Sidearms & Scatterguns Question about Kimber 1911s

[XTR]

I haven't followed the pistol business for a decade or so and I remember when Kimber showed up with really good 1911s.

Now I get an impression that people don't think the more recent offerings are as good as they were, but I don't read any details. Is this perception reality? What if anything is the story here?

 

[Sgt. 0811]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

Well, yes Kimber was once very good, and they are still good but their customer service is in the toilet as is quality control. They are a huge pain to deal with (i imagine from all the complaints they get) and a lot more guns leave the factory with flaws. I had a tactical 2 ultra that would not feed hollow points or flat nosed bullets and the plunger tube was not staked down or came un staked durring shipping. After reporting the problem and having to deal with them I decided to never buy another. They did fix it but it took a long time and I had to fight them all the way plus pay shipping. They were rude and accusitory. A lot of other complaints from others as well. Now, to be fair, when they get it right they are a fine pistol. However, I wouldn't take the chance however slim it may be.

 

[chansen49]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s



I think all 1911's can have issues, Kimber IMO has a decent value.. You can get the custom 2 for less than 800 on sale, has pretty much everything a built up 1911 has, It might need a trigger jod and reliability package, but IMO all 1911's should get that treatment. TRP is 1400? 1600?

Ch

 

[Glock45]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

XTR,

I've owned 3 Kimbers. Only one of them (Tactical Custom 2) did I really ever put through its paces. That was even an external extractor model!! None of them ever gave me issues. In my TC2, i put about 2k-2500 rounds through it.

Would I buy another? Not really. I think they put a lot of nice details an features into their product(checkering under trigger guard, high cut under trigger guard, bobtail offerings, 5"-4"-3" models, scaled serrations, countersinking slide stop pin, etc. BUT. . . fancy features do *NOT* make up for bad customer service.

I do not care for the firing pin safety feature they have. I don't even really like it on my Colt or Sig either, but I deal with it. I just rather keep it traditional is all. No real strong reason for me to dislike it.

For what Kimber charges for some of their guns, one can get a Dan Wesson and from what I hear, those are pretty kick-ass right out of the box! For a tad more, one could purchase a Les Baer.

In the end, ANYONE can make mistakes and errors. It's how they handle those issues that defines the company and molds their future.

If someone gave me a Kimber I'd take it, but thankfully I have plenty of choices so i don't really need to!


-G45

 

[rammit3000]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

The only bad thing I've herd about Kimber has been read on the net. Everyone I have talked to in person loves them and wants one or wants another one. I bought a Kimber Team Match 2 Friday and broke it in with 500 rounds of Winchester 230g fmj then I put 16 hollow points through it as fast as could hold it on target, it never jammed once I cleaned it every 150 rounds. This is the first 1911 I've ever owned so I don't have anything to compare it against. I love mine and trying to decide what Kimber I want next. I've had 2 glocks and 1 xd 45 and I can shoot the Kimber a lot better.

 

[Sgt. 0811]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

IMHO, Kimber has all sorts of flair. "Here look at me" but when you examine the build quality, materials. You can see how they price their pistols low. There is a reason for it. Same reason custom 1911s go for 2000.00 up and I mean way up. I am not saying Kimber's are bad but I do believe you can buy a better quality 1911 for the same money, it may not be as pretty but it will run better.
Oh and did I mention Kimber treats their customers like sh*t... I did mention that right?

 

[ShakyDave]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

I've had two Kimbers for a couple of years and put about 5,000 rounds through each of them. I have had no problems with either. The full-size is the Super Carry Custom because I like the bobtail grip and the carry gun is the Raptor Ultra. Kimbers are attractive because the alloy frame makes them noticeably lighter but the downside is that you have to replace the recoil spring every 1,000 through 1,500 rounds to safeguard against frame cracking. Given the cost of ammunition that's a minor expense, amortized over the life of the gun. I have no experience with their customer service because I've never had a problem,

Compared to my Colt New Agent, I much prefer the Kimber Ultra. Even at the higher price. Would I buy another Kimber? Maybe, but before I did I'd take a long, hard look at similar STI models. I have no gripe against Kimber; the guns were decent values for the price. They aren't in the Les Baer/Nighthawk/Wilson/Ed Brown category but they cost quite a bit less, too (although with some models there might be overlap).

I'd never discourage anybody from buying a Kimber, though.

 

[EddieNFL]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now, to be fair, when they get it right they are a fine pistol.</div></div>

Yep.

First one - Delicate finish, but runs like a top.

Second - Couldn't get through a magazine. Contacted Kimber and after talking with the (supposed) "man," decided to pay a smith to repair it rather than deal with Kimber. Sold it as soon as I confirmed it was finally reliable.

(Held my breath when I bought the...)
Third one - Needed a little tweaking, but fine after that.

Not to insult anyone, but 2K - 5K is not a high round count. See how it holds up after 20K - 30K and beyond. In fairness to Kimber, my first one is well over 20K. Adjusted the extractor tension once or twice and changed the springs on a regular basis. Looks like crap, though.

 

[ggmanning]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

I have owned a few. The only one I have kept is a series I custom classic and I would not consider any of their series II guns. They currently ride on the coattails of what was a fine pistol for the money in the 90's and early 2000's.

 

[O_W]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

i have a series 1 gold combat that is closing in on 22K rounds and it looks like shit but runns like a top and always has. NEver had another kimber but have fired several and they all seem to be ok.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

In the 1990s, I remember reading Guns and Ammo and gawking at the fine Kimbers with their beavertails, dovetail sights ambies, magwells, nice grips, etc. They were a lot of gun for the money, because you didn't have to pay a gunsmith to fit all these parts.

Now, their quality is as poor as the crap from Brazil, and so any sex appeal they earned from those days is gone. It's a shame, because when I bought my (2000 production) Kimber in 2005 for $675, there was NOTHING available anywhere else for that kind of money with this kind of quality.



It's a shame.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

Is that bone stock? It looks like it has had work done.

 

[Genius.]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

When I was looking for a 1911 I checked Kimber out, but for the price... I could have been into a TRP for the price of a Kimber. Then you would have Springfields legendary Customer Service if any problems ever did arise.

Last weekend I handled a Kimber, I was not to impressed. For one, the slide to frame fit was awful, it was sloppy. The trigger was heavy, and I had a few FTF's.

From my limited experience Kimber is riding out their name, and people are willing to pay for it. If you ask a lot of people who makes the best 1911 80% of the answers you will get is Kimber.

 

[Genius.]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

About a month ago I went ti the mall with my wife so I stopped at Gander Mountain to see what they had. They were slow and I wanted to see what 1911's they had. The guy I talked to said he was going to refer me to their 1911 expert...

I played dumb acting like I knew nothing about the platform.

We started talking, long story short he started taking out the Kimber's, then proceeded to tell me they were the best 1911 ever to be produced, everyone tries to copy them. I asked him if Kimber uses MIM parts, he said Kimber is the only 1911 manufacturer who does NOT use MIM parts......

 

[O_W]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: biggenius29</div><div class="ubbcode-body">About a month ago I went ti the mall with my wife so I stopped at Gander Mountain to see what they had. They were slow and I wanted to see what 1911's they had. The guy I talked to said he was going to refer me to their 1911 expert...

I played dumb acting like I knew nothing about the platform.

We started talking, long story short he started taking out the Kimber's, then proceeded to tell me they were the best 1911 ever to be produced, everyone tries to copy them. I asked him if Kimber uses MIM parts, he said Kimber is the only 1911 manufacturer who does NOT use MIM parts...... </div></div>

You cannot use Gander Mountain and their 1911 expert and have any credibility...

 

[Genius.]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: over_watch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: biggenius29</div><div class="ubbcode-body">About a month ago I went ti the mall with my wife so I stopped at Gander Mountain to see what they had. They were slow and I wanted to see what 1911's they had. The guy I talked to said he was going to refer me to their 1911 expert...

I played dumb acting like I knew nothing about the platform.

We started talking, long story short he started taking out the Kimber's, then proceeded to tell me they were the best 1911 ever to be produced, everyone tries to copy them. I asked him if Kimber uses MIM parts, he said Kimber is the only 1911 manufacturer who does NOT use MIM parts...... </div></div>

You cannot use Gander Mountain and their 1911 expert and have any credibility... </div></div>


I always heard they were a joke, so, being bored that night I figured I was up for a possible laugh.

The laugh was worth my time, beat the heck out of following my wife through the mall.

I figured I would be in for a treat when their selection of 1911's was a bunch of Taurus's and Kimber's

 

[Downzero]

Re: Question about Kimber 1911s

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is that bone stock? It looks like it has had work done. </div></div>

Besides the springs, trigger, magwell, grips, front sight, finish, and mag release, it is as it came from Kimber.

Well and the barrel, since I blew it up last year.

The hammer, sear, disconnector, frame, rear sight, and slide etc., are as it came.

Nothing wrong with changing a few things, but it wasn't so bad stock either. I shot it 100% bone stock for a lot of years before I changed much.