Carry Melt Kimber

I'm curious. I found stock pictures on goggle.com but it'd be better to see yours. Pictures?

-jb

With all due respect I have a Kimber and they are certainly not a top tier 1911.

I've seen some of that. It's melted I'm pretty sure, rather than melded .

frogfurr said:

With all due respect I have a Kimber and they are certainly not a top tier 1911.

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^^^ This.

Mine looks OK. Shoot the tar out of it. Kimber isn't top tier. They're in line with Ruger, Sig, and RRA.

If you're going to obsess, get a Guncrafter or Dan Wesson.

My Kimber is just fine, bought it 10 years ago. Maybe QC has changed in recent years.

Kimber is a very nice factory-produced 1911, and every one I've owned has been 100% once I learned to lube properly.

They are not art. Shoot it, carry it, but don't obsess too much. If you want art, you'll be into the high 4 figures to buy it. . . and that carry melt is still done on a belt sander, just more carefully.

I bought all four of the CDP models back in the 90’s when Kimber gave the most bang for the buck of all manufacturers. I believe this was at the height of their quality manufacturing.

Now my interest was not on looks, but function. I bought into the melt concept 100% and actually like the looks.

The 3 that I can easily put my hands all have varying degrees of melt between each one, so I would agree this was done by hand on a belt sander.

I remember seeing a model that I don’t recall the name; had a majorly aggressive melt down that I loved, but the dealer would not sell it. He kept it for himself. That gun made the CDP’s look they had sharp edges. I have never seen another one of those since.



The one on the left has a bit more melt to it than the other.

IMHO, For a long time a Kimber pistol meant a higher-end production 1911 with factory options, and the prices were higher than many others reflecting this. (When the LAPD SWAT TLE and later the SIS versions came out, no one could keep them in stock in So Cal and they sold for MSRP ++ when you saw one.) Folks aspired to get a Kimber, especially down here. (Even with all the financial troubles the company had.)

Other makers started taking a huge slice from their 1911 pie by offering very well made guns at lower price points. After bankruptcy, corporate executive battles and the original company being dissolved they re-emerged, moved to New York, expanded their product line and are trying to stay competitive against Ruger, SA, Colt, etc. (They're now moving to Alabama... not that I blame them!)

Again I wouldn’t feel underfunded with a Kimber 1911 as I think they’re good guns... but they’re not top-tier ones...

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/when-did-kimber-become-a-bad-word.652361/

This thread on the same Kimber question is nearly ten years old...

Stay safe.

Mine's just fine. A great looking, great shooting pistol. Excellent job on the carry melt.

I've owned a number of different Kimbers and never had one that disappointed me. I think they are a great value.

I've got an old Kimber Custom (not II) that had the carry melt service done to it years ago. The original owner told me the original barrel made it 15k rounds before the barrel link lug cracked and had to be replaced, but other than that, it's almost all original. I'll try to dig up a photo, it is a sweet shooter.

As for Kimbers, I can't say I've had a bad experience with any of them. The Ultra Carry 9mm is my favorite, still shoots like a dream.

mk25roberts said:

It’s not super uniform like you would think a top tier 1911 would be.

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I sincerely mean no offense, but Kimber is not a top tier 1911. Not by a long shot. Doesn't make a lame job ok, but I think we need to keep in mind they are mid level production guns.

Kimber does make a good looking 1911, with good carry features depending on the model...but their reliability & customer service (5-7 years ago) left something to be desired. Hope yours works out well for you. Best Regards, Rod

Reinz said:

I remember seeing a model that I don’t recall the name; had a majorly aggressive melt down that I loved, but the dealer would not sell it. He kept it for himself.

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Clark Customs is the most widely known for Melt jobs...

@WC145 has one heck a fine example.

460Shooter said:

I sincerely mean no offense, but Kimber is not a top tier 1911. Not by a long shot. Doesn't make a lame job ok, but I think we need to keep in mind they are mid level production guns.

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Opinions vary.

Just because one cannot afford a top tier 1911 doesn’t mean they’re frowned upon. My Pro Carry runs like a champ and is Uber accurate. For $699 I’d risk my life on it.

There can be a difference between "top tier" performance and "top tier" price.

Lennyjoe said:

Just because one cannot afford a top tier 1911 doesn’t mean they’re frowned upon.

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I never said they were frowned upon. I said they weren't "top tier". And for the record, I do not own what I would consider a top tier gun either. I can't afford one

I started out on a S&W E Series, and graduated to nicer guns. But the S&W was accurate, just not as refined. Nothing wrong with that.

Please don't assume disparaging intent from my comment where there was none.

I like my new Kimber Stainless II but I would not order a "melt" in any model of any 1911, Kimber or whatever, I do not like that at all. Kind of reminds me of buying new worn out jeans with holes in them. It is fake, JMO.

460Shooter said:

Please don't assume disparaging intent from my comment where there was none.

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Nay, would do no such thing.

mk25roberts said:

My first Kimber with the custom defense package. Ultra CDP II in 45. It has the melded slide. I’m sitting here looking at the rounded corners of the slide and just can’t help but to think someone at the Kimber shop did this on a belt sander. It’s not super uniform like you would think a top tier 1911 would be. I’m not disappointed but I’m not going to lie it’s not exactly what I was expecting.

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I also get that impression of many Kimbers, I figure that's why they bead blast them, to hide finish sins. But, finish is not a functional issue at all and Kimber has some fairly well appointed models at pretty decent prices.