CMP Manager Offers Pricing Info for 1911 Sales

According to recent comments from the general manager of the Civilian Marksmanship’s North Store, 1911 pistols are coming – and they won’t be cheap. In an article at TheGunWriter.com, CMP’s Steve Cooper is quoted as saying that not only do collectors need to “pump the brakes,” but also that the pistols will sell for somewhere between $800 and $1,000. Not only that, but they’re also expected to be well-used examples that may or may not be worth the asking price.

When it comes to past firearm sales, including the M1 Carbine, the M1 Garand, and M1903 rifles, the CMP has long been regarded as one of the best and most affordable sources for U.S. surplus arms. They’ve generally sought to sell enough to fund their various marksmanship programs and competitions, usually undercutting open market pricing by a decent amount. This pricing announcement is a departure from that approach.

However, the pricing is only one interesting part of this announcement. $800 isn’t necessarily a terrible deal for a functional, USGI 1911, but considering most people won’t be able to see the pistol before it arrives, the price isn’t a steal. What’s more troubling is Cooper’s justification for the price point.

The Gun Writer quotes Cooper as saying, “[i]t’s hard to say exactly, but a good guess will be around $1,000 minimum… [W]e don’t want them falling into the hands of people who will just leave them in a glove box. We want a perceived value — more of an heirloom… All we need is to have someone commit a liquor store robbery with one, and then we’ll be held accountable.”

Cooper’s concern is, on the one hand, understandable. Back in October, House Democrats attempted to remove the 1911 provision from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Misuse of a CMP 1911 would undoubtedly be politicized. But the same goes for any CMP gun.

No, what’s more, frustrating is this notion that the CMP is trying to price some shooters out of the market because they feel that a lower price point would result in handguns falling into careless, or the wrong hands. The implication is that gun buyers with less disposable income are irresponsible. Moreover, the CMP plans to artificially inflate the 1911 prices in an attempt to increase their “perceived value” and prevent them from being considered a “standard sidearm.” He later states that “Their values might be a little bit less, but we want some sort of threshold to prevent anyone from coming in off the street and plunking down $400.” Seeing as how the CMP’s core mission is to promote marksmanship among the general public, this just doesn’t sit right. There’s also an ocean of wiggle room between $400 and $800, and no reasonable person expected these to sell for four bills.

Beyond all of that, it isn’t like you can just “come in off the street and plunk down” money for any CMP firearm. The organization has several requirements that must be met before a person can purchase a firearm from them. Prospective buyers must be provably involved with marksmanship activities and must also be enrolled in a CMP-affiliated club. There are easy ways to check these boxes, but they still prevent “just anyone” from buying CMP guns.

I’m still excited to see that the CMP expects to receive around 10,000 of these incredible pistols each year and may still purchase one. Cooper’s comments are just… disappointing.