[Remander]

It looks like Kimber is coming out with their version of a Glock. It's called the Kimber Pro Defense or KPD.

My Feb 2006 Guns magazine has a full page ad inside the cover for the KPD, a black plastic DAO pistol that is said to be available in a 12-rd .40 and (soon) 9mm (no capacity noted in ad).

The ad says the pistol has all internal safeties, ambi mag-release, magazine safety disconnector, Picatinny rail, and interchangeable backstraps.

This is the first I've seen of this pistol, and I can't even find it on the Kimber website. If it is like many new guns, the ads will run for months before you will see one in a store.

I guess this is news. It was to me. If it's old info, my bad.

[gudel]

i've seen the pic of this in S&W forum.
meh.

[duncan]

If you want a Glock or a Springfield XD, get one.

But other 1911 companies have tried and failed in the polymer market.

Waste of R&D and production monies.:cuss:

[Rupestris]

Heres a pic:

http://www.photodump.com/direct/epsylum/kimberad-a.jpg

[bofe954]

Is that updated copy of the Steyr pistol? Looks a little different-

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg45-e.htm

Sure looks familiar though.

[middy]

DAO?
Magazine disconnect?
ambidextrous safety?
interchangeable backstraps?

Doesn't sound like a Glock to me... :confused:

[Rupestris]

DAO?
Magazine disconnect?
ambidextrous safety?
interchangeable backstraps?

Doesn't sound like a Glock to me... :confused:

Nope. Actually reminds me of the Smith & Wesson M&P
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson//upload/images/firearms/209000_large.jpg

[Thegman]

There are ads for both the M&P and KDP in Feb. American Rifleman. On first glance, I thought the KDP ad was an ad for the M&P; they're extremely similar pistols. I'm sure there must be some connection between the two pistols (like the P99 and SW99), but I haven't heard yet what it is. I was initially wondering if S&W had bought a major portion of Kimber.

[Nightcrawler]

Ditto. I thought maybe Kimber was marketing the M&P or something. Huh. Well, that's the future, folks. Cop Guns. What's a Cop Gun?

It's polymer framed, DAO or some kind of sprongy, Windex-bottle trigger, light rail, no safety, .40 cal (maybe 9mm and .357 Sig later). Everybody is throwin' down to Glock, trying to take a piece out of 'em.

Long as they work...

[KONY]

Is that updated copy of the Steyr pistol? Looks a little different-

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg45-e.htm

Sure looks familiar though.

Sure does look like a cross betwee Steyr and the M&P. More choices is always better.

[larry starling]

Nope. Actually reminds me of the Smith & Wesson M&P
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson//upload/images/firearms/209000_large.jpg
They do look alike maybe they import them from some european maker???:evil:

[Geno]

By the way, what DOES Kimber do best?! PSYCH!!! Gotcha!

I agree with previous posts, Re: other 1911 companies failing in the polymer market. And, in ALL seriousness, WHY would I buy a 13 round Kimber for the same or more than I can get a 14 round Springfield XD-45 ACP?

Kimber has arrived a little too late, a little too-little-prepared. Lest we forget that they already tried the polymer pistol once. What was wrong, or what was right with it?

I like Kimber for what Kimber has always been, a DARNED GOOD 1911 manufacturer.

Doc2005

[Tom Servo]

Oh sweet Lord, my EYES!!! It hurts to look at. I knew there were some companies making polymer guns, and that a few folks seemed to like them, but Kimber? This is odd.

I could see if they were bringing something new to the table (like a plastic gun with character), but this is just another M&P/P99/Steyr/Glock copy. No thanks.

When I think Kimber, I think this:

http://photobucket.com/albums/y279/lonelymachines/th_dsc00047.jpg (http://photobucket.com/albums/y279/lonelymachines/?action=view&current=dsc00047.jpg)

[TC-TX]

will someone please tell me WHY???

Kimber?... Plastic?... Why?

[jeff-10]

will someone please tell me WHY???

Local, state and federal goverment contracts. Or atleast the hope for some.

[IndianaDean]

I held the MP at a recent gun show and it feels absolutely horrible. If Kimber's copying it, ugh.

Glock, Springfield and HK still have the market for the best polymer guns as far as I'm concerned.

[possum]

Glock, Springfield and HK still have the market for the best polymer guns as far as I'm concerned


i agree, if i was to buy a kimber it would be a 1911! i think they should stick to 1911's they are great. and now that we got a guy in our company that sells kimbers at dealer cost i will probally have to get one!

[Black Majik]

will someone please tell me WHY???

Kimber?... Plastic?... Why?

This isn't Kimber's first plastic handgun, they've made plastic 1911's before also.

Personally I dont really care for the KPD, nor do I care for S&W's M&P. At the moment, color me unimpressed... :uhoh:

[LiquidTension]

So now Kimber has joined the "who can design the ugliest weapon" contest that Glock started so long ago. I think S&W still holds the title though :barf:

[Gatman]

Those things just look ugly. For some reason though I think HK, Glock, and Sig Polymers are just sexy.

[Joe D]

Actually Kimber did not make a plastic 1911. That model was a BUL with Kimber's name on it.

[skeezix]

It says "manufactured entirely in America" - I'm guessing that what is not said is: "by somebody else".

So, does anybody know who actually makes this thing?

[buzz_knox]

So now Kimber has joined the "who can design the ugliest weapon" contest that Glock started so long ago. I think S&W still holds the title though :barf:

If you're talking about the Sigma, maybe. The M&P looks far better in person. The camera adds 10 ounces, you know. ;)

[PCRCCW]

Wow......whodathunk? :scrutiny:
Well....just like the M&P, Ill wait to see how the hell they work to pass judgement.......god, now I need to get more holster molds. I hate it when they do this.............. :D
Shoot well.

[Optical Serenity]

Yikes, don't compare that nastyness to a Glock. :what:

Glock's actually work, reliably!

[Rockstar]

Mag cutoffs are for ninnies.

[twoblink]

I'll stick to my pretty looking Steyr M40 thank you.

:neener:

And yes, mag disconnects are for ninnies..

The situation:

I've got 1 round left in the chamber, I think the firefight is in a lull, I eject the mag out to change to a fresh one, I get surprised, I know I have 1 more round in the chamber but the mag is out and so I can't fire it.. I die thanks to the government looking out for me.

Kimber should stick to overpriced metal guns.. This thing looks like someone beat it with an ugly stick..

[IndianaDean]

The pic reminds me of the MP also. I held an MP at the last gun show and did not like it at all.

[Autolycus]

will someone please tell me WHY???

Kimber?... Plastic?... Why?

My feelings exactly.

[doublebarrel]

The M&P holds 3 more rounds in 40 caliber, and doesn't have mag disconnect(I believe)...

[stellarpod]

I really don't understand the comments about the M&P and Kimber looking the same. Study the lines. Other than the fact that they're both black, both have the same vague outline of a semiauto handgun and both plastic I don't see much similarity.

Trigger guard is completely different, as is the mag release. Look at the configuration at the rear of the slide and tang. The M&P and Kimber don't even remotely resemble each other in this area. Similarly, the lines at the front of the slide and the accessory rail are completely different. Hard to tell from the photos whether the slide lock and release layout is the same, but I suspect they're different as well. Sights are altogether different as well.

I'm a Kimber fan, but I went to the range today and shot the M&P in .40S&W and all I can say is WOW! This gun is an ergonomic gem (for me at least). I'll soon have one in my collection along side my Kimbers.

stellarpod

[treebeard]

Got me an M&P .40 last week and I absolutely love it. I also picked up a S&W SW99 today and I love it too is darn accurate. I just have to get used to the DA/SA on the SW99. One thing I can say about the M&P .40 is that the trigger pull is sweeeeeet.:D

[v35]

The M&P holds 3 more rounds in 40 caliber, and doesn't have mag disconnect(I believe)...
According to the S&W website, the M&P won't fire a round in the chamber unless there's a magazine inserted. They call it a safety feature.

Seems to me a safe gun is one that will fire when you need it to.

Kind of makes me go "hmmm....." :uhoh:

[Tim Burke]

I've shot the M&P... love the ergonomics, and the very reasonable trigger. Trigger feels like a revolver for the first shot, and the has a short reset and a relatively crisp, SA-like pull for subsequent shots. Come completely off the trigger, and you get the revolver pull again.
I've dry-fired 3 different KPDs. Ergonomics seem pretty good, but the triggers were different weights on all 3. The best of the 3 was similar to the M&P for the first shot. However, the KPD is a true DAO, with a full reset between every shot, and a long trigger press for each shot.
IMO, M&P>XD>GLOCK™>KPD.

[mapwd]

We have a SW M&P in our store right now, I love the way it feels. Much better than a Glock!

[Gary G23]

I handled the Kimber at the Shot Show. I was not impressed.

[chaim]

I'm not sure why everyone is badmouthing it so much. I actualy think it looks kinda good. If I didn't just fill the bigbore polymer service pistol niche with a Ruger KP345 I'd probably consider it. I still may, I just won't be in a big hurry to pick up anything in that niche (I have a few other guns higher on my list right now).

[softmentor]

Has anyone actually shot 100 rounds through one?
How much do they cost?
For that matter, I'd like to try one. Where can I try a few rounds?
Softmentor

[softmentor]

OK I found one for sale at
http://gunrunnertexas.com/KIMBERMAN_PAGE_2.html
2006 KIMBER KPD .40 CAL BUY in stock $499. LIST $595.
KIMBERMAN SPECIAL ORDER PRICE $479.

Now I'm even more curious. Really? That seems cheep? and isn't Kimber the bunch that makes it very much better and charges a premium prices, so shouldn't it be MORE that glocsighks&w's Hmmmmmm?

but how do they shoot?

SoftMentor

[hrgrisso]

I'm hearing a lot of scattered hits on good polymer guns vs. not good polymer guns etc. I grew up on cold steel (1911's) in fact my favorite gun of all time is my dads service pistol (a 1911 Remington Rand) still shoots straight. But I have really been taken in the last couple of years with polymer pistols. They aren't pretty, but they (generally)work. So here's my list, good and bad.
:)
GOOD:
SigPro(hands down the most comfortable and fun to shoot polymer)
Berretta Px4(capacity, adaptability, rotating barrel=light recoil, fun!)
H&K USP Compact(I hate full size H&K's/hammer bight but this 1=great!)
Glock 23(ugly, but works every time+I picked mine up as police trade in $300)
Springfield XD (14rds of .45 that works, nuff said)

:evil:
BAD:
KAHR - (small, snappy, you'll carry it, but you won't want to use it!)
S&W M&P (feels spongy in the hand, so does the trigger, for me the POA just wasn't there)
Kimber KPD - I tried to like this one. I really did. It has the looks of my SIGS, I love that, and it also has an extended beavertail, again I like that, but putting it all together, the sum of the parts does not equal the other side.

Buy what you like, what shoots reliably and works for you. HIT THE WHITE SPOT!!!

[treebeard]

From what I have been told it is a step down from their traditional 1911 style semi-autos. I was real close to buying one a few weeks ago.

[Kilroy]

Kimber may be requiring their stocking dealers to purchase some of these polymer pistols, as a price of remaining a Kimber stocking dealer.

This dealer may be trying to "pre-sell" the thing so he's not stuck with it when/if they ship.

[EnfantTerrible]

I seriously doubt that.

The suggested retail on Kimber's website is $545 so $450 would be reasonable and Impact Guns has it for $415.99 http://www.impactguns.com/store/669278380018.html

[SWModel19]

Oww. Oww. Oww. It hurts my eyes!

I couldn't see the pic posted here, so I went to http://www.kimberamerica.com/kpd/ and almost went blind looking at the thing. You guys are comparing this to the M&P? Wow. I'll admit that the M&P doesn't photograph well, but it is durn purty to behold in person. And it's a shooter, too.

Didn't Springfield already take the motto "Point and shoot"? That is one of the first things you see on this web page.

[tango3065]

Nice everyone and their brother is getting in the polymer scene and giving people other options but I think I will stick with my proven Glock.

[Autolycus]

Yes that KPD is ugly. It looks like the abortion of a Smith and Wesson M&P and a Steyr.

It should never have seen the light of day.

[raytracer]

I'm surprised no one has brought up Wilson's ADP (http://www.wilsoncombat.com/new_adp.asp).

Joe

[johndoe1027]

I like the M&P way better than a Glock or XD. That's right, I said it. It fits my hand a lot better and carries an extra round compared to the same class G26 or XD Sub9. The Kimber is really ugly though.

[fattsgalore]

Not impressed.

Besides the Walther P99, why are poly guns ugly?.
Walther is the type of pistol you take home moms. The KPD is what you shoot and don't tell anyone.

[tango3065]

Walther P99,what you show your friends, Glock, is what you show your enemies.:evil:

[Autolycus]

I like the looks of the HK P2000, the USP series, and the Walther. The Sig Pro series is not to bad either.

HK Is what you show your enemies.

[havoc7usmc]

Every one has gone to tupperware. But I think the M&P 40 is going to end up being the strongest of them all. S&W did their homework this time. The internal frame is strong and the slide has a lot of STEEL to ride on, also it's one of the few, if not the only poly pistol that can have the frame rails swaged and tightened if needed. If I had a choice I would have to toss a coin between the H&K and the M&P. I carry the P2000 for duty and a friend has the M&P and I've had a chance to compare them both and they are both outstanding firearms.:D

[GreenFurniture]

I'm surprised that this thread has gone 3 pages without one person noting that the KPD is in fact a re-badged Steyr.

And no, Kimber is not pressuring dealers to stock this pistol as a condition of keeping their "master" status.

(they are leaning on some to get in to their long guns though.)

[Father Knows Best]

Uh, GreenFurniture, back on page 1 bofe954 said:Is that updated copy of the Steyr pistol? Looks a little different
Lots of us saw the ad for the new Kimber and immediately thought "rebadged Steyr." I haven't seen confirmation from a reliable source yet, however. I'll also note that there clearly are some differences, such as the trigger. My bet is that the new Kimber is a somewhat re-engineered Steyr M9/M40. It's probably heavily based on the Steyr, but it looks like it has been modified somewhat to address some of shortcomings of the Steyr (such as the funky trigger and ridiculous safety).

[Phaetos]

I saw an ad for this for the first time on the back of the recent Guns magazine. I immediately thought it was an M&P, then looked at the text and saw it said Kimber :scrutiny: Anyway, has anyone actually gotten to try one of these yet?

Sorry for reviving an old thread, didn't want to start a new one and get flamed for not searching first.

[Jason_G]

Anyway, has anyone actually gotten to try one of these yet?

I didn't think they were out yet, but I might be wrong.

Jason

[finalcut]

I say bring it on!
As a gun enthusiest I like to see companies grow & expand, cause in the end it gives us more choices & better weapons for SD - plus better prices as they must compete for our dollar - and you gatta luv that! This one may not hit the ball out of the park, but the next one just may.

You S&W M&P fans would have no M&P at all if S&W just stuck to revolvers.... That thought process is flawed. If Kimber can grow and at the same time not let the quality of their 1911s slip - why would you be against it???

[Jason_G]

If Kimber can grow and at the same time not let the quality of their 1911s slip
Not to get off topic, or stir up a hornet's nest, but many seem to think this has already happened. I agree about it being good for the manufacturers to branch out a little.

Does anyone know when this thing is due to come out?
I wonder if it'll be available sans mag disconnect safety.

Jason

[sturmgewehr]

I'm surprised that this thread has gone 3 pages without one person noting that the KPD is in fact a re-badged Steyr.
Really? They look nothing alike except perhaps that they're both auto's.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/images/pistols/intro/kpd_right.jpg
http://www.netgunners.com/img/armi/Steyr/M9/Foto_01_Big.jpg

[camslam]

Glocks - often imitated, never duplicated. Imitation is the highest form of flattery and I guess that is why I own the originals. :)

[ugaarguy]

Glocks - often imitated, never duplicated. Imitation is the highest form of flattery and I guess that is why I own the originals.
Well if you own Glocks then you DON'T own the originals. Time for you to buy a Heckler & Koch VP70 which IS the original striker fired poly frame pistol.

Seriously, I'm quite sick of every new poly framed pistol being called a Glock copy. There is quite a bit of diversity in the poly framed pistol market nowadays. Just as Glocks were the first successful poly framed pistols after at least one other design that predates them, the M1911 was one of the first truly successful semi-autos which came after several earlier designs. Yet, you don't see folks saying that Berettas are just 1911 imitators.

[finalcut]

Seriously, I'm quite sick of every new poly framed pistol being called a Glock copy. There is quite a bit of diversity in the poly framed pistol market nowadays. Just as Glocks were the first successful poly framed pistols after at least one other design that predates them, the M1911 was one of the first truly successful semi-autos which came after several earlier designs. Yet, you don't see folks saying that Berettas are just 1911 imitators.

Agreed. Glocks are great & reliable - no question. BUT - I like my XD much better. To me a Glock feels boxy. Like Glocks the XDs are reliable, but they feel great to, and have a few extra features that I like.

[nemoaz]

Calling all those polymer glockwannabe's "Glock copies" is as ridiculous as claiming the Corvair was a VW copy. Ridiculous I say.

[CB3]

So, blah blah blah. Are they for sale yet? Has anyone really shot a couple of hundred rounds through one?

It certainly seems to be targeted at the S&W police market with the DAO trigger and the mag disconnect.

For personal self defense as a citizen I would need a version without the disconnect and with somewhat of an adjustable trigger. OTW, I would not be interested.

I did the Kel-Tec P-11/40 thing for a while with a long, heavy (8-9 lb) trigger pull and its resultant negative effect on accuracy and speed. Won't do it again.

My Kahr P-40 has a great, smooth 6.5 lb DA trigger with not too long a pull. Nice and thin for carry, acceptable weight loaded, good size both for concealment and shootability, but a little low on capacity. Reliable and accurate with night sights. It has required some Dremel work to overcome sharp points and to try to help reduce the blocky shape for better concealment. Still not the perfect CC gun for me.

Real world ownership experience with the KPD, anyone?

CB3

[nrodrigu]

anyone know how the kimber kpd handles...it looks pretty good for the price