Military 1911A1?

[pmanton]

What are military 1911A1s going for now days?

I'm inline for a DCM 1911 when my number comes up but I wonder if I could get one for 11-12 hundred easier than jumping through the DCM hoops.

Mainly I could have it shipped on my Curios license and avoid a 120 mile trim and FFL charge.

 

[DWalt]

I suppose that it is important to you that it be actually GI, and not one of the readily available new GI .45 pistol duplicates.

 

[Alk8944]

It all depends on too many factors to list here!

When I Bought my first 1911s in the early 1960s they could be had for $19 to $25 dollars. Depending on age, condition, manufacturer, etc. they can run well into the mid $1,000 to $3,000 range now. The minimum seems to be somewhere around $500 to $600.

 

[waffles]

My Ithaca/Ithaca rack grade was $850. It's an amazing pistol (below). You're not going to get a decent .mil 1911A1 cheaper than the CMP these days, but if not doing the paperwork/waiting means a lot to you I've seen plenty of results over a given month watching the $1,600 range. Might not be what we all want but $1,600 is generally doable, with $1,400-$1,500 being "pretty good".

 

[Bo Rich]

My first round CMP 1911A1 is what I wanted. A beautiful Ithica built in 1945. Because I was on the 5th Corps Batalion pistol team when I was station at Butzbock Germany 1983-1984 I was issued a mint Ithica as my duty weapon. I actually had a tear in my eye when I opened the box sent from the CMP. At that Time the cost was $1050.00 for a service grade. Recently the CMP let the qualified buyer purchase a second 1911A1. I sent my packet out for round four. I was kinda going back, and forth on what grade to purchase when the CMP called. I would look on the CMP 1911 forum to see what guns were being sent. When my rgn was getting close to a call l noticed that the Range grade guns being sent were National Match grade guns. Not very interested in the Range grade at first, I changed my mind, and when I got the call to order my pistol I went with Range grade. Range grades are priced at $1100.00. The next day I received my pistol. They are shipped over night Fed X. Well when I opened the case I found a 1957 style National Match pistol. Sights, and markings correct. Of course I was very happy with this. I have noticed that the round four guns of recent issue from the CMP have been outstanding. Alot of Colts, and even some with Union Switch, and Signal Slides. You don't know what you are gonna get, and this may bother some. But, for me it is kinda like Christmas. You open your present, and most likely you are gonna like it.

 

[glowe]

What little I can remember about GI Model 1911s is that I had to check one out once a month on troop payday. Also had to qualify with one and the rules at Fort Sill was that you had to hit somewhere on the paper to qualify, not necessarily the smaller target on the paper. The reason is that most bullets ended up hitting sideways with none on the target. No round holes, but nice silhouettes of the bullet. All 1911s on base were WWII era guns and they were, at best "Rack Grade". Maybe that is why I never owned a GI 1911?

 

[BE Mike]

What little I can remember about GI Model 1911s is that I had to check one out once a month on troop payday. Also had to qualify with one and the rules at Fort Sill was that you had to hit somewhere on the paper to qualify, not necessarily the smaller target on the paper. The reason is that most bullets ended up hitting sideways with none on the target. No round holes, but nice silhouettes of the bullet. All 1911s on base were WWII era guns and they were, at best "Rack Grade". Maybe that is why I never owned a GI 1911?

Back in 1967, I was present at a shooting demonstration at Ft. Benning. Bill Blankenship (six times National Pistol Champion and Gold medal winner at the 1966 World Games) took a 1911a1 from a huge box (rack) of pistols. He shook it so that we could hear how loose it was. I don't recall the distance, but he loaded that pistol and shot an axe blade and broke a balloon on each side of the axe. After some instruction, I easily qualified with the 1911a1 pistol.

A high school friend used a 1911a1 in 1969 to kill an NVA soldier who was armed with an AK-47. My friend had been tunnel ratting and was resting against a large tree. He heard something, got up and looked around the tree and surprised the NVA soldier. My friend was quicker to react. One shot...one kill.

 

[lamarw]

Reference Bo Rich's Comments above: I am awaiting my number to come up in the 4th round. I received a nice Colt in the 1st round and my wife got a nice Ithaca in the 3rd round. I was hoping for a range grade in the 4th round, but it depends on the availability. I see that currently range grades are not available.

The positive of the CMP pistols is the provenance of not having been out of Government service until you receive it. The negative is it will likely be a mix matched pistol.

I acquired a very nice Reminton Rand at a private auction several years ago for $1,500.00. I wanted it since I at times carried a Remington Rand in the jungles of Nam along with my M-16.

Good luck with your search. You may want to watch the auctions listed on Proxibid.

 

[deadin]

When I was on active duty and on the base pistol team I was issued a "hardball" gun (1911A1 that had been "accurized" probably by the base armorer).
Here is my current Hardball gun, a 1911 (made 1918) and probably another product of a base armorer.

(It and the loop holster don't like each other. lThe target front sight wants to snag)

 

[Puller]

CMP 1911's are luck of the draw, as with their M1 rifles. I received a very nice Service Grade in an earlier round from the CMP but most of them are parts guns. The little CMP certificate is nice but gives no real provenance other than it came from the CMP, and like I've already noted the majority of them are parts guns.

If you can find a mostly matching Ithaca or RR or Colt for $1500- $1700 it's probably worth it.

 

[cmansguns]

All correct GI's for less than $2K...maybe somewhere, but not around here

20 plus years ago I was heavy into milsurps, and 1911's were the cream for me. Then I stumbled into "collecting" (more like accumulating) finer S&W revolvers, starting with a Model 29-2 in 1986.

Anyway....those S&W's were pretty pricey for top drawer specimens (funny........still are) so some 1911's (all correct, no arsenal rebuilds) had to go:

Colt 1911A1; sold for $2600 Jan 2015
Remington Rand; sold for $2000 December 2013
Argentine Army (built on Colt machinery/Colt supervision) wrong grips, all else correct) sold for $675 December 2017
Ithaca 1943: still here, last one I have: offered $2600 August 2020, offered $2800 last month (same guy)..still here.

I honestly don't think you can beat CMP...yes they are mixmasters, but stupidly scare to find one that isn't these days, and those that do have them know what they've got (and what they paid for it vs what they are worth now).

Added bene of CMP.........those guns have been there and done that so you are still buying history that most probably did see troop unit duty...instead of pristine examples that may have sat in a paymasters drawer.

So yea.....if you really can't wait...just look on the big auction site...seems to me that there are several people that bought from CMP just to markup and make a buck. I personally don't like that practice, but there are a bunch out there in the $1500, $1600 (and up).

I just don't think you will find a "real" GI 1911A1 for less than $2k at least not around here from private sellers.

 

[Greyman50]

Buddy got the letter for round 4 but decided against buying as many, many have replacement slide. His round 2 one is a beauty.

 

[pmanton]

My service was 55-75 so I'm sure that any 1911 I carried was already a mix-master.

Looking at the asking prices I think I'll wait till my number comes up.
(CMP RGN number that is. )

 

[target tech]

The worst part about the mixed guns is a lot of them have the Israel made slides. I know a guy who ended up just flipping his after he saw what he got

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

As a Veteran what gets me is that so many non-Veteran Gun Enthusiasts have the ideal that 1911s were put away on V-J Day to storage.

No clue that they were carried in Korea, Vietnam and into the 1990s and were also used for OIF and OEF most recently.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

The worst part about the mixed guns is a lot of them have the Israel made slides. I know a guy who ended up just flipping his after he saw what he got

Not knowing it was likely a Special Operations pistol used in hunting down terrorists in Afghanistan. Everyone wants a mint (meaning unissued) 1911A1 that they think could have been brought ashore on D-Day at Omaha Beach or Iwo Jima. (Insert favorite WWII battle here)

 

[inspcalahan]

What makes the CMP guns so special, is that you legitimately can trace their lineage from Uncle Sam to you, the first civilian to own it. Save the tag, papers and all....it's proof of a legit USGI gun, mixmaster or not, replaced slide or not, National Match built or not, they all have a story of service and you know bubba didn't slap it together randomly over the last 60 years. This is why I went the CMP route, which reminds me I need to go pick it up Tuesday when the shop opens, since it shipped last week. Who knows what I'll get but, it came as it was last built in service.

 

[Buick]

My round 2 CMP had a U.S. made g.i. "hard slide", and an Israeli chrome lined barrel. It's deadly accurate. I'm highly satisfied with it. Awaiting a round 4.

 

[Thiokol]

A forum member who lives near me has a CMP Remington Rand Service Grade pistol that he listed locally. He has it priced at $2,300.00. I have no idea if that's a fair price or not. I have no interest in it but if anyone here is, please contact me and I'll give you the link to where he has it posted.

Here's what he posted:

Looking to trade or possibly sell this outstanding Service Grade Remington Rand CMP 1911A1 pistol chambered in 45 ACP with all the CMP paperwork and government magazine and CMP Case. Very nice Remington frame with strong roll marks, original finish, full cross cannons cartouche on the right side, and hardened G.I. slide. No re-arsenal marks and original Farrel barrel with great rifling and grips with rack mark of 28 indicative of guns used by the Navy. This pistol was obtained via the CMP lottery system, which took several steps to acquire, and is difficult to obtain unless you meet all the requirements for the CMP. Great color, great piece of history. I also requested and received the FOIA history from the Army which I will provide to the new owner outlining the unit history for this pistol . Very interesting! Has not been fired since receiving from the CMP. C&R FFL ok. Will ship UPS insured for $75

 

[AJ]

I understand the love that folks have with the M1911/M1911A1's. Use them sparingly. Remember the last buy that the Government made was in 1945. How many rounds has been through each particular pistol is anybody's guess. We were checking these pistols for cracked frames back in the 1980's by dyepentrate and magnaflux inspections. Had friends that were doing these inspections and quite a few were found. I think the age of the pieces had something to do with the military looking at new handguns and going with the Beretta. Just saying keep an eye on your guns.