*SOLD* 1942 Colt 1911A1 .45ACP *HIGHLY DESIRABLE CMP SERVICE GRADE MODEL*

Bryant Ridge's Analysis:

The Colt M1911 (also known as 1911, Colt 1911, or Colt Government in the case of Colt-produced models) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model adopted in March 1911, and Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the improved M1911A1 model, which entered service in 1926. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam War era. Designed by John Browning, the M1911 is the best-known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied, and this operating system became the preeminent type of the 20th century and nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as the International Defensive Pistol Association and the International Practical Shooting Confederation. During its service life, the U.S. military procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. The pistol served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The M1911A1 was replaced by adopting the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol as the standard U.S. military sidearm in 1985. However, the U.S. Army did not officially replace the M1911A1 with the Beretta M9 until October 1986, but shortages in production and procurement kept the 1911A1 in service with some units past 1989. The 1911A1 has never been completely phased out. Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still used by some units of the U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy.
 
While there are many different flavors of the 1911 around in the current market, both old and new, for collectors and enthusiasts of U.S. military arms, the most sought-after are actual U.S. military-issued M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. Such guns have been on the used market and in collecting circles for some time, but in small numbers, as all these pistols were technically U.S. government property. However, that has begun to change, all thanks to the effort of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). A few years ago, the CMP, a private organization that is allowed to sell off specific U.S. surplus arms for the promotion of marksmanship, launched a program where qualified buyers could get a chance to purchase their own genuine U.S. military surplus M1911 or M1911A1 pistol. This program observed that the CMP had acquired a significant number of both M1911 and M1911A1 pistols of varying conditions, which were being stored at the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama. The sale of these pistols is conducted through a lottery system, where potential buyers are given a brief window of time to submit completed order packets for each round of pistol sales. The sale has been ongoing for a few years, with the purchase being blind and random. Buyers cannot see the pistol they are purchasing at the time of the sale, but instead, must select one of three grades depending on availability.
 
The process of applying for a CMP pistol was quite simple and easy to follow by adhering to the guidelines specified on the CMP website. It involved sending a filled-out order packet along with evidence of membership with a CMP-affiliated club, a copy of the driver's license, and notarization before dispatching the packet. Although the buyers do not have the option to choose a specific pistol manufacturer, parts markup, or collectability, they are offered three grades to select from, namely rack, field, and service. These grades are categorized based on the condition of the pistol, from the more worn end of the scale, called "rack" and hence the least expensive, to the more well-maintained and more expensive service grades.
 
Specifications:
 
  • Manufacturer: Colt / CMP
  • Model: 1911A1 Service Grade
  • Serial: 1205394
  • Date of Manufacture: 1943
  • Caliber: .45 ACP
  • Finish: Blue
  • Barrel Length: 5"
  • Optics/Sights: Fixed
  • Stock/Grips: Checkered Brown Synthetic 
  • Action: Semi-Automatic 
  • Markings: Standard
Jan 28th 2025 Bryant Ridge

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