[pdxrandy]

I would like to add a Kimber to my collection. I am looking for a shooter more than a safe queen. Not a new in the box gun, but also not something that has been used hard and put away wet. I want one example of Kimbers finest .45 auto.

My questions are basic, are the early Clackamas guns of a higher quality and finish than the newer ones? Clackamas is a suburb of Portland where I live, it would be fun to have a Clackamas gun. More important than the location rolled into the frame, I want a high quality firearm, as in fit and finish. If the early guns were nicer than the new stuff great.

Will someone that is more experenced in the finer arts of Kimbers share some information on these firearms with me.

Thanks,
pdxRandy

[wcb]

I have two of them and both fire flawlessly. I have a Custom II and a Gold Match II. I suggest going to the Kiber web site and study the different models and their prices. http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/ The Custom II for example is their lowest priced model yet still has a match barrel and a custom trigger making it a very accurate gun, especially for the money. The Gold Match II has a hand fitted barrel so IMO the best accurate shooting value Kimber has. When you study the different guns they offer watch for price verses cosmetics verses accuracy features. For example the Gold Match II is the same gun as the Grand Raptor II except for the night sights. My Gold Match II is a very accurate gun; I love it.

This is a 5 shot group at 50' with the Gold Match II
Click photo to enlarge.

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/40452/2481787450101870711S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2481787450101870711YxQEaa)

50 shot rapid fire group with the Custom II

http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/6181/2929545470101870711S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2929545470101870711QzePuB)

[JohnBT]

"My questions are basic, are the early Clackamas guns of a higher quality and finish than the newer ones?"

Some folks think so and other don't. My '99 Stainless Gold Match has been a great gun.

FWIW, all of the pistols were made in NY. They were marked Clackamas because the company's ATF paperwork still had that address on it and the guns had to be marked to match.

John

[wcb]

I dont know from experience but I hear the external ejector on the older ones are troublesome; I know of no other difference. If I were to decide for myself I would tend to think they are paying more attention to detail today simply because of the "high end" image they portray nowadays. I cant say I've found that to not fit the guns I own of theirs.

Frankly based on your location and what it wold mean to you to own one of the older models, I would buy one anyway.

[JohnBT]

Wait a minute, the so-called series 1 guns - the original ones not marked with a II - don't have external ejectors.

The Series II guns are the ones with external extractors. The series I guns like mine usually came with standard internal 1911 extractors and weak extractor tension that took about 2 minutes to bend into shape using no tools.

I think a lot of us feel the NY series one guns were the best of bunch, but who knows.

John

[pdxrandy]

Thanks John,

I have two friends that build custom .45s. I am going to ask them what they think as well.

If the series I guns are "as" nice as the new ones I don't mind paying the extra few bucks to get something maybe a little different or special for my shooting bag, that is why I don't want a NIB never been fired gun. Heck I have a Mk 4 Series 70 Colt 1911A1 built in 1976 (see my post on value of this firearm) that is 32 years old and never been fired, I want to trade or sell it off for something to shoot. Of the modern off brand 1911A1s the Kimber seems to me like the gun I want. As I said the Clackamas, Oregon stamp on the side would be fun to have. Having been produced in Yonkers does not upset me, it still says "Clackamas, Oregon" on the frame.



Thanks for you feed back.

Keep um' in the black,
pdxRandy