[Missouri Mule]

Allright ladies and gents it's descision time.

I want your real unbiased honest assement of Kimbers SS Compact II and Colt's Defender.

MIM and the swartz safety are non issue for me and won't stop me from buying, same goes for the Colts redundant safety.

These "HOT" issues aside , do you like or dislike? Why / Why not?

I am a 98% 1911 kind of guy, 2% Makarov, so no other designs are being considered.

I am a little torn between the Kimber and the Colt defender.
In my opinion these two guns are equal in quality.
I already own an Officer's model and like it. I already own a SS Custom II and like it to.


Both the Kimber Compact and the Defender have their merits and their faults I'm sure.

I am sure I would be very happy with either.

That is why I am soliciting owners assessments of theirs.
I look forward to

[Sean Smith]

It would be more appropriate to compare the Kimber Compact II (short grip, 4" barrel) to the Colt CCO (short grip, 4.25" barrel). Or to compare the Colt Defender to a Kimber Ultra Carry (short grip, 3"ish barrel).

Between the Defender and the Kimber Compact, I'd pick the Kimber... I don't belive that the super-short-barreled 1911s are consistently reliable, and I don't think that going from a 4" to a 3" barrel gains you much in concealability anyway. Also to consider are the nastier recoil, increased blast effect and lost velocity going from a 4" to a 3" barrel.

[George Hill]

They can be.

I'd rather the Colt from these two, but if I had my druthers, I'd take a Springfield.

[Black Snowman]

Just a question of symantics but if it's unbiased then it's not really an opinion now is it it ;) Just had to say it.

Only experiance I've had is with full size 1911s so my honest and ubiased opinion is that I have no idea :) I could repeat things said on this and other boards but you can find that out using the search button. You might want to hit the 1911 forums and see what the afficianado's opinions are.

Good hunting and good luck with whatever you get :)

[9x19]

My pick would be the Kimber... For one thing, I like the sights on it better, the funky overhanging rear on the Defender just leaves me flat.

I've had uniformly good results with my 3" 1911s, and think the old saw about sub 4" guns not being reliable is rather dated and incorrect for the newer models.

I have a Kimber Ultra Carry, and a Springfield Micro and both run just fine for me.

Good luck, I doubt you can go wrong either way.