CMP PLANS M14 CIVILIAN SALE

PHOTO CAPTION: U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ariginald Hancock fires an M14 rifle during the Heritage Match at the Marine Corps Marksmanship Championship at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, April 11, 2025. Illustrative file photo. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)

More than 100,000 surplus U.S. military M14 rifles are expected to become available for civilian sale through the Civilian Marksmanship Program following special authorization for the historic rifles to be transferred and sold.

The CMP has formally announced the future sale of surplus M14s, saying each rifle will first be modified to make it permanently and irreversibly semi-automatic before being offered to eligible U.S. citizens.

CMP Chairman and CEO Jerry O’Keefe told Military Times that the authorization covers more than 100,000 rifles. The organization initially said the first orders could be fulfilled in late 2026 or early 2027, but O’Keefe said the first sales will most likely take place in early 2027 as CMP builds an inventory of converted rifles.

The announcement has generated significant interest among collectors and shooters, according to O’Keefe, who said the response has exceeded the organization’s expectations.

CMP has not yet announced pricing, purchase limits, an exact order-opening date or the process customers will use to submit orders. The organization said those details, along with information about mail-order and physical-store sales, will be released later.

The rifles will not be sold in their original select-fire military configuration. CMP says the required modification will leave them permanently semi-automatic and compliant with the legislation governing the transfer and sale of surplus military .30-caliber rifles.

The M14 was officially adopted by the U.S. Army as a service rifle in 1957. Chambered in 7.62 mm, it was developed as a direct descendant of the M1 Garand and became one of the most recognizable American service rifles of the Cold War era.

CMP has previously sold other surplus U.S. military firearms, including M1 Garands and M1911-series pistols. The upcoming M14 sale, however, would give eligible civilian buyers access to genuine surplus military M14 rifles after the required semi-automatic conversion.

For now, interested collectors will have to wait. CMP says additional details on pricing, limits and ordering will be announced as the rifles move closer to sale.

(Source: OAF Nation)