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November 7, 2015
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Just saw a WACA post on Facebook with a link. Could be interesting.
CMP to Sell Winchester 1897 Trench Guns: Collectors Take Not – Firearms News
Mike
April 30, 2023
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I bet it won’t be a large number of them though. I think there’s 100,000 or so of the M14s. I imagine that will take some time given they’re going to have to machine out the full-auto function. Curious how they do the shotguns though…historically they put the nice stuff to auction, other stuff in stores, and then sell graded stuff online to the rest of us. We’ll find out soon it sounds like!
November 7, 2015
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I was thinking the 1897’s may be refurbished. Not familiar with the trigger on an auto M14 but maybe it will be something simple; possibly a drop-in sear like the more recent civilian reproductions. Pretty sure they’ve already worked it out as they have announced plans to sell them.
Mike
April 15, 2005
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TXGunNut said
I was thinking the 1897’s may be refurbished. Not familiar with the trigger on an auto M14 but maybe it will be something simple; possibly a drop-in sear like the more recent civilian reproductions. Pretty sure they’ve already worked it out as they have announced plans to sell them.
Mike
The M14 rifles came in two variations, those with a selector switch for full auto, and those without (semi-auto only). The one we carried on our U.S. Navy submarines were the semi-auto only variation. Back in the early 1980s we accidently received (3) of the full auto variants when we ordered (10) rifles. The NSN for them was just a single digit different, and somebody in the Supply department goofed up. We discovered it when we took all (10) of the rifles to the Naval Weapons Stations Yorktown to certify them. We loaded two of them and emptied a full 20-round magazine out of each one of them before turning them back in. We could hit the target with the first two shots, then it was simply wasting ammo into the dirt berms. That was the very first time I shot a full automatic weapon.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 13, 2006
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Bert H. said
. . . . We could hit the target with the first two shots, then it was simply wasting ammo into the dirt berms. That was the very first time I shot a full automatic weapon.
Bert
Yeah . . .I also fired a full auto M14 . . .ONCE!!
Standing offhand, only my FIRST round hit the target!
If I was to do it again, I’d have the sling hanging from the front swivel and the other end on the ground . . . .UNDER MY LEFT FOOT!!
August 8, 2024
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I had the same results with the M14. With a three shot burst at 25 yards I hit the x ring on a B27 target with the fist shot. The second shot hit the head, and the third shot was somewhere above that. I saw the CEO of the CMP state that they have just over 400 1897 trench guns that they will sell. He did not go into detail on that. He did say that the M14 semi-auto rifles would be available for sale in January of 2027, and they will be sold at around $2,000 each. Also you could buy two of them if you wanted. The 1911A1 pistols will have a new limit of two a year starting in January. Until then you are limited to four in a lifetime.
April 15, 2005
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Bo Rich said
I had the same results with the M14. With a three shot burst at 25 yards I hit the x ring on a B27 target with the fist shot. The second shot hit the head, and the third shot was somewhere above that. I saw the CEO of the CMP state that they have just over 400 1897 trench guns that they will sell. He did not go into detail on that. He did say that the M14 semi-auto rifles would be available for sale in January of 2027, and they will be sold at around $2,000 each. Also you could buy two of them if you wanted. The 1911A1 pistols will have a new limit of two a year starting in January. Until then you are limited to four in a lifetime.
That seems like a lot of $$$$ for an M14 rifle, but I suspect that they will all sell quickly.
I have never tried to purchase a firearm from the CMP… how does one go about getting on the list to purchase one? I am considering making an attempt to buy one of the Model 1897 Trench Guns.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 25, 2016
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Thanks for the detail Bo rich, I am at an age I SHOULD be reducing numbers, I just ordered up a .22 for my arthritic disabled bride with tip up barrel. Hey I might get to shoot more!
I found an inexpensive way to scratch that full auto itch. Replace powder and primers with about 4 K PSI of air. One can have inexpensive full auto fun up to .30 caliber. Since no fire is involved I shoot full auto in my backyard legally, suppressed of course. The law is no FIREarm discharge within city limits. I do leave the tree rats alone they are like a freakin national treasure here locally. I do need to reduce the Nutria population, I’m just not a night person. Again the locals think the water rats are “cute” surprised there is not a bounty.
I highly recommend PCP if you wish to scratch a full auto itch, a .22 cal mag dump costs about half a buck. .22 pellets are cheap, .22 slugs are more. Limit is about 20 25 grains weight. The heavier slugs will work single shot in my rifle. Pyramyd air has lots of toys, many others as well. PCP is big fun, the world’s largest and most dangerous game is falling to air guns.
April 30, 2023
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Bert H. said
That seems like a lot of $$$$ for an M14 rifle, but I suspect that they will all sell quickly.
I have never tried to purchase a firearm from the CMP… how does one go about getting on the list to purchase one? I am considering making an attempt to buy one of the Model 1897 Trench Guns.
Bert
Bert, start here: https://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/eligibility-requirements/ and then go to the Sales & Service menu to look at each process for the individual models for sale. Their web site is kind of an unorganized mess. I believe I heard the club (WACA) now satisfies the requirement to be some sort of “club member” unless I heard that wrong.
When the M14 page releases for sale, it will also have its own separate page with instructions. They recently went to an online form and thank heavens, the old paperwork was a mess too. A true extension of government!
Like I mentioned earlier, I bet the shotguns will depend on condition what they do with them. With such limited numbers they might auction them all or just first come first serve, or even sell them in their stores only.
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