[Miss Debbie]

I everyone just bought a Kimber .45ACP and yesterday at range a person told me that I should replace the original two piece guide rod with a Wilson Combat 1 piece guide rod can this be done since there are two different company’s ?

[RobertFBurnett]

My Kimber Gold Match already had a factory one piece, yours came G.I. style 2 piece?

I'm no 1911 expert, but Wilson 1911 parts are usually interchangeable, although you could probably order a Kimber one for the same price just to be on the safe side.

Congrats on the Kimber,

RFB

[Eric F]

Wait a minute? Whats wrong with the 2 peice? Dont give into some dudes opinions. 2 peice or 1 peice they are all just as functional as the other. I dont even use a guide rod in my 1911.

If it aint broke dont fix it, unless you just want to.

Also guide rods are guide rods and are all interchangeable unless it is some sort of special heavy guide rod which there arnt too many of those out there anyway.

[riceboy72]

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/a_guide_rods_1_pc.asp

It is interchangeable. Welcome the fun world of 1911's! While there are parts that are 'drop in', there are parts out there that are either gun specific or need to be installed by a qualified gunsmith. Be sure you read up on the part and ask for advice like you've done here before you sink your money into whatever it is you choose to buy. There is a lot to learn about the 1911, and it can suck your piggy bank empty pretty quick if you're not careful. Don't be so quick to change out parts just because someone tells you to do it. Sometimes, changing parts may affect the gun's reliability if it's not chosen properly. If your gun shoots reliably and accurately now, I'd leave it the way it is.

Out of curiosity, which model Kimber did you purchase?

[Tribal]

Eh, that's personal preference. I have 1911s with both kinds and haven't had any trouble with the spring. If it were me I'd save my money, but do what makes you feel more confident in your new gun. Congrats, too!

I'm also with riceboy72: on most Kimber models I'd leave things as they are unless you're having a problem.

[Miss Debbie]

Thanks all for info I bought a Kimber custom II. The reason i asked about the 1 piece guide rod is the person at range said the 2 piece is a PITA to take apart.

[AndyC]

It's also possible for a 2-piece to come apart under the constant pounding of recoil - I had my first (and last) one let go during a match years ago. Went back to the regular 1911 recoil-spring guide and plug and have never looked back.

[Five of Clubs]

I have had all three types (one piece, two piece, and GI) on my Springfield at various times. They all work fine, and dissembly is no harder or easier with any of them. After you have been in numerous gun shops for years and years, you will learn to ignore most of what the employees say.

Congrats on the pistol, it should be a shooter!

[Miss Debbie]

Thanks I shoot this pistol(Kimber) better than the one I traded it for.

[Kruzr]

A Kimber Custom II DOES NOT come with a 2-piece guide rod nor does any other Kimber. If your gun has a two piece rather than a one piece full length guide rod in it, you had better speak to the dealer where you bought it. Someone changed it.

Are you sure he or she wasn't saying to replace the full length guide rod with a standard GI guide rod and plug? That is a matter of preference and it does make a field strip a little easier.

[jmr40]

Kruzr is right, my Custom II has a one piece guide rod. If I had a guide rod, one or 2 piece, that required special tools to take the gun down with I would use the basic GI setup.

I do not believe the full length guide rods have any real effect on the guns for good or bad. My Kimber is the only 1911 I own that has it and I have not changed because it is the easiest I have used to dis-assemble.

[sturmgewehr]

Why replace the guide rod with another one? Just remove it completely. It serves no purpose.

[EHL]

Kruzr is right, Kimbers don't come with two piece guide rods. Somebody changed it.

[f4t9r]

keep shooting until you can make your own opinion. There is nothing wrong with what you have.

[mljdeckard]

I dropped the guide rod in mine entirely.

[Miss Debbie]

Thanks Kruzr for info I spoke with gunshop that sold me the pistol and if it is a two piece giude rod they will buy it back or trade it for another and all they have in Kimber is something called a desert warrior.

[Kruzr]

The Desert Warrior is a very nice pistol (if you like the colors....it's supposed to be tan.) No Series II safety (unless you're in Calif.) and it's an upgrade from a Custom II.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/images/pistols/desertwarrior.jpg

If they are talking a straight across trade........do it.

[Ske1etor]

Yeah, the desert warriors are nice.

[Five of Clubs]

Miss Debbie, if you are really concerned just post a picture of the front of the muzzle and we can tell you what you have. I personally think that it doesn't matter. Shoot your new Kimber and enjoy it. If you have trouble, we can advise you or you can send it to Kimber.

[kmbrman]

If any of you have looked over the Kimber's line of 1911s , you will notice some pistols have the one piece full length guide rods, and some others have just the GI Plug and spring. I don't think it really makes any difference in the function of the guns themselves. I just wonder why the company makes a mixture of styles!

[The Lone Haranguer]

There seems to be a hangup and confusion on the definition of a two-piece guide rod. The "GI" (original Browning design) style, with a separate short guide rod and plug, could be considered a two-piece. There are also full-length guide rods which can be made in one or two pieces. If a two-piece full-length comes unscrewed while shooting, your gun is disabled. A full length rod in either form is superfluous, IMO. If the spring, guide rod and plug of a GI style are disassembled and laid end to end, sure, it looks as if the spring would bind, twist or kink while shooting. But when the parts are assembled in the gun, the unsupported area is about the width of two coils - insignificant.

Pull back and lock the slide open and see if a guide rod sticks out below the barrel. If you don't see one, you have a GI style. *Personally*, I would be happy with this and not bother to change anything. If it does in fact have a two-piece full length, I would probably change this - back to a GI. ;)