Rogers proposes CMP take control of old Army pistols

[oneshooter]

ANNISTON, Ala. —An east Alabama congressman has a plan to save taxpayers money when it comes to storing vintage firearms for the Army.

The plan involves moving the weapons to the Civilian Marksmanship Program, which includes its facility in Anniston.

Congressman Rogers says it's a win-win because the pistols are placed in very capable hands at the Civilian Marksmanship Program and it also saves taxpayers roughly $200,000 per year.

The M1911A1 pistol was once the standard sidearm for U.S. armed forces. Rogers says a little over 8,000 of the 100,000 pistols were sold to law enforcement and transferred to foreign countries for a small price. The rest are in storage.

The CMP will inspect, grade, and prepare the pistols to be sold. It will also reimburse the Army for any costs associated with moving the firearms.

More at: http://www.wvtm13.com/news/Rogers-proposes-CMP-take-control-of-old-Army-pistols/32720294

Estimates I have seen are between 85,000 to 100,000 .45ACP pistols will be involved.

[pscot]

1. Why should the taxpayers give them away

A certified GI M1911A1 ought be worth a $Grand. That would be $100,000,000 to put to the national debt.

[oneshooter]

5. They aren't being "given away".

They will go to the CMP to be cleaned, graded and sold.

CMP = Civilian marksmanship Program


http://thecmp.org/

[pscot]

8. "Go"= "be given away to"

Should all surplus government property just be given away?

[oneshooter]

11. So you would rather they be fed to "Captain Crunch".

https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/oTTsMXNFiKvh_rF032FtRg--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9NDI2O3E9OTU7dz02NDA-/

Or is it that the CMP supports marksmanship training?

[pscot]

13. Did you miss the part

where I said they should be sold to the public at $1000 per each? If someone buys one and sends it to the crusher that's OK too.

[DonP]

14. The DCM was a part of the givernment for a long time 1903 to 1996

IIRC, in 1903 Teddy Roosevelt was upset by the poor marksmanship of the average draftee soldier and started the Department of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) now the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) since 1996 it has been a 501-C3 but th Secretary of the Army is still involved as well as all the military marksmanship teams in the national competitions. They have a big emphasis on youth programs too, as well as selling surplus rifles and ammunition direct to the public.

Always interesting when I have a couple of ammo cans of 30.06 shipped directly to my office or another rifle.

So that's about as close as you can get to the government selling them, unless the Pentagon sets up a lemonade stand in DC to sell them off.

[Lurks Often]

16. I think you are being wildly optimistic

Unless in unusually good condition or one seriously wanted by collectors, there is no way they are going to go for $1000, when you can get brand new ones for under $700

[DonP]

2. The DCM, forerunner to the CMP, used to sell pistols

There is a precedent for it.

But any 1911 they may have left are pretty beat up by now.

The M9 has been the standard for 25 years (?) now.

[friendly_iconoclast]

3. I agree, most of them probably look like the average MBCR locomotive

(Boston-area commuter railroad- most of their locomotives are hand-me-down beaters from
the 70s and 80s)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBTA_Commuter_Rail#Locomotive_fleet

[Straw Man]

4. Beat?

But any 1911 they may have left are pretty beat up by now.

The M9 has been the standard for 25 years (?) now.

Twenty-five years in mothballs isn't what gets a pistol beat up. I'm sure some were beat already when they were put away, while others may have been more lightly used. There was no new production after WWII -- refurb only -- but I'd bet that there are some that are still in very good condition.

If this does go through, I'm sure they will be graded and priced accordingly.

[DonP]

7. "graded and priced accordingly"

Yup, I'm guessing there won't be many $50 Singer or Colt made 1911s on the list. LoL

[pscot]

9. I used to carry one on guard duty

Not a lot of wear and tear. I'll wager most of these weapons have never seen combat. They've probably been cleaned more often than they've been fired. How often do MP's or SP's pull a pistol? The only time I ever fired one was to qualify on the weapon. Wipe the cosmoline off and sell 'em with a certificate guaranteeing this is a genuine government issue M1911A1. Should be worth $1000 easy to any gun enthusiast.

[Lurks Often]

15. The one I qualified on in 1993 while in Army NG was beyond beat

It wouldn't go a full magazine without a jam and I barely qualified. I'll note I qualified expert with a perfect score , on a more challenging course, using the Beretta M9 in AIT.

Unless in unusually good condition or one seriously wanted by collectors, there is no way they are going to go for $1000, when you can get brand new ones for under $700

[ileus]

6. Here is a chance to own a true piece of American history.

My boss at work has his Uncles (1918) 1911, origonal holster and magazines (or at least way way way old)

It's never been reconditioned or "messed" with in any way....


Everyone should have at least one 1911, and this would allow many folks out there to get a real piece of history into their firearm collection.

[pscot]

10. Damn right. And only $1000

[DonP]

12. That's the nice thing about the CMP Garands - History in your Hands

You can track the serial number to some of the units it was originally issued to.

One of mine went to the 3rd Fleet Marine Force in 1943, my uncle's old unit. Every scratch, gouge and scrape on it represents it being dragged along some beach or a knock when some jarhead jumped into a shell hole. I wouldn't restock it for the world.

Another went to Europe to the Big Red One, who knows where that one went?

History in your hands and to teach your kids and grand kids that a Garand is heavier than it looks, kicks harder than it seems in "Call of Duty" and "Pings" loud enough to hear with rifles firing around you at the range.

[Eleanors38]

17. Garands. More wood than a 50s Hi-Fi console.

[DonP]

18. About the same as my '03 Springfield

I've watched one of my SiL friends, that's a much better shot than I am, hit a pie plate sized steel with the '03 at 300 yards 5 times in a row with open sights.

It took me plenty of rounds to figure out that damn "Christmas Tree" ladder sight on it. But once you do it's really easy to dial it in for any given distance.

[DashOneBravo]

19. DU group buy?

We should get a group of self defense advocates together when they are available.

I've been by the Anniston office, they are really easy to work with.