How to Fill Out the CMP 1911 Order Form: Eligibility and Grades

The CMP 1911 order form is the online application you submit to the Civilian Marksmanship Program to buy a surplus U.S. Army M1911A1 pistol. Paper forms by mail are no longer accepted; you complete the application at shop.thecmp.org/forms/1911 after gathering five supporting documents and a copy of your FFL dealer’s license. Pistols run $1,100 to $1,300 depending on grade, and the lifetime limit is four pistols per person.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information2Civilian Marksmanship Program. CMP Processing Orders, Adapting New System/Order Limit for 1911 Pistol Program

Who Can Order

You must be at least 21 years old under federal handgun law and a U.S. citizen. Lawful permanent residents and other non-citizens are not eligible.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

The Gun Control Act’s prohibited-person categories apply: felony convictions, misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, being a fugitive, unlawful use of controlled substances, and certain restraining orders all disqualify you.4Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Identify Prohibited Persons The CMP runs a NICS check through the FBI before your pistol ships, and it must come back “proceed” before the firearm leaves the facility.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

Documents to Gather Before You Start

Assemble everything before opening the form. Missing or expired paperwork is the most common reason applications stall. You need five items:

  • Proof of U.S. citizenship: birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate.
  • Proof of membership in a CMP-affiliated club, current as of your submission date.
  • Proof of marksmanship activity (see the options below).
  • A completed Form 2A, signed in front of a notary public. Notary services at banks, shipping stores, and many libraries typically run $10 to $15.
  • A copy of your current driver’s license.
2Civilian Marksmanship Program. CMP Processing Orders, Adapting New System/Order Limit for 1911 Pistol Program

You also need a signed copy of your FFL dealer’s license. The CMP ships only to Type 01, 02, or 07 FFLs and will not ship to a home address.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information Call your dealer before ordering to confirm they’ll accept the transfer and ask about their fee. Handgun transfer fees commonly run $25 to $75.

Club Membership

The CMP has more than 2,000 affiliated clubs: local gun clubs, state shooting associations, congressionally chartered veterans’ organizations such as the VFW and American Legion, active or reserve military branches, the National Guard, and law enforcement groups like the Fraternal Order of Police.5Civilian Marksmanship Program. Clubs Many memberships cost $25 or less and can be completed online. This requirement cannot be waived.6Civilian Marksmanship Program. Purchase Eligibility Requirements

Marksmanship Proof Options

Any one of the following satisfies the marksmanship requirement:

  • Current or past military service in any branch, or law enforcement service.
  • Participation in a rifle, pistol, air gun, or shotgun competition, documented with a results bulletin.
  • Completion of a marksmanship clinic with live-fire training, shown by a certificate or instructor statement.
  • Distinguished, Instructor, or Coach status.
  • A concealed carry license.
  • A Firearms Owner ID Card that included live-fire training.
  • An FFL or Curio & Relic license.
  • A hunter safety course that included live-fire training.
  • A signed range officer statement witnessing your shooting activity, from a range or club official or a law enforcement officer. The CMP provides a downloadable form for this.
  • Age 60 or older, which waives the marksmanship proof but not club membership or citizenship proof.
7Civilian Marksmanship Program. In-Person Sales Event 1911 Surplus Order Form

Submitting the Form Online

Go to shop.thecmp.org/forms/1911 and log in to your CMP account, or create one if you don’t have it yet. The form collects your personal information, grade preference, and FFL dealer details, and it asks you to upload scans of the driver’s license, citizenship proof, club membership card, marksmanship proof, notarized Form 2A, and signed FFL copy.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

Before you submit, check three things. Your club membership must be current as of the submission date. The notary seal and signature on Form 2A must be clearly visible in the scan. The FFL copy must include the dealer’s signature.

Choosing a Grade

The form asks for a grade preference, so decide before you open it. All pistols are inspected and test fired by the CMP, and all grades may include some commercial replacement parts.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

  • Service Grade, $1,300. Minor pitting and wear on exterior and friction surfaces. Grips complete, no cracks. Issuable condition.
  • Field Grade, $1,200. Minor rust, pitting, and wear. Grips complete, no cracks. Issuable condition.
  • Rack Grade, $1,100. More noticeable rust, pitting, and wear. Grips may be incomplete or cracked. Functional but may need minor work.
  • Range Grade, $1,150 (currently sold out). Modified 1911s intended as shooters rather than collectibles; may contain commercial parts.

Shipping is included. A $25 reshipment fee applies if the pistol is returned to CMP because it couldn’t be delivered.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

The lifetime cap is four surplus 1911 pistols per person, raised from two in May 2025. It covers your entire history with the program, not a single year.2Civilian Marksmanship Program. CMP Processing Orders, Adapting New System/Order Limit for 1911 Pistol Program

Don’t Confuse This With the Tisas 1911

The CMP also sells a new-production Tisas M1911A1, which is not a military surplus pistol. Ordering a Tisas requires no packet: you buy it and CMP ships to your FFL.8Civilian Marksmanship Program. Tisas Partners with Civilian Marksmanship Program to Build 1911 Pistol If you want a genuine surplus pistol, use the surplus 1911 order form, not the Tisas product page.

What Happens After You Submit

Orders are processed first come, first served. The random number generator system used in earlier rounds is no longer in use.9Civilian Marksmanship Program. M1911 Order Processing You can track fulfillment on the CMP’s 1911 Order Status page. As of mid-2026, new orders are being processed within weeks of receipt rather than months.

When your order comes up, a CMP representative contacts you by phone or email to confirm the grade, take payment, and verify FFL information. If your FFL has changed since submission, you’ll provide a current one at that point. Payment is by credit card over the phone based on available information, and you do not pay when you first submit the form.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

Pickup and the Second Background Check

After payment clears and NICS returns a “proceed,” the pistol ships to your dealer. At pickup you go through a second background check: the FFL submits your information to NICS as part of the normal transfer, and you complete ATF Form 4473 in person. Both the ATF and the Army require this second check at the FFL’s premises.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information Your dealer’s transfer fee is separate from what you paid the CMP; ask about it up front.

State Restrictions

The CMP will not sell or ship surplus 1911s to Massachusetts, and it cannot ship to U.S. territories because of shipping constraints. California residents can buy them because the surplus pistols meet the state’s Curio and Relic definition; they still ship to an in-state 01, 02, or 07 FFL.1Civilian Marksmanship Program. Surplus U.S. Army 1911 Information

Wherever you live, your dealer is responsible for federal, state, and local compliance at the transfer. Waiting periods, registration, and permit-to-purchase rules apply at pickup where they exist. Ask your FFL about these before you place the order.