than one) since that time.

 

[quikdraw67]

Great old pistols. I am reminded by these that I bought my first 1911A1 exactly sixty (60) years ago from the Then DCM. The price was $15 and $2.50 shipping. It was a like-new Remington-Rand, and one of my brothers got an Ithaca for the same price. The pistols were delivered directly to our home in Los Angeles; no paperwork involved! I was away at Ft. Benning and had to wait until I got home on leave a couple of months later to put my hands on the pistol. Have not been without one (usually more than one) since that time.

Back when things made sense, unlike today.

 

[glenncal1]

1911's were made to operate in the war conditions of WWI and WWII. Take reasonable care of your CMP gun and your grandkids will be shooting it. Will you ever have to replace a spring or extractor or ?? Probably, what doesn't need a tune-up every 50 years or so?

 

[jdlii]

My number came up in the second round. An Ithaca frame and a Remington Rand slide. I put 50 rounds of my reloaded ammo, with 230 gr. fmj bullets, through the pistol. There was only one failure to feed but, probably attributable to the "new" G.I. mags from the Vietnam era. Accuracy was much better than average.

 

[drumminor2nd]

1911's were made to operate in the war conditions of WWI and WWII. Take reasonable of your CMP gun and your grandkids will be shooting it. Will you ever have to replace a spring or extractor or ?? Probably, what doesn't need a tune-up every 50 years or so?

I've put 200 through my Ithaca/Ithaca since I got it last spring (May/June?), and no failures at all with the post-Vietnam Checkmate that came with it, as well as a few 7-round Wilson Combats.

All I've done to it is put NOS $7 grips on it (the grips were mismatched and beaten up, so they're in a box) and a less beat-up barrel bushing. Thinking I'll swap out the recoil spring next paycheck just for poops and giggles, though. It's not as accurate as my Ruger SR1911, but it does its job still.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Lots of really nice USGI pistols that came from CMP. It's a carp shoot as to what you might get. Someone told me they got one with a bar code on it. I've seen examples with slide/frame match and some without. Parts are all over the board as all of the service grades were re-arsenaled. They're USGI none the less. I've seen some Field grades that maybe didn't go through the rebuild (mostly 1991 and not 1911-A1) and in decent shape.

I wanted a 1911-A1 so chose a service grade. That's what I got. Re-parked RR with a Colt slide. I've never shot it though I've had it for two years. I honestly doubt that I'll ever shoot it. That's a bit out of character for me because I shoot my 44 Inland carbine 2 or 3 times a year.

I think because it's a documented relic and my carbine isn't. I have no idea where my carbine came from and who did what to it. I know I was responsible for a new stock, bolt parts and magazines. My CMP 1911-A1 is all gov't issue. Exactly what you would have been issued in Vietnam as a sidearm. That one ended almost 50 years ago. I had one issued to me in 1970 in N. Africa while in the Navy.

My feeling is just buy one. In ten years if you want to sell it you get everything you paid for it with interest. This may be the last ro-day-o as they say back east. Be ashamed if you missed it.

 

[d31tc]

My wife and I currently are waiting to get the call from CMP. Based on where CMP is at, I expect the calls the week of June 27th to July 1. I've been on board and am going to get one no matter what.

My wife does not want to spend the money on one now, simply because of a short term cash flow issue because we are about to fork out some money to make the last payment on a remodel.

I'm trying to convince her she should bite the bullet and get one too. Any good arguments I should give her to convince her to buy? I'd like to hear them...

My best argument is we have 2 daughters and I wouldn't want them to fight over just one 1911 when I kick, so it would be better to buy 2. That argument hasn't convinced her, so I need a better one.