A week ago I made a special point to drive over to the Camp Perry facility while I was in Ohio to visit the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) North Sales Store. I have heard of both sales stores in Ohio and Alabama but have never visited either.
The CMP concept goes all the way back to Teddy Roosevelt who was behind the idea of promoting marksmanship among American civilians and the program allows sales of retired government rifles and ammo in addition to sponsoring iconic shoots across the nation.
Located in the CMP headquarters building, the north store is more than just a retail outlet— more of a pilgrimage for me. I did not quite know what to expect, but it was small, like the inside of a 7-11 store! But it smelled much different than a 7-11. Stepping through the doors you are presented with racks of bolt action 1903 Springfield 30-06’s and M-1 Garands and that inherent smell! Wood, oil and steel. Mmmm.
This store offers a hands-on connection to the firearms which helped shape the 20th century from pre-WWI through the Korean war. All are for sale if you are eligible via the CMP program, and they are in all different conditions and beg to be picked up and hand rubbed. Some are suitable only for wall hangers and others look brand new. I had to pick up and feel markings, stencils and dings on those wooden stocks which are traces from life in government service. What stories they could tell.
I held off looking up individual serial numbers in the store lest I present as a gun nerd… (I have a couple CMP guns one built in 1945 and another in 1944. Both could have been used during WW II. Pieces of American history in Walnut stocks.)
The store draws a unique crowd of shooters who love those old Garands and Springfields: collectors, veterans, competitive shooters, and history buffs alike. Some come in search of a specific serial number that might match a family heirloom or service date range, while others are simply captivated by the craftsmanship of a bygone era.
The staff, many of whom are veterans themselves, are of course experts on these rifles. Each rifle is inspected and measured and graded before being offered for public sale. Old guy conversations often drift into tales of boot camp, battlefield memories, or bullseye shooting on the Camp Perry range.
I did not see any ammo for sale, but they had quite a batch of chrome plated M-1 Bayonets for cheap if you needed one for your next backyard parade.
Of note, were a couple of racks of M-1’s with the receivers made by International Harvester- yes the tractor and farm implement people. There were about 25 on the floor and may represent the largest collection of International Harvester guns all in one spot! Between WWII and the beginning of the Korean War International got a government contract to make 100,000 rifles beginning in 1952.
The IH guns are not as rare as an M-1 Carbine made by Rockola, but you don’t see them very often in the open market. My friend’s father carried a Garand through WWII and then was a farmer using International Harvester equipment his whole life. I helped his son and grandsons get access to some IH’s of their own and they are proud to have and display them.
Beyond the rifles, the CMP North Sales Store is also a hub for education and community. It hosts marksmanship clinics, safety courses, and youth programs designed to instill discipline and responsibility in the next generation of shooters. The store is part of a broader mission: to promote firearms safety and training while preserving the traditions of civilian marksmanship. I wrote a story recently about CMP acknowledging they are running out of the old Garands and have partnered with an outside agency to re-barrel and add parts to make “new” Garands.
There were lots of shooting related small items hanging on the walls as well as logo, cups, water bottles, clothing and hats. I was sorely tempted to buy something with that CMP logo but held off with the satisfaction I would take away memories of the place and that made me happy.
The grounds outside the store are home to a number of tanks and a couple of helos permanently on display, and yeah, I had to go see them and touch them too.
