Talk me into (or out of) a Kimber

Old Dog said:

Here's a terrific example of another meaningless, counter-productive comment in a thread in which an OP is looking for actual information. Sadly, every thread nowadays that references a specific brand or model will end up replete with this type of remark.

As one poster noted, there are many fine 1911 choices out there; I would say though, that someone looking seriously should keep an open mind and be aware of all the non-specific complaints, internet babble, brand-bashing by those with zero experience with a particular brand that internet gun forums are rife with ... As for me, I find that since, for example, Kimber offers pretty good factory front-strap checkering and excellent quality Meprolight night sights at a price point where Colt does not offer these features on comparable models, one might want to do a lot of comparison shopping. Most of my 1911s are in fact Colts, but I've found production pistols from Kimber and Springfield Armory to give me the accuracy, ergonomics, reliability, options and good looks that I desire in a 1911 as well as Colts.

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Great post!

I have known a few folks that have owned Kimber 1911s and they both have had issues with inconsistent performance. Apparently Kimber will not help them at all and they told me Kimber only has a 1 year warranty. ***???!!!! 1 year warranty from a company that considers themselves a fine 1911 maker?

Get a Ruger SR1911.

Fourteen or so posters in a couple pages of posts with positive Kimber experiences, and one guy who knew a couple guys that owned Kimbers displaying "inconsistent performance." Uh, yup. And my brother in law knew a guy whose brother had a bad experience with his Chevy truck ...

And yes, Olympus, those stocks are beautiful.

Old Dog said:

Fourteen or so posters in a couple pages of posts with positive Kimber experiences, and one guy who knew a couple guys that owned Kimbers displaying "inconsistent performance." Uh, yup. And my brother in law knew a guy whose brother had a bad experience with his Chevy truck ...

And yes, Olympus, those stocks are beautiful.

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I'm mostly knocking Kimber for their crappy one year warranty. Pathetic for such a high end gun maker to not stand behind their products.

1911s can be finicky so inconsistent performance might not be the show stopper, a crappy warranty, definitely.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/warranty

stchman said:

I'm mostly knocking Kimber for their crappy one year warranty.

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I share your Kimber reservations for the same reason. I mean, come on, Hi-Point has a lifetime warranty and, from what I hear, they stand behind it.

SwampWolf said:

I share your Kimber reservations for the same reason. I mean, come on, Hi-Point has a lifetime warranty and, from what I hear, they stand behind it.

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I believe even Jimenez has some type of lifetime warranty. Taurus has a lifetime warranty, Ruger has the "if you ever have a problem with one of our firearms, we'll fix it".

IMO, a firearm make should stand behind their product. Kimber says they are makers of quality 1911s, they just don't want to stand behind them.

I bought another Kimber today, actually, another used one. I'm not sure this one was cleaned/lubed by its' previous owner. Was told he "fired 20 rounds" and traded it in for something else. I took it apart and found nothing in terms of wear to the finish. Cleaned/lubed, and 300 malfunction free rounds later, I am very happy with it.

CNobbe said:

I bought another Kimber today, actually, another used one. I'm not sure this one was cleaned/lubed by its' previous owner. Was told he "fired 20 rounds" and traded it in for something else. I took it apart and found nothing in terms of wear to the finish. Cleaned/lubed, and 300 malfunction free rounds later, I am very happy with it.

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CNobbe, that looks alot like the Aegis Pro Carry I bought my wife. It has been a good gun.

I had an Ultra Raptor, and carried it a few years. It shot well, was reliable, and did everything I wanted it to.

The front sights were wrong from the factory, but since I bought it used out of warranty, Kimber would not do anything about it. It had a low profile front sight and a high rear sight. They acknowledged the problem, but still wanted $200 to fix it. They did however sell me the correct front sight for a reasonable $50 (for Tritium, that's not bad!) Either way, the gun was serviceable after that was fixed.

After I started carrying plastic, the "lightweight" Kimber sat in the safe. It shot no better and no worse than the Rock Islands next to it. I wanted a .454, and selling the Kimber for $800 made it a reality. I was hoping to get more from it, but I got back what I put into it. The gun has an MSRP of $1400.

So I would say Kimber is a good gun, but not a good value. In my opinion, they are overpriced for what they are. If you want the aluminum frame, they are lighter and carry better than an all-steel 1911.

kcofohio said:

CNobbe, that looks alot like the Aegis Pro Carry I bought my wife. It has been a good gun.

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Yep, sure is, and was told they aren't going to make them anymore, so who knows - maybe they'll be collectible someday. The thin grips are taking some getting used to.

I've owned my fair share of Kimbers, and I won't say that they're "bad". However, compared a $700 base Kimber to a base Ruger SR 1911 and the Ruger is just a way better bargain no matter how you slice it, it's built better, has better sights and better features. In that price range, Ruger all the way.

The Springfield Ranger Officer too, much better than Kimber models.

SDGlock23 said:

I've owned my fair share of Kimbers, and I won't say that they're "bad". However, compared a $700 base Kimber to a base Ruger SR 1911 and the Ruger is just a way better bargain no matter how you slice it, it's built better, has better sights and better features. In that price range, Ruger all the way.

The Springfield Ranger Officer too, much better than Kimber models.

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I've never thought Ruger 1911s were made as well as Springfields or Kimbers. Cast frames, bunch of parts slapped together. Nothing match grade.

CNobbe said:

Nothing match grade.

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How do you know what "match grade" is? What does the term really mean? Any manufacturer can add the qualifier "match grade" to their pistol and no one can dispute it because there is no definitive, objective criteria to compare with, at least that I know of. If you know what the term "match grade" is, what it means and how to know/tell the difference between it and the more pedestrian grades (Ruger?), please share. I'm all ears.

You're right, there is no proper definition for "match grade" other than the idea that match barrels and triggers are finer fitted/tuned for better accuracy.

Check out Dan Wesson, Kimber, as well as some Colts and Springfields. Rack the slides, try the triggers, and and tell me the Ruger is "better built" than guns from those manufacturers as someone stated above. If one can't tell the difference, I'll never convince them, but the fitting/tuning of parts is why the priced the way they are.

I don't think of the SR1911 as "pedestrian." It's made the way it is, and it works just fine. I had one for five years and it was always a good shooter. I did have the problem with the front sight snapping in half, but Ruger took care of it quickly which is why I hold them in high regard. In fact, their 9mm SR1911 CMD is on my short list of guns to buy this year.

In Dec 2011 I bought a Custom Target II.

If a gun is pried from my cold dead fingers, that scum will get that gun.

Would love to buy a Master Carry Pro in 9mm; but I'll have to live in a Free State before that happens.

Greg

If you're going to buy a Kimber or other gun with a shorter warranty, Davidson's offers a lifetime warranty for all guns you purchase from them, you can purchase a lifetime warranty with your gun from Bud's for a reasonable fee and a couple of our LGS' here offer lifetime or extended warranties when you buy from them.

stchman said:

I'm mostly knocking Kimber for their crappy one year warranty. Pathetic for such a high end gun maker to not stand behind their products.

1911s can be finicky so inconsistent performance might not be the show stopper, a crappy warranty, definitely.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/warranty

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Dan Wesson also only offers a 1 year warranty, but nobody ever seems to have an issue there. It's only Kimber who gets kicked for the 1 year warranty thing. Funny how that works. Bottom line is that if you're going to have or develop an issue with your gun, you'll likely see it well within the 1 year mark.

My take on the "lifetime warranty" thing is that sounds good on the surface. But if you really think about it, the company has to hire more personnel to maintain that kind of warranty period. That means more customer service reps, more gunsmiths, more salaries, more benefits, more overhead, more shipping labels, etc, etc. All of that costs money. Where do you think that money comes from? You're crazy if you think they'll settle for smaller profit margins. No, what happens is their guns get marked up more to increase profits or they cut their input costs into the gun to increase profits.

Lifetime warranty means very little to me.

SwampWolf said:

How do you know what "match grade" is? What does the term really mean? Any manufacturer can add the qualifier "match grade" to their pistol and no one can dispute it because there is no definitive, objective criteria to compare with, at least that I know of. If you know what the term "match grade" is, what it means and how to know/tell the difference between it and the more pedestrian grades (Ruger?), please share. I'm all ears.

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Doesn't seem to stop the Colt fanboys from touting their "National Match" barrels.

Olympus said:

Dan Wesson also only offers a 1 year warranty, but nobody ever seems to have an issue there.

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Dan Wesson has a 5 year warranty on everything but cosmetics. There is a one year warranty on wood/surface treatments.

CNobbe said:

Dan Wesson has a 5 year warranty on everything but cosmetics. There is a one year warranty on wood/surface treatments.

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Ok, but still not a "lifetime warranty".

CNobbe said:

Check out Dan Wesson, Kimber, as well as some Colts and Springfields. Rack the slides, try the triggers, and and tell me the Ruger is "better built" than guns from those manufacturers as someone stated above.

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Nothing new here. You pay more, you generally get more.

The best warranty, as many have said, is when the product is made well enough that you never need one. But we don't live in a utopia. Stuff happens, no matter who the manufacturer is, and I much prefer having the longest warranty possible. If you are going to have a warranty, it stands to reason that a lifetime warranty is better than a one year warranty-or anything in-between.

Springfield Armory. Kimber can not even begin to compare to their build quality or warranty service.

Well, ya know ... I've just gotta disagree with that, at least insofar as the "build quality." Frankly, as far as the warranty service, I could care less -- I've only had to use Springfield's, and my experience was merely okay, nothing to write home about. Never had to use Kimber's, but as a couple have noted, if you're gonna have problems with a 1911, it's typically well within your first year of ownership and usage.

My Springfields number the following: (pre-G.I. model) original parkerized SA 1911A1 from 1991, stainless Mil-Spec, stainless Champion, Loaded Black Stainless, (two) Loaded LW Micro-Compacts and a TRP (Armory-coat). My Kimbers include a CDP II Pro, Tactical Pro and a Custom TLE II. My Kimbers are as well-built as my SA pistols, and in fact, a couple of my SA's had not nearly as nice fit and finish as my Kimbers. Nonetheless, all -- both SA's and Kimbers -- have been 100% reliable and at least acceptably accurate. Also, at a lower price point, Kimber brings in frontstrap checkering and better night sights.

I'm not trying to talk anyone into buying a Kimber; I'd just caution the new or first-time 1911 buyer to not buy into all the internet rumors, innuendo and internet "facts" about any particular brand ... For example, I've absolutely ZERO experience with any Ruger or Remington 1911 pistols, so I wouldn't repeat anything I've heard about them ... Go to the brand-specific forums on a 1911-specific forum and read what actual owners have to say about their pistols, and certainly don't subscribe to all the second-hand, third-hand and otherwise anecdotal bullcrap ("my buddy's brother-in-law had a friend whose brother owned Brand-X 1911 and it was a jammomatic and the company didn't want to fix it") ...

If bashing a company's warranty is the only thing negative one has to say about a brand -- especially if the one saying that has never actually used that specific company's warranty -- probably best to ignore that person's opinion.

It's Not A .45 Unless It Has A Horse On It..............

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I think you meant Not a 1911 unless it has a horse on it. The liberator single shot is a .45.
That little colt is filled with envy when I pull my DW out of the safe.