[Zackmeister]

I was thinking of saving up for a Kimber Pro CDP II for a future carry pistol, but the price is giving me heartburn. Anyone have any experience with this gun?

[MMcCall]

Do I think the CDP line is worth that much? No.

Do I think a top-of-the-line 1911 is worth that much? Yes, and then some.

[Lone_Gunman]

A truly "top of the line" 1911 is going to cost a good bit more than $1100.

Around here, you can find CDPs for a little less than $1000.

If you start with a base gun, and add the options of the CDP, it will cost you more than just buying the CDP in the first place.

[10-Ring]

If you have to ask, you haven't found the right one yet! I have spent about that 2X. Seemed like an easy decision at the time. I've seen several other guns that were nice, but just didn't do it for me. I know when the right 1911 comes along, I'll spend at least $1100.

[abdrdude]

Its only money. I can tell you that if you buy something less than what you really want, you will in all likelyhood buy the one you wanted to begin with.Go with the gun of your dreams.

[Kruzr]

I have a CDP Pro and really like it. I've also got 2 full size 1911's and the CDP shoots as well as my gov't. size Kimber when I do my part. Its got about 3500 rounds through it with no problems of any kind. The aluminum frame is holding up fine with no signs of battering or wear. You should be able to find one NIB for under $1000.
I don't carry so going with the full size grip was more of a convenience for me than anything else....interchangeable grips with my other 1911's and one type of magazine. If I was going to think about it as a full time carry gun, I might consider the CDP Compact with the shorter grip.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mbpo/_uimages/CPDPROblue.jpg

You can find a CDP Pro or Compact for $925 here as an example.

http://www.hunt4ever.com/

[WhoKnowsWho]

For that much, give me a Polished Nickel Desert Eagle.

[WingZero]

If it is a Les Baer or a wilson combat it is worth that much........
check out gunsamerica.com.. I have seen the CDP II going for $900 there.
I would say that they are definately worth $800-$950, no more than that.
great gun though, that is the next ccw I will be getting.

[Tamara]

$1100 for a CDP? That's definitely full retail and then some.

$1100 for a top of the line 1911? It'll buy you about half of one. Maybe less... ;)

[Soap]

What McCall said.

[para.2]

...For $1100, it had better shoot self guiding, fail-safe, felon terminators, and make a good cup of coffe in the morning.:scrutiny:

[Poohgyrr]

Of course a good pistola is worth it. But I'd need to hide the cast iron frying pans and rolling pins first. ;)

Shop around for a good price. Or just buy a Hi Power :neener:

[Pebcac]

Maybe I'm missing something, but (raceguns and the like aside) I haven't seen the $1100 pistol yet that didn't have a less-expensive alternative that would do the job just as well.

That doesn't cover the "wow" factor, though, and I like simple stuff, like G.I. 1911s, so I probably can't really relate to the high-dollar pistol crowd.

My father-in-law once told me, "If it's worth the price to you, it's worth it. Doesn't really matter what the next guy thinks." Good advice, but it's landed me in trouble with his daughter more than once! :D

[John Forsyth]

A stock Kimber no. A custom built Caspian, by a pistolsmith that knows his business, oh yes.

Getting one done now, the parts alone cost $1300.

[bountyhunter]

Do I think the CDP line is worth that much? No.

Do I think a top-of-the-line 1911 is worth that much? Yes, and then some.

Ditto. Check out STI, Wilson, Valtro.

[Andrew Wyatt]

you could build one yourself for less than that, assmuming you live in a state where you can buy frames.

[John Forsyth]

Good luck. I just did a quick look see and add using Brownells. Came up with $1225 using name brand non mim quality parts with a Caspian frame and slide. Did not pick the cheapest or the most expensive parts either. You would be surprized how fast this stuff adds up.

Now add to this the cost of fitting, finishing, and not screwing something up, and it easy to see a cost of over $1500 and closer to $2000. How many hours does it take to build a gun, 10, 20? If you use $50 bucks an hour for 10 hours that is $1800 for a full custom. If you think $50 is too high, what about electricity, water, and insurance. I have never met a rich pistolsmith.

If you think you can build a gun for less than $1100, go for it.

[CWL]

I bought a CDP when they first came out.

My worst M1911 mistake ever.

You can get the same performance for less $$.

[Andrew Wyatt]

Well, if you don't use brownells, you can save quite a bit of money.


if you get your parts from gunparts, you could probably cut 400 dollars off that price or more.

by building it yourself, i meant building it yourself, without hiring a gunsmith. A 1911 is not complicated, and a defensive gun only needs to fit the shooter, have decent sights, a beveled magazine well, and enlarged ejection port. If it doesn't feed hollow points, a ramp job can be done, and that's not hard, either.

[Standing Wolf]

My life is worth quite a bit more to me than $1,100.

[Sean Smith]

by building it yourself, i meant building it yourself, without hiring a gunsmith.

Sure, but that's not a practical alternative for 99% of the people out there. Most of us don't have the time/means/hand-eye-coordination/tools/what-have-you to do it properly. Neat as all get-out if you can do it, though.

Me, I'd rather have 1 really good gun than 5 mediocre ones. Funny thing is, the guys with just as much money in cheap guns will act like you are a spending maniac for putting all the money into one super-duper gun. :rolleyes:

On topic: the best values in Kimbers are always the most basic models, because the $1,100 Kimbers are functionally identical to the $600 Kimbers... same internals, same barrels, and so forth.

[Zackmeister]

For those of you who said you could get a better 1911 for less money, what models were you talking about?

[Tacblack]

For a good gun yes, and it seems all the guns I look at now are $1100 or a little more. Funny didn't start out that way?

Now those 1911 makers wanting $3000 can't do that. The $1100 ones seem nice and can't imagine the guns getting $2000 better. I really like the STI Trojan's and you can get them for that $1000 range.

Everyone needs one expensive gun, some of us just want more. Watch out this may happen to you!

[JimC]

Do I think the CDP line is worth that much? No.

Do I think a top-of-the-line 1911 is worth that much? Yes, and then some.



Ditto the above.

I just paid $1650 for a Wilson CQB [$245.00 less than MSRP] and think it's worth every nickel.

I'll buy another as soon as I can sell my Kimber and a couple of Glocks. :D

Save your nickels and dimes and buy a Wilson instead of a Kimber with all the MIM parts and front sights that are too tall and a company that will NOT pay for shipping back to them on an issue that is their fault on a brand new pistol. :fire:

[JohnBT]

I gave $1049 in 1999 for a Kimber Stainless Gold Match. Good gun so far and no regrets. Yes, I could have purchased a Hi-Power for $579 or a CZ Military for $349 and have had a good gun for a lot less money - hey, wait a minute - uh-oh - I did purchase both of those. So what is my point? Oh, yeah...it's only money and you can't take it with you.

John

[Andrew Wyatt]

front sights that are too tall That's arguably a far more minor problem than front sights that are too short. in fact, it's a nice touch, since most of them have fixed sights, don't they?

[faustulus]

Yes, but not for a 1911. :D Fausutus/Ducks and runs

[Ian11]

For any gun that costs more than a $1000 I'd do a lot of research into that particular model than usual. Head on over to www.1911Forum.com and go to the Kimber Discussion Section. I'm sure you can do a search and get more info on that pistol.

General opinion is, the smaller the 1911 gets from the original 5" barrel configuration the more difficult it is for the manufacturer to get it as reliable as the 5" version. There are exceptions like the Colt Defender Series but they do require a bit more regular maintenance of parts I heard. Its a nice looking pistol but for that price I'd get something like the full size Valtro and later get a lightweight 9mm or .40 for a CCW piece.


A nice looking though unreliable pistol could cost you your life. While a used $200 revolver could have saved it. Price isn't everything :uhoh:

If you just like the way it looks and want to add it to your collection. By all means. I would be the last person to stop you.:D