[Skunkabilly]

Yo,

I cruised into a gunstore looking at 1911s and such. I noticed all the non-stainless Kimber 1911s had poor finish on the frontstrap checkered models and on the dustcover.

The Sigs had the same finish coming off on the frontstrap.

Is this common or only the store I visited?

[Longbow]

Not common at all! Maybe someone handled each one directly after handling an acidic solution?

[Black Majik]

which store did you walk into?

I know turner's display guns are ALWAYS in bad shape, except for their glocks. and USP's. :D

I've noticed that fowlers and stockade's guns are always dirty also.

[Todesengel]

The Black on most Kimbers is called "oxide" which is not very durable, like blueing. If you want "better" finish - there are some models with the "KimPro" finish aka gunkote. It really doesn't matter to me as all the finishes wear; some sooner, some later. If you want a gun that doesn't shows wear, i suggest Stainless or hard chrome.

[Skunkabilly]

Worn out guns are fine as long as I'm the one who did it!

It was the Turner's in Fountain Valley.

[Longbow]

I know turner's display guns are ALWAYS in bad shape, except for their glocks. and USP's.

I've noticed that fowlers and stockade's guns are always dirty also

Maybe, its a California thing?!:D

[scubie02]

Must be a CA thing or something :D the Sig I own has a decent finish, and any Kimber I have ever seen has looked good too (and I own Sringfield's, so I'm not just a Kimber fanatic or something). The only time I see guns that don't look good it tends to be the shop's fault--they let people handle them and don't btoher to wipe them down afterwards, they sit in the case for long periods, and the next thing you know you ask to look at a gun and find its got rust all over it...

[Black Majik]

yeah, turner's guns dont look like what they give you. Their display models always look like hell, but when you buy the gun you picked, they'll give you a new gun from the back.


Kimber's and Sig's finish aren't bad finishes, though the Kimber Series I finishes were better than the Series II. Sig's finish is usually pretty durable in general. :)