Author: Grumpy
As a part of the National Defense Act in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt helped create the Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship, or DCM. President Roosevelt witnessed firsthand how unprepared U.S. soldiers were for marksmanship in combat during the Spanish-American War and sought a solution to increase marksmanship training for future generations.
The DCM was created to promote the lessons and values of marksmanship to younger generations of Americans, so that they would already know the basics of marksmanship if they joined the military. 
The sign at the front of the CMP’s headquarters in Anniston, Ala.
Along with teaching youth marksmanship, the DCM could also sell surplus military firearms to the public further promote the learning of marksmanship skills. The DCM remained unchanged from 1903 to 1996, until the U.S. Government sought to downsize spending. A push was made in the government to end the DCM, since it was a federally funded program. At the same time, some members of the U.S. Congress did not want to see the program ended entirely and sought a way for the program and its values to continue without federal funding.
Thus, in 1996 the DCM was privatized and turned into the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, also known as the Civilian Marksmanship Program or CMP. The CMP was given the staff from Camp Perry, Ohio, a half-year budget of federal funding for the first year of operation and access to the surplus of U.S. .30- and .22-cal. rifles.
A CMP armorer inspecting the components of a surplus M1 Garand rifle.
Based in Anniston, Ala., the CMP continues to sell surplus U.S. military rifles to the public as a means to fund and to promote marksmanship training. However, the CMP now offers more than surplus U.S. rifles for sale. As a part of the Defense Authorization Act, the CMP is authorized to sell surplus M1911 and M1911A1 .45 ACP pistols transferred from the U.S. Army reserve stocks at the Anniston Army Depot.
In the first batch, the CMP was transferred 8,000 M1911 and M1911A1 pistols from the U.S. Army. Stored in a specially designed vault and processing facility at its headquarters in Anniston, Ala., the CMP sorts these pistols for the eventual sale to qualified members of the public. These pistols come in a variety of grades in both the M1911 and M1911A1 models.
A look inside one of the army crates containing M1911 pistols.
Many of these pistols, especially of the M1911A1 variety, were rearsnaled within last 40 years before being put back into storage. These rearsenaled pistols were reworked and refinished by the U.S. Ordnance Department before being greased, wrapped and boxed for eventual reissue. These pistols are essentially in like-new condition, and bear rebuild marks from the rearsenal process, mostly dating from the late 1970s. Other examples still bear their original finish and wear from decades of use by the U.S. Military.
A rearsenaled M1911A1 pistol fresh inside the wrapper and box.
The pistols are divided into several grades based on condition and are priced accordingly. The rearsenaled examples, listed as condition code “A” in the army system, were ready to be reissued by the U.S. Army and have the highest grade in the CMP’s grading system, service grade. Other worn and unchanged examples are divided between the field and rack grades, and are priced accordingly. The CMP goes through all the different grades of M1911 and M1911A1 pistols to certify that the parts are within specifications before making them ready for purchase.
In the mix of pistols sent by the U.S. Army, there are a variety of features that can be found. As previously mentioned, the rearsenaled examples bear a fresh parkerized finish and reworked parts, along with new, brown plastic grips. Other examples will include older, original finishes as well as same earlier features like wood grips. These will exhibit wear from decades of use while in circulation, and sometimes even rack marking from when they were issued. 
The rebuild markings visible on the frame of a rearsenaled M1911A1 pistol.
Many different manufacturer marks can be found in the mix, including those from World War I-era production. A variety of parts from different manufacturers can be found on these pistols, with the slides and frames being from different, or at times the same, manufacturers depending on the specific pistols. Some of the M1911 examples can include earlier features, while others will have various later features from different rebuild programs while in circulation.
A arsenal rebuild and refinished service grade M1911A1 pistol out of the box and wrapper.
Despite offering these pistols for to the public, the CMP is not focused on firearm sales. Rather, the sale of these surplus pistols is aimed to support the CMP’s core mission of teaching and promoting marksmanship to the public. The sale of rifles and pistols serves to help the CMP fund its teaching programs and operational expenses.
Along with the authorization for the CMP to sell the pistols came further restrictions mandated by the U.S. Congress. As a part of these restrictions, the CMP must follow a slightly different series of guidelines for pistol sales than it does with rifle sales.
A M1911 pistol with World War I-era Remington UMC slide.
In order to purchase a M1911 or M1911A1 pistol from the CMP, potential buyers must fill out an order form packet and mail it to the CMP’s specific 1911 division, which is seperate from the CMP’s normal operations and sales. Buyers must follow the specific steps and requirements outlined in the order form packet to be eligible to purchase one of the pistols, which is available on the CMP website. These include providing proof of identity, membership in a CMP affiliated club or organization, proof of marksmanship training, passing a NICS background check and providing FFL information for transfer.
Another view inside a crate containing M1911 pistols in the CMP 1911 vault.
Buyers are only allowed to purchase only one 1911 pistol from the CMP, and applicants that meet the requirements will be entered into a random number generated lottery system for a slot to purchase a pistol. Anyone who has already purchased a 1911 from the CMP is not eligible to buy another. This is due to the limited quantity of pistols in the CMP’s inventory and the regulations that the CMP must follow in order to be allowed to sell the 1911 pistols to the public.
Currently, the CMP is accepting mailed-in order form packets for the second round of its 1911 sales program. Applicants must follow the specific instructions on the order packet, provide the required information and have the packet delivered by mail to the CMP 1911 division no later than the end of the business day, March 4, 2021, in order to be considered. For more information on the CMP and the second round of the 1911 sales program, please visit the CMP’s website at thecmp.org.
Democrats’ sweeping election victories could produce an equally dramatic response at America’s gun counters.
That is the prediction from the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, which expects gun and ammunition sales to climb as buyers prepare for another round of gun-control proposals.
Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, setting up two years of divided government in Washington. The party also made substantial gains in gubernatorial and state legislative races.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb believes those results could send Americans rushing to purchase firearms before the newly elected lawmakers take office.
“We may be about to witness a surge in gun buying not seen since 2020,” Gottlieb said. “We also anticipate a flood of new, anti-Second Amendment legislation designed to further restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
Table of contents
A Familiar Political Pattern
This would not be the first time the threat of new restrictions drove firearm demand.
Gun sales and background checks have historically climbed during periods of political uncertainty, civil unrest and renewed calls for bans. Buyers who were previously undecided often move quickly when they believe a firearm, magazine or ammunition may soon become restricted.
Gottlieb expects semiautomatic rifles and pistols to receive particular attention from lawmakers.
“The gun control crowd may attempt to pass legislation relating to modern semiautomatic rifles and pistols in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling on whether these firearms are protected by the Second Amendment,” he said.
“That could easily ignite a semi-auto buying surge, so nobody should be surprised when that happens. When you tell Americans they can’t have something, they rush to buy whatever it is.”
Democratic control of Congress does not guarantee that sweeping federal gun legislation will become law. President Donald Trump would retain veto power, and the Senate’s procedural rules could still make passing controversial measures difficult.
The picture may be different at the state level. Democrats gained several governorships and made major advances in state legislatures, potentially opening new paths for firearm restrictions in states where the party will control both the legislative and executive branches.
Demand Was Already Rising
The election arrived as firearm-market activity was already showing signs of growth.
NSSF reported 1,402,422 adjusted firearm background checks during October 2026. That was a 7.9% increase over October 2025.
Adjusted NICS checks are not a direct count of firearms sold. One check can cover multiple firearms, and some legal transfers do not require a new NICS check. Still, the numbers provide a useful look at activity inside licensed gun stores.
If CCRKBA is right, October’s increase may be only the beginning.
Gottlieb also expects the election results to boost memberships and donations for national gun-rights organizations preparing for new legislative and courtroom battles.
“Watch the gun prohibition movement to once again be unintentionally responsible for surging gun and ammunition sales,” he said, “and for renewed and energized support for groups fighting to defend the American heritage and Bill of Rights.”
The first real indication will arrive with November’s adjusted NICS report. Until then, the predicted post-election surge remains exactly that: a prediction.
I’m still sorry that I sold mine 25 years ago! Grumpy