The K6 Kimber, what's your take on the gun?

Regarding the hypothetical Manurhin-Kimbrer connection - K6 does resemble to some degree the MR93 revolver, but the lockwork is different. K6 uses a S&W type mechanism, while MR93 share the Rugerish MR88 mechanics with transfer bar and etc. Even if we assume that Kimber is lying about the revolver being an in-house build and Manurhin is the original manufacturer, that should not be a problem at all because Manurhin is well known for producing quality revolvers.

P.S. I find the Kimber K6 ugly as hell, not to mention some obvious cost cutting solutions that just not make it appeal to me.

The K6S is built entirely in Yonkers, NY. It is an in-house design and manufacture.

Excellent, I was hoping that was the case. I'd like to have one, waiting to get one of the new Cobras in the hand before deciding between the two.

340PD said:

The K6S is built entirely in Yonkers, NY. It is an in-house design and manufacture.

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Good to hear

I was interested until I read the Lucky Gunner review. He generally liked the K6S, but the accuracy was disappointing with Speer 135 gr SBHP plus P, and also the Winchester FBI load. 8.6 inches at 25 yards with the Speer SB, ammo that I have found very accurate in several S&W snubs, like a M642. The FBI load was 6.8 inches. I consider these to be sling shot accuracy!

http://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/review-kimber-k6s-357-magnum-revolver/

He liked the trigger a lot.

Best,
Rick

I have had no difficulty keeping shots in the black of a standard 50' bullseye target at 30', unsupported, using a two hand hold with a wide variety of ammo including SGD and 158gr. Nyclad.

What's not to like about a new, good quality wheelgun? Kudos to Kimber for introducing it to the market.

There's a ton of K6s on Gunbroker for $799 and not a bid on them. Seems about $750 is where folks quit bidding on them. I finally got to handle one at my LGS. While a nice revolver, it seemed blocky compared to my Smiths and the trigger did not seem any superior. It certainly to me, is not worth $800, when a there's a new Model 60 sittin' next to it for $650.

I think paying a lot of money for a refined revolver makes more sense when shopping for a target handgun than when shopping for a concealed carry handgun, but maybe that's just me. If model 12 snubbies or J frames or SP101's didn't do such a good job as defensive concealed carry revolvers, then paying twice the amount for Kimber would make sense. JMO.

Jim NE said:

I think paying a lot of money for a refined revolver makes more sense when shopping for a target handgun than when shopping for a concealed carry handgun, but maybe that's just me. If model 12 snubbies or J frames or SP101's didn't do such a good job as defensive concealed carry revolvers, then paying twice the amount for Kimber would make sense. JMO.

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I dunno, I know not everyone is keen on sending SD weapons out for trigger jobs. If this K6 has as good a trigger as I keep hearing it'll serve that market.

340PD seems to be the only person who has responded that actually owns one. Therefore, as I see it, the yes, buy one vote is 1 to the no don't buy one vote, which is 0.

I fall into the 'not an owner' category too. I do own a Kimber 1911 and my experience with the brand is stellar. Love that gun but can't speak to the K6

gotboostvr said:

I dunno, I know not everyone is keen on sending SD weapons out for trigger jobs. If this K6 has as good a trigger as I keep hearing it'll serve that market.

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The K6S trigger lives up to the hype. At least the one I looked at.

MaterDei said:

340PD seems to be the only person who has responded that actually owns one. Therefore, as I see it, the yes, buy one vote is 1 to the no don't buy one vote, which is 0.

I fall into the 'not an owner' category too. I do own a Kimber 1911 and my experience with the brand is stellar. Love that gun but can't speak to the K6

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ROD KLOMP also owns one.

I figure I can afford to take a wait-and-see approach to the K6. I already own several good snubnose revolvers. If after a while it turns out that the Kimber's performance and factory service and user satisfaction are up to snuff, time enough to take a look then. No hurry.

If the gun proves popular, availability is bound to improve. The price might too.

I'm thinking of some other introductions of new handguns where it turned out that the first buyers got to be beta testers.

Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.
--Alexander Pope

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ETA: The gun's been out for a year or thereabout, but there is not a vast amount of detail on it coming back from the revolver-user community. It's off to a slow start?

I saw my first one at the Florida Gun Shows Shoot Straight table, Asking price was marked at $1200.00. There were Colts all around the show over $2000.00.
I came home with a nice clean S&W model 10-5 for a quarter to one third those prices. At least I can take my new revolver shooting without too much concern over ruining the 'value'.

I saw one for $900 at a gun show two days ago.

Shed said:

Also, keep in mind that out of a 2" barrel .357 isn't going to give you any significant increase in performance over .38 spl + P. Just more recoil.

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Check out Lucky Gunner's latest testing using 2" and 4" revolvers. I think is disproves this long standing opinion, at least regards to bullet performance. More recoil is a real thing though.

I really like its looks, especially the somewhat beveled lines and edges. It looks like a nicely-crafted piece, one I would probably end up not wanting to carry because of that.

It does hold an extra round over my current carry revolvers (three vintage Undercovers, one of which is stainless, a 3-inch stainless Taurus 85, and an older Rossi 68 2.5 inch.) However, I don't know if that extra round is worth an extra four bills. I also don't know if a more-refined trigger would make much of a difference to me when shooting for "minute-of-bad-guy" purposes. I do like the Ruger-style release on it because it's the easiest between the three types used for a left-handed person like myself to use (notwithstanding the Southpaw line from Charter Arms, which would really screw me up!)

Still, I bet if one waits for the hype-induced price to fall some, resale value would be easy to maintain.

buck460XVR said:

t seemed blocky compared to my Smiths and the trigger did not seem any superior.

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I've spent a fair bit of time pulling the trigger on a K6 side-by-side with my slightly modified 60's (Wilson spring kit), and the K6 trigger was much better.

rbernie said:

I've spent a fair bit of time pulling the trigger on a K6 side-by-side with my slightly modified 60's (Wilson spring kit), and the K6 trigger was much better.

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rbernie said:

I've spent a fair bit of time pulling the trigger on a K6 side-by-side with my slightly modified 60's (Wilson spring kit), and the K6 trigger was much better.

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Eye of the beholder --- My eye says ugly. Especially the parallel lines described by the trigger guard. Ugh.

I find it humorous that Kimber showed five models of the K6S at this year's SHOT show, considering they can't even supply the original version.

I buy guns to carry and use,
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but hopefully those that are serious about carrying their firearm because it may be needed to save their life will look more to function and appreciate the thought and design that instructors like Grant Cunningham contributed to Kimber when this project started.
Features like beveled edges, no snag sights, a trigger guard that will actually allow you to shoot while wearing gloves, one of the best triggers in the business as well as an extra round, are what drive me to carry this revolver. I could care less about looks when I have it holstered and am out with my family for dinner. The fact it was Kimber that produced this gun had no influence on my decision to buy a K6S, I just needed something that offered more than my current half dozen J-frames.