President Trump Will Permit Citizens to Buy Military Surplus 1911 Pistols

President Trump is set to sign the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which contains an amendment that allows U.S. citizens to acquire military surplus 1911 pistols.

The sales will occur under the auspices of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, which has been selling approved military surplus weapons to citizens for more than 100 years.

According to the International Business Times, it currently costs the U.S. military approximately $2 a day to store one pistol, and there are an estimated 100,000 1911s that are being stored. So that is a $200,000 expenditure the military can erase and replace with a profit, or at least of a recoup of costs, by selling the firearms.

The 1911 is one of the most popular handguns ever developed. It is valued for military use, home defense, self-defense, and concealed carry. Although the military’s 1911s were made by Colt, citizens have long been purchasing civilian models from Colt as well. These range from the basic government model to 1911s with finely tuned triggers and target barrels that allow for incredible accuracy in competitive shooting.

Kimber, Sig Sauer, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Rock Island, Springfield Armory, and others produce numerous 1911 variants for the civilian market each year as well. But through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, Americans will not only acquire a 1911, but a piece of U.S. military history, an exciting opportunity.