[Beav]

Just bought my first 1911, a Kimber Custom II Stainless. I noticed, upon cleaning it, that the serial number had been engraved on the underside of the slide, freehand, with probably an engraving pen. It definitely was not done with precision that you would expect from a machine.
I bought this as a new gun.
Also do manufacturers fire their weapons before shipping them and then ship them without cleaning them? Should I expect powder on the breech face on a new gun? My kimber had definitely been fired but it did not come with a fired case or anything like that so I don't know what to think.

Thanks

[Sisco]

My custom has the same markings on the slide.
I would assume manufacturers test fire all the weapons.

[thesheetrockman]

I just turned 21 and got a kimber custom 2 yesterday. Mine too had the serial number engraved on the slide like you are describing. mine wasn't that dirty, but like you said it had been fired. (i have heard kimber fired them and sent you the empties) I didn't get any empties with mine. And there was a sticker on my case saying that they couldn't ship shells so 2 states like maryland or somthing. don't know what that means. Maybee they quite shiping the empties because of a couple of states.

greg

[Kruzr]

All Kimbers have the hand engraved serial numbers on the slide. I understand that Kimber "function" tests every gun and those that come with targets have been fired for accuracy, so yes, a new gun will look like its been fired because it has. Neither of my Kimbers came with empty shells like a Ruger does.

[Standing Wolf]

Your Kimber's slide is matched to the frame fairly early on during the production process. I thought it was a selling point rather than a significant difference until I bought a Kimber.

[CWL]

Every gun is function tested with between 2 to 200 rounds of shells -custom guys are on the high end. Feel complimented if more has been fired thru your gun, it means that the manfacturer has taken the time to test reliability functions including magazine feed.

Do not expect it to be cleaned after function testing.

[TheFrontRange]

I bought a new Custom (pre-Series II) back in January 2002 and thought my dealer might have test-fired mine after I got it home and found it a little dirty inside! :) This clears up all that for me.

[Jmurman]

Kimber ships their pistols, at least here in Maryland, with a spent case. This case is to be turned in to the police for the"data base"...a worthless endeavor. My Kimber also came a little dirty form the intial firing.

[Pumpkinheaver]

My Kimber was purchased in '97 same story, engraved slide, and gsr.