Task and Purpose – by Jared Keller
The .45 ACP M1911A1 pistol has served the U.S. armed forces for more than a century in every war zone and hotspot on the planet — and thanks to this year’s federal defense budget, it will serve civilians for the foreseeable future.
The $700 billion 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that Congress sent to President Donald Trump’s desk on Nov. 16 included an amendmentthat required the Secretary of the Army to transfer a cache of small arms and ammo “no longer actively issued for military service” to the government-sponsored Civilian Marksmanship Program, including the M1911 and M1911A1 pistols, the M–1 Garand, and .22 rimfire rifles.
The 1911 semiautomatic pistol, invented by legendary firearms inventor John Moses Browning, proved extremely reliable in the hands of American Expeditionary Forces during the opening years of World War I. According to the National Interest, Army Sergeant Alvin C. York neutralized six German soldiers who charged him with fixed bayonets using nothing but his 1911, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor and heroism.
Although the 1911A1 variant that emerged in the U.S. after WWI was phased out of regular military service in favor of the Beretta 92 pistol (aka the M9) starting in 1985, its power persists. The Marine Corps ordered 12,000 M45A1 Close Quarter Battle Pistols, a 1911-modeled firearm from Colt Defense in 2014; the pistols went to MARSOC Raiders, with a handful going to special operations-capable Marine Expeditionary Units.
The last transfer of 1911s to the CMP was in 2015, when President Barack Obama signed a defense bill that included a measure to transfer 10,000 pistols for sale to the program; lawmakers har stated that May that the DoD spends $2 a year to store each of its 100,000 surplus 1911s. With 10,000 already transferred and 8,300 additional pistols “sold or disposed of,” perGuns.com, that means there are at least 80,000 1911s ready and waiting for a nasty civilian to give them a good home.
How much of this will we actually see? Short answer, NOT MUCH! most will go to third world piss ants, in bed with Israeli jews looking for world domination.
im pretty picky about my firearms , all of them have only been owned by me, and were purchased new (only 1 from my Dad and hes ok on my list) , 2nd..these guns have been through hell and back ..and I dont like worn out junk that was someone elses.
plus they probably think because they were owned by the military , that they are worth more then they really are ..and I dont agree
the CMP program is also trying to pedal their worn out 1911’s and i wouldnt touch one of those with a 12 foot iron pipe , not to mention they too think they are worth whats new on the shelf , they even say some are refurbished .. look if you only have to put up another 50 to 150$ to buy a new one , than why bother with that junk?
and if more people refused to pay their stupid asking price, soon the prices would come into line with what they are truly worth ..just my 2 cents
Agreed. And a lot of second hand stuff is only on the market because the first hands ruined the thing. I like to buy quality and take care of stuff, too.
Two words. 80% lower.
In most ways the worst gun i ever owned was a gi 1911 but at least it was a Springfield mad in the ussa. It was still cool in some ways too. I’d rather own about 5 other hand guns before allowing a 1911 back in my stash.
The 1911 was fine in its day, but it has been far surpassed. I’ll stick with my HK45 if I want to carry that round.
Worn Out? Those weapons were fastidiously maintained. if they did not pass inspection some one’s ass was in a sling!